Getting rid of stuff / Clearing out clutter!

[Trifele]

Finally sold a bike I've had listed for over two months.  Yay!

[Bird In Hand]

Finally, I dug up a pile of ~30 old college textbooks and started trying to assess the value.  As expected, most were worthless.  But around 10 had values ranging from $10-$40.  So I need to figure out whether it's worth it to try selling some or all on half.com, etc.  My local library won't take them until the next book sale in ~6 months.

I got around to posting a couple dozen of these old textbooks both on the local FB sell group and CraigsList.  The ones that are > $10 (according to bookscouter.com) I'm going to list on half.com.  If nobody bites, I'll cut my asking price in half after a week or two.  If there are still any left after that, then I don't think I'll feel bad about just recycling them.

[Linda_Norway]

Finally we have found a buyer for our second racer bike that is for sale. He is coming any moment and paid in advance.

[Bird In Hand]

We continued the basement purge.  Brought a minivan full of stuff to The Goodwill tonight -- our biggest load yet.  Toys, books, more toys, clothing, pictures, decorations, kitchen appliances, and yet more toys.

Also recycled an old, ginormous window A/C unit and several large bags of financial/sensitive documents (now shredded) that we've been hauling around for 15 years, and threw away a broken fan and heater.

I feel like we're becoming addicted to removing all the cruft from our house.  Is that a thing?

[oneday]

Wow, it took almost a week to find someone to take a free pair of snow skis & poles!  I though they would go faster.  But glad to have them gone.  Next up: hard drives.

[Blissful Biker]

This thread is inspiring.  I did a big purge 3 years ago but as I look around there is still more stuff that can go.  Time to get after it!

[Goldielocks]

Recycled two broken dehumidifiers, and discarded several large bags of junk -- mostly styrofoam, plastic bags, bubble wrap, and expired food from the pantry.

Sold a baby gate, kid's table and chairs, and train table on a local FB group.

Donated 4 more boxes to The Goodwill.  Mostly toys, decorations, clothes, and cordless phones.

Oops, forgot to mention that my pile of to-be-recycled electronics has grown to include 3 computers, 2 printers, plus 3 more boxes of miscellaneous old wires, cables, adapters, ancient cell phones, etc.  Even a standalone caller ID box that probably belongs in a museum.  :D

DH just took 6 pc's and a printer to be recycled last week.   At $2k each, that is a lot of money we have spent over the years....   He even kept a couple that aren't used currently, it wasn't everything.

I sold 2 bikes on craigs list, and then helped DH buy a new bike that fits, that should be good for use for 10-15 years.

[Linda_Norway]

My DH is obviously inspired by my thoughts of getting rid of stuff. He has promised a 16 year old boy that we know his old salmon fishing rod, that he will pick up tomorrow. We know the boy loves the outdoors and fishing and spends all summers beside a good salmon river. It will get a better use now.

[HappierAtHome]

Had a break from decluttering while learning how to parent a newborn. Today I got back on the horse by listing six items on Buy Nothing. Feels good!

[TomTX]

Managed to get hack through some of the garage yesterday before it got stupidly hot (high was 100+, with high humidity)

One big garbage bag (lawn bag size) in the trash, half the recycling bin filled up, stuff out at the curb: Scrap wood, bent kid's bike frame (stripped for parts for a project), wicker basket and an ancient wooden smoking stand that I am certain has lead paint on it.

[oneday]

Gone:
<stuff>
skis
new: fleece fabric scrap - made 3 kitty pads (simply cut into shape) and a liner for my bike basket

Almost gone:
hard drives - got one hooked up; I think I did a good job of getting the files of this one, now just need to look at the newer one which will probably need a lot of files moved over before it can go

Priority to move out next:
stability ball
paper monster
bike
too-fancy knitting purse/handbag
added: tennis racket
added: bike shoes

[mustachepungoeshere]

Parents are in the process of building a new house, so I've started decluttering my room there.

I cleared it out fairly well after leaving home, but over the last few years I've taken home clothes, books, toiletries, etc. This is a good opportunity to review what I keep there.

[Mezzie]

I'm selling about a shelf's worth of books today.

On vacation, I bought a necklace and an anklet that I really like. I think I'm still good on the decluttering balance. :)

[JAYSLOL]

Ok, I've got a confession to make, and some work to do to correct the situation, lol.  I posted a year or so back that I had sorted through all my fishing gear and found (to my surprise and horror) that I was the owner of 17 fishing rods.  To de-clutter I sold most of them at auction and a garage sale along with a couple of extra tackle boxes, but in the process found out that fishing gear can sell for a fair bit of money even when well used.  So for the last year or so, every time I find cheap fishing gear at garage sales, I've bought it with the intention to drop off at auction... except I haven't actually sorted through them and done that yet... and now I've added up how many fishing rods I've got... and it's 28 :/
De-clutter fail. 

[lemanfan]

De-clutter fail.

But not yet fail on side hustle. :)

[JAYSLOL]

De-clutter fail.

But not yet fail on side hustle. :)

Hopefully not!!  Otherwise it's a double fail!!

[Bird In Hand]

After several weekends of throwing away/donating things from the basement, we finally reached a milestone of sorts.  1/4 of our basement -- the part that used to be a play area for the kids -- is once again a play area for the kids.  A neat, tidy, organized play area with about 1/5 as many toys as before.  We even merged the upstairs playroom (formerly our dining room) into the basement play area.

Actually, come to think of it, the dining room is now neat and tidy too since it's nearly empty.  Not sure if we'll turn it back into a formal dining room or not, but the novelty of having an empty room is kinda cool.

[horsepoor]

My dad is visiting and I gave him a plant ID book for the NW coast.  He is also taking my mom's mountain bike from the '80's.  I tried selling it a while back, but it turns out I'd put more into getting it tuned up than what anyone was willing to pay.  Glad to keep it in the family instead.

I also recently turned some scrap wood into horse jumps and brought them out to the stable, so less clutter in the shop.

[1967mama]

Deposited a poorly built Jenga knockoff into our giveaway box. The pieces aren't standardized in size and so the tower is crooked/leaning before you even start. Lesson learned ... buy authentic Jenga.

[TartanTallulah]

Two years ago, one of our girls went off to college. She's a clutter monster. We set about her bedroom when she was gone. She was delighted with the result when she came home for vacations.

One year ago, she dropped out of college and took a year out to earn some money and think about her future.

This month, she went off again. Different city, different course, much more mature girl.

Guess what we're going to be doing when we can face the task?

One year! How does anyone collect so much tchotchke in one year?

Otherwise, we're doing very well. With RE on the horizon and a big ticket plaything on our shopping list, we're being focused about not bringing new stuff into the household and offloading what we don't need.

[oneday]

Almost gone:
hard drives - got one hooked up; I think I did a good job of getting the files of this one, now just need to look at the newer one which will probably need a lot of files moved over before it can go - one down, one to go (still)
too-fancy knitting purse/handbag - will sell to knitting friend when I see her on 7/3
tennis racket - listed

[Steelers1982]

Recently cleaned out the basement... 2 large recycle bags, and 2 large garbage bags full of throw away, plus a stack of collapsed cardboard.

Was able to sell the following(first two items aren't a result of the basement clean out, but happened last week):
- Fitbit Blaze - $150
- Samsung Galaxy S5 - $75(below market as I took the easy way out and sold to a re-seller)
- Old fan w/ remote - $20

Few other things up for sale from the basement clean out.  Need to put together my old desk so I can take pics of it and sell it.

[Sibley]

When I moved in, the previous owners left behind one of the shelving units that stands above the toilet. I didn't like it, didn't want it, and finally found the proper screwdriver to take it apart and throw it out on Saturday. Sunday, I went in the bathroom and realized that the smell of urine was mostly gone. Great. That's why the bottom of the legs were yellow.

Anyone know how to clean under pedestal sinks without moving them? I suspect that's why the other bathroom smells of urine.

Boys and men, please sit down to pee. I don't care if it isn't cool, I don't want these problems.

[MountainGal]

The purging while settling in to our new home continues.

In the donate box:
12 clothing articles
a comforter
rarely used bath mat from our previous home
4 coffee mugs
a few knickknacks, including a Scentsy warmer and several fragrances (it was a gift, I would have never purchased such a thing)
tray from the toaster oven donated last year
a never used word search puzzle book from when I was down after surgery
6 pairs of shoes, including 2 pairs in their original box, and one pair never worn

Into the trash:
5 articles of clothing from the 80's.  Yes, folks, I wore spandex.  :P
3 chipped bowls and small plates.  My mom bought us a BBB gift card as a housewarming present, so I bought a new 16 piece serving set for 4.

Specific donations:
Glass flower vases to a flower shop owning friend

I'm taking 4 days off for the upcoming US holiday, so purging will continue.

[Trifele]

When I moved in, the previous owners left behind one of the shelving units that stands above the toilet. I didn't like it, didn't want it, and finally found the proper screwdriver to take it apart and throw it out on Saturday. Sunday, I went in the bathroom and realized that the smell of urine was mostly gone. Great. That's why the bottom of the legs were yellow.

Anyone know how to clean under pedestal sinks without moving them? I suspect that's why the other bathroom smells of urine.

Boys and men, please sit down to pee. I don't care if it isn't cool, I don't want these problems.

+1.  A huge, huge thank you to my MIL, who back in the old days required all male family members (including DH) to sit and aim it down.  We have taught our DS as follows:    Public toilets -- ok to stand up.  At home -- you sit.

[Cressida]

When I moved in, the previous owners left behind one of the shelving units that stands above the toilet. I didn't like it, didn't want it, and finally found the proper screwdriver to take it apart and throw it out on Saturday. Sunday, I went in the bathroom and realized that the smell of urine was mostly gone. Great. That's why the bottom of the legs were yellow.

Anyone know how to clean under pedestal sinks without moving them? I suspect that's why the other bathroom smells of urine.

Boys and men, please sit down to pee. I don't care if it isn't cool, I don't want these problems.

+1.  A huge, huge thank you to my MIL, who back in the old days required all male family members (including DH) to sit and aim it down.  We have taught our DS as follows:    Public toilets -- ok to stand up.  At home -- you sit.

I've lived with a man for the last 19 years and the only times I've ever found urine outside the toilet were when we had contractors working. Apparently I am super lucky? I never even thought about it. (My dad moved out when I was a kid, and I only have sisters, so I didn't experience it then either.) Or is it usually younger boys who are the problem?

[Sibley]

I had some success using a spray bottle to send some soaking cleanser underneath. I couldn't reach a scrubbing tool under there, but the soak seemed to reduce or eliminate the smell.

A plumber said we can go one of two ways on the matter:

1. Put sealant around the base. But then the pee will likely discolour the sealant over time, compelling some people to want to replace it.

2. Put no sealant around, and clean more thoroughly. He felt this was the optimal way to go.

My kid sits to pee, but the pee comes out through the front of the seat, lol.

I will try flushing it out with a spray bottle. Maybe the stuff I use for cat urine will help.

Regardless, I'm still working on cleaning up the floor in that bathroom. There was half an ice cream sandwich shoved into the back of the sink at some point. It's a lot better, but there's some nooks and crannies still.

[2microsNH]

Just recycled all my medical paperwork from a long-term illness I had three years ago. Lyme -- and Lyme paper trail -- be gone!

[mustachepungoeshere]

Sorted through previous tax returns last night and piled up about five years' worth to toss. I just need to figure out where I can shred them (I used to do my shredding at work but changed jobs last year).

[theadvicist]

Just recycled all my medical paperwork from a long-term illness I had three years ago. Lyme -- and Lyme paper trail -- be gone!

That's great news on both counts!

[Bird In Hand]

I had some success using a spray bottle to send some soaking cleanser underneath. I couldn't reach a scrubbing tool under there, but the soak seemed to reduce or eliminate the smell.

I will try flushing it out with a spray bottle. Maybe the stuff I use for cat urine will help.

If anyone has specific recommendations on what to spray under there that will help with the smell, please let me know.  My concern is that some urine might have soaked into the wood underflooring.  I think the only thing to do in this case is replace the affected wood (what a pain!), or use some kind of enzymatic solution to break down the urine.

[theadvicist]

Speaking of difficult cleaning situations, I dumped a whole travel mug of milk-based hot chocolate onto the (non-removable) floor carpet of my car. I mopped it up immediately, and we have shampooed it. No dice, the smell of the spoiling milk is awful. My SIL always jokes about an old beater in which the spilt a pint of milk - in the end it was enough to condemn the vehicle and she had it scrapped!

This is not an option with my (company) vehicle. Any ideas? Could a super valet service help?

[Sibley]

I have Nature's Miracle that I use when the cats have an accident (or are mad at me). This is on tile, so the biggest issue is that the sink is in the way.

Now, anything under the toilets could get to subfloor. Hoping not, but I'm not moving the toilets right now anyway!

[Bracken_Joy]

Speaking of difficult cleaning situations, I dumped a whole travel mug of milk-based hot chocolate onto the (non-removable) floor carpet of my car. I mopped it up immediately, and we have shampooed it. No dice, the smell of the spoiling milk is awful. My SIL always jokes about an old beater in which the spilt a pint of milk - in the end it was enough to condemn the vehicle and she had it scrapped!

This is not an option with my (company) vehicle. Any ideas? Could a super valet service help?

I remember my mom putting kitty litter on the flooring when we spilled some milk once... but I don't remember if it helped! Haha. We kept that car a few more years though, so *something* worked.

[Trifele]

Speaking of difficult cleaning situations, I dumped a whole travel mug of milk-based hot chocolate onto the (non-removable) floor carpet of my car. I mopped it up immediately, and we have shampooed it. No dice, the smell of the spoiling milk is awful. My SIL always jokes about an old beater in which the spilt a pint of milk - in the end it was enough to condemn the vehicle and she had it scrapped!

This is not an option with my (company) vehicle. Any ideas? Could a super valet service help?

I remember my mom putting kitty litter on the flooring when we spilled some milk once... but I don't remember if it helped! Haha. We kept that car a few more years though, so *something* worked.

When our son was little he dumped an entire cup of milk in the backseat of the car.  The smell was awful.  We cleaned it up the best we could (we found actual 'cheese' forming down in the seat -- crème fraiche haha)  and then we parked the car in the hot summer sun for weeks with all the windows up.  Baked the crap out of it.  Seems to have worked -- no detectable odor after that.  I guess the heat baked the 'cheese' remnants dry.   

[Warlord1986]

The last time I visited the parental units I found a bunch of small toys in the back of my closet. Today I gave them to a co-worker for the granddaughter she's raising. The kid's parents said buh-bye, and she's a sweet little girl. Tomorrow is her birthday.

[gggggg]

I've been minimalizing for over a year now. I've recently gotten to the point where there's hardly anything left, that I don't actually use. It's amazing how much stuff folks/you have, and how little you actually use/need. There's been several times over this past year that I thought that there would be no way to get rid of any more, only to scrounge yet another carload of items to go to goodwill.

[mustachepungoeshere]

The last time I visited the parental units I found a bunch of small toys in the back of my closet. Today I gave them to a co-worker for the granddaughter she's raising. The kid's parents said buh-bye, and she's a sweet little girl. Tomorrow is her birthday.

Your co-worker sounds awesome for stepping up. And you're a good person for helping give the little girl a special birthday.

[theadvicist]

I remember my mom putting kitty litter on the flooring when we spilled some milk once... but I don't remember if it helped! Haha. We kept that car a few more years though, so *something* worked.

When our son was little he dumped an entire cup of milk in the backseat of the car.  The smell was awful.  We cleaned it up the best we could (we found actual 'cheese' forming down in the seat -- crème fraiche haha)  and then we parked the car in the hot summer sun for weeks with all the windows up.  Baked the crap out of it.  Seems to have worked -- no detectable odor after that.  I guess the heat baked the 'cheese' remnants dry.

Thanks both! Husband and I were musing that it can't smell -forever- so 'baking' it out sounds like a good idea. He had another go last night with bicarb of soda, and the smell wasn't as bad today. The internet suggested vinegar, but we only had the brown fish n chips stuff, so I'll try to pick some white stuff up today.

[meghan88]

We are in the last stages of liquidating our CD collection.  We had over 200 CDs.  There are about 50 left and, to date, we only recouped $129 for what we sold.  Crap.  Should've done it YEARS ago when they were still worth something.  I remember paying anywhere from $10-$20 per CD, plus tax of course, back in my more spendy days.

We also have a nice solid wood CD shelf that we built from scratch that we'll now have to sell.

In the meantime, we sold the following on kijiji:

- antique tea wagon:  $200 (paid $75 + elbow grease to restore, 20 years ago)
- old sofa bed:  $30
- broken Samsung flat screen TV:  $20
- two antique 3-drawer dressers:  $160 (paid $100 for the two)
- two gift cards worth $75:  sold for $60
- two beater bikes:  $60 and $45 respectively; paid $30 and $20 respectively
- three Nike golf wedges:  $20
- leaf blower:  $17
- bike light set:  $20
- pots and pans:  $17

We have other antiques to sell, but I am holding off because they are just not commanding the same price that they were about 20 years ago.  I figure (hope) the market for them will pick up in a few years.  In the meantime they don't take up much space.

[mustachepungoeshere]

Decluttering again this weekend.

So far I've piled up seven books and five DVDs to donate/give away.

[With This Herring]

I have nothing for urine and spoiled milk in carpet smells, but...
If you ever have a musty or smoky book, stick a folded sheet of newspaper in every few pages, then place the book in a cardboard box filled with crumpled newspaper.  Seal it up for a few days.  Repeat if needed.  I have used this trick once, and it only took one shot to work.

I finally bought the little ADF scanner I wanted (used, of course) and got it working with Linux, so today I scanned and dumped all the gas and electric statements I have accumulated in my adult life.  It was a four-inch thick folder.  The project continues in the coming weeks with other paper statements!

[firelight]

I have nothing for urine and spoiled milk in carpet smells, but...
If you ever have a musty or smoky book, stick a folded sheet of newspaper in every few pages, then place the book in a cardboard box filled with crumpled newspaper.  Seal it up for a few days.  Repeat if needed.  I have used this trick once, and it only took one shot to work.

I finally bought the little ADF scanner I wanted (used, of course) and got it working with Linux, so today I scanned and dumped all the gas and electric statements I have accumulated in my adult life.  It was a four-inch thick folder.  The project continues in the coming weeks with other paper statements!

Do you need all the gas and electric statements? What would they be useful for?
Tax purposes?

[TartanTallulah]

I suppose another problem is the loads of guilt and grief I have about "disappointing" people (mostly my mother) if/when I throw/sell it all.

She can't be disappointed in you if she has passed away.

I've had to negotiate this issue with my mother, who had a load of heirlooms to which she was sentimentally attached but which she didn't want in her own house. Her solution was to offer them to me as if she was giving me something precious.

For years, I said no, no, no increasingly vehemently. If I had accepted these things and then got rid of them there would have been hell to pay in emotional blackmail, so I made it clear that my mother couldn't appease her ancestors by passing their now-useless artefacts on to the next generation. All credit to her, she bit the bullet and let a charity take away the treasures, throwing out the things they rejected as unsaleable because, objectively viewed, they were rubbish. If I'd accepted them I'd have been expected to cherish them and keep them for my own children.

In my own world of stuff, today I seized an opportunity to give away a piece of sports kit that I like but hadn't worn for many years to someone who will look better in it than I do. I still have too much sports kit, but the basket will be less overstuffed.

[TomTX]

My kid sits to pee, but the pee comes out through the front of the seat, lol.

Teach him that his left hand is for aiming.

[TomTX]

Teach him that his left hand is for aiming.

Oh! Okay :)    Thx, TomTX.
Though I think he may have sorted something like that out for himself, as it doesn't seem to be an issue anymore. There was just a bumpy year or two in there, I think when he was getting used to his body. So I probably should have put it in past tense.

We've had discussion on other threads because grown men haven't figured out that they can use their hand to put their penis in the proper position while peeing.

Said men (not present here, just discussed here) were complaining about having their penis touch the toilet (seat/bowl) when they sat to pee. Because they hadn't figured out using their hand to aim.

[mustachepungoeshere]

Husband agreed to relinquish his broken Xbox 360.

It had sat in his parents' house for five years. Then they moved and he grabbed it with an idea of getting it fixed.

But he barely has time to play the Xbox One, so said I can toss the old one.

[mustachepungoeshere]

Sorted through a spindle of DVDs, piled up 17 to get rid of.

Making good progress this weekend!

[mustachepungoeshere]

Just listed two pairs of jeans on eBay.

[With This Herring]

*snip*
I finally bought the little ADF scanner I wanted (used, of course) and got it working with Linux, so today I scanned and dumped all the gas and electric statements I have accumulated in my adult life.  It was a four-inch thick folder.  The project continues in the coming weeks with other paper statements!

Do you need all the gas and electric statements? What would they be useful for?
Tax purposes?

Nope.  I don't have a home office or rental property, so they are useless for tax purposes.  I am just a nerd and worry that I may be curious about my electricity usage back in 200X, and what if I don't have my old statements?  The spreadsheet only goes back to 201X when the I last switched dwellings.  So, need them?  No.  Save them because they are (computer-wise) small and easy to keep organized and may be interesting someday?  Sure.