Continued: Getting rid of stuff / Clearing out clutter! PART 2

[Cassie]

If you have lots of stuff to get rid of thrift stores will send a truck. I have done that. Filled my car and garbage can today.

[happy]

@LaineyAZ , @slackmax ,  @One Day, @Poundwise ...thanks for the encouragement- I hope to post updates.


@Poundwise - I know about emptying the family home...I was going quite well on my own house, until my mother died nearly 2 years ago and We had 60 years worth of clutter to deal with. We tossed and recycled and donated huge amounts ( like over 500kg of paper into recycling), but  it got to the point where I got cleanout grief...so many of those items my brother and I would say "Oh, I remember this"- childhood memories etc...but neither of us wanted it. So the more precious items came home to my house. I've since donated a lot of them. I too had a carport full of stuff, as well as boxes lining any free wall in my house. Its taken that amount of time, but I've nearly cleared most of it now.

Keep going, you can do it. Little by little, or in massive lots, it doesn't matter.

.

[Loretta]

Today I’m returning some miscellaneous Amazon purchases that didn’t pan out.  I didn’t really buy any unnecessary stuff today, just more masks and some cat meds online. 

[oneday]

Today I recycled an old journal, in which I recorded the antics (not the fun kind of antics) of my ex.  It was started a few years before my divorce, for the purpose of reminding myself of said antics.  I did not think antics were forgettable, but apparently I was capable of forgetting.  Maybe it was a defense mechanism so I didn't go wack-a-doodle while we lived together?

Example:
me: I programed Certain Station into my car radio so I can keep up with new music.
him: You're a weirdo.

Anyway, I no longer need to remember the crap he dished out.

So I can say that chapter of my life is closed, almost literally!  It felt surprisingly anti-climactic.

[mspym]

Woohoo @oneday! You don't need to hold any space for him at all!

[okcisok]

So much encouragement here! I was really looking forward to posting:

-Cleaned out the garage today. Tidied all the holiday decoration boxes and tools in the small storage closet. (Will probably go through the boxes again, but I'm very good about winnowing the holiday stuff when I'm putting away at the end of said holiday.) Swept out the leaves and dirt. Put hiking boots in bike basket to keep them up off the floor.

-Put two insulated coolers, an outdoor throw pillow, and some reusable shopping bags on the curb. Half was gone when I got home from work. I'll take the rest to a donation center if they aren't gone in the next few days.

-Organized the gardening stuff and composted old items. Opened a bag of topsoil and dumped it in the flowerbed unceremoniously. That bag had been leaning against the garage for three months...four? Every time I pulled in I saw it and felt guilty. Feelings into action today! Dead vines pulled out of garden.

-Cleaned out my car and tossed all the collected detritus. Took work items back to work. Washed the liner I use to (theoretically) keep the dog debris off the seats. Organized the trunk area, finally utilizing the cargo net to hold the two reusable bags I kept (ruthless!!). Even replaced the dead batteries in the emergency trunk flashlight. Washed the floor mats and cargo liner.

-Mended a work outfit so that it is back in rotation and not cluttering up my sewing table. Wore it today. Felt very virtuous.

-Tomorrow is trash/recycling day, so containers are on the curb. Have done a sweep to make sure that every single item that needs to be tossed is in the appropriate container.

To Do-return a borrowed book and give that friend a couple of books I've finished with.

[okcisok]

Went through my cookbook, which is a three-ring binder with clear plastic pages to tuck recipes into. Got rid of 1/3 of them, straight into the recycling. Added the new recipes that had been stacked on the kitchen countertop. Only kept ones I've actually made, enjoyed, and will most likely make again. No aspirational recipes.

ETA:  found my old Apple TV, still helpfully Command-taped to the back of the TV. Apple has a mail-in recycling program, so I've requested a pre-paid address label and asked SO if he has a bubble mailer in his stash. More OUT!

[Sun Hat]

I made a breakthrough yesterday and bagged up all of my clothes that are too small (some that haven't fit in nearly a decade) and brought them over to a friend's teenager who is about my former size. It's cathartic to finally let go of the idea that I'll get back to that size and to reclaim my closet. Since putting on weight, I've only bought cheap, ill-fitting bags with the idea that there was little sense in spending more on clothes that I wasn't going to need long because I was going to lose weight "any day" and get back into my nice things. Now that those old things are gone, I want to replace them with nice things that fit  - but that won't be a quick process since I hate shopping and have no idea where to buy clothes my shape/size/taste.

[MaybeBabyMustache]

Awesome job, @Sun Hat  and @okcisok ! Lots of great progress. My goal during the WFH/shelter in place is to list one item for sale every day. It's been quite fun to see what I can come up with. As things slowly move to the "sale" bin, out of the house, or eventually to the donation, I've loved to see us slowly whittle down our belongings. I've also done major clear outs to make quicker progress, but the slow & steady kind gives me a daily goal that i enjoy

[Poundwise]

Keep going, you can do it. Little by little, or in massive lots, it doesn't matter.

Thank you so much for the encouragement, @happy! I am managing resentment that I have worked so hard to manage my own junk, then get drowned in this wave of my family's clutter.  We plucked all the low hanging fruit, so the items that made it to our house are the hardest to get rid of.  But it does feel good to make space, especially when I manage to give it away to somebody who appreciates the items.

[MountainGal]

Everyone is doing a fantastic job!  Very nice.

Over the weekend I decluttered 3 expired condiments and apple cider into the trash, donated unopened bottles of mayo and OJ to a neighbor, used free samples for an at home facial, used up a large bottle of white vinegar, and huge tub of pork rinds.  The latter two freed up significant space in the pantry.  Oh, and DH "decluttered" the wildfire ash from the two AC unit filters.  Yuck.

I love this thread.  :D

[oneday]

Thanks, @mspym I *though* I was holding on to that notebook for myself, to not forget.  But I don't need that kind of garbage in my life, even in compact form hidden in the back of a closet.

Wow, @okcisok you've had a decluttering extravaganza! I love that you even decluttered the old flashlight batteries.

@Sun Hat awesome breakthrough!  I've gone up & down in size significantly over the years. What to buy & where to find it is trial and error...it will take some time but you'll eventually figure out some rules of thumb.  My best advice is to try on anything that has even 1 thing about it that you like.  Then note how it makes you feel, if it looks better or worse on you than a piece you already own, see if you can figure out exactly why.  I once tried on a top I didn't like the fabric or cut, but the pattern was nice.  Turned out, the cut actually looked nice when worn, but didn't appeal while it was on the hanger. Later I found several more tops with a similar cut and they all looked nice.

@MaybeBabyMustache have you kept a count of items out of the house? 

@MountainGal I did a double take.  First read your post as "3 expired condoms" hahaha!

[MaybeBabyMustache]

@oneday - hello, fellow bay area mustachian.

I've sold 150+ items, and probably donated a similar amount.

[happy]

Keep going, you can do it. Little by little, or in massive lots, it doesn't matter.

Thank you so much for the encouragement, @happy! I am managing resentment that I have worked so hard to manage my own junk, then get drowned in this wave of my family's clutter.  We plucked all the low hanging fruit, so the items that made it to our house are the hardest to get rid of.  But it does feel good to make space, especially when I manage to give it away to somebody who appreciates the items.

@Poundwise - I am over it now, but I too had a lot of resentment about being landed with all my folks clutter, that they had stubbornly refused to deal with over the years in spite of offers of help. Ironically a good deal of their "precious" things stored under the house were mouldy or bug infested or just plain falling apart with age. If they had let go of them decades ago someone could have gotten some use from them and the old photos wouldn't have been in such poor condition.  I am nearly done with their stuff except for old papers and photos. Its definitely been a life lesson for my brother and I...their full house was a major reason why I started reducing my stuff some 15 years ago. My brother has always accrued more stuff than I, as he is gregarious and likes to host big parties and so on, but now even he is weeding stuff out.

[familyandfarming]

I highly recommend painting all of your walls in your house! Start with a room if you wish. This forces you to move everything out of the room, scrutinize each item and perhaps get rid of it! We just finished our basement. Not only did we paint ceilings and walls, we scrubbed floors and cleaned carpets. The contractor who finished the basement for us 20+ years ago stopped by last night. He asked if we did some additional work. Nope, just got it to clean and essential.

Always ask yourself, “Do my kids really want this crap?” I’ll save you time. They don’t!

[slackmax]

To make it less boring, I allowed myself to play a record or two while I slowly and deliberately looked at the stuff in the 'archipelago of stuff' in the living room.  I am so used to it being there, it seems like one big blob, not a collection of many different things.

What I identified in the archipelago, once I forced myself to stare into it for a while,  was a big ugly upholstered chair, well worn, and taking up tons of space. It would feel good to give it the old heave ho, and have some *noticeable* new  space in the living room.     

I plan to donate it tomorrow.  Means I have to unload tons of stuff from my car, to get the chair in, but that's OK.     

[SunnyDays]

@slackmax, before you do that, try putting the couch on the curb first.  Might save you a lot of trouble.

[oneday]

@oneday - hello, fellow bay area mustachian.

I've sold 150+ items, and probably donated a similar amount.

Hello! I did not realize you were close!  Hope you are safe & breathing freely these days.

That's quite a load out the door.  Were you successful in selling items in the early days of the pandemic? 


@slackmax I am saddened that you have an archipelago of stuff in your living space.  But amused by the name.  Good going, finding a HUGE thing to move out the door!

[mspym]

@slackmax it's a weird feeling as things that have been in plain sight become visible. Now to get it out of the house before it fades back into the background!

[lazycow]

@lazycow I’m gonna make a suggestion, but obviously it’s an internet stranger suggestion, so likely irrelevant.

A cheap Bluetooth keyboard might pair with the laptop and make it useful again? If not for you, then for someone doing homeschool this year? I’m guessing it’s less crazy in Australia than here in the states, but laptops are in demand right now.

Rats @PMG ! Read your very helpful comment too late! I hadn't thought of that solution, but will keep it in mind for the future. And no, it isn't less crazy in Victoria, especially Melbourne. Almost all students are remote learning (though the majority of the schools where I am use Macs, which are rented to the students through the schools). But thanks so much for the comment; always willing to learn new things about repurposing and keeping items out of waste systems.

[lazycow]

@slackmax +1 to putting it on the curb first, BUT only if it isn't going to rain! Our next door neighbour put out an old couch weeks ago and no one took it due to bad weather. It is still sitting there, ruined. Good for you on getting big stuff out. And thanks for the tip re: VCRs. I really don't want such a bulky tech item in the house, and videocassettes are hard to store. I really would prefer digitising.

Cleaned and organised my spice drawer and it is now a thing of beauty. I lay all the little glass bottles in their sides in alphabetical order, with the labels facing up. Took all the duplicates (why so many sachets of cayenne pepper and smoked paprika?) and put them in a container with strict instructions to my husband to check there before buying more! I  only needed to compost a couple of very old packs, so we are using up most items, yay.

And to everyone who is dealing with family clutter: I feel your pain, having done it for my parents a few years ago. it is hard, and time-consuming, but 10 years later, so very worth it. It certainly made me question why I choose to keep what is in the house, and freely give away whatever no longer serves us. Hopefully I have taught the almost-adult kids to do this; my husband is naturally a declutterer, apart from what lives in his shed.

[Fresh Bread]

No aspirational recipes.

Great tip, I have three skinny binder things with recipes and I don't look at them. I'll cull soon!

Ugh to the stories of parents leaving clutter. My dad is a minimalist *buffs nails*. My sister however...

[MaybeBabyMustache]

@oneday - we were on the "warning" evacuation list on Sunday due to potential lightning strikes, but are now off the list. Our house is next to a very dry preserve, and the preserve itself is at high risk due to no barriers/structures & dry landscape. It's been a roller coaster for sure. Feels like we've turned the corner a bit with cooperating weather. Fingers crossed. Hope you are also in a safe area.

I've had a lot of success selling, but things have slowed down quite a bit in the past two weeks. I consider the selling part of my pandemic plans. 1) declutters. 2) small amount of money in 3) I get exercise. I take everything to the nearest post office drop box, which is about a mile & a half round trip from my house. I've gotten so many more steps, just by ensuring I'm mailing the packages. It's been a bunch of small sales that are adding up.

[MountainGal]

@oneday, ha ha re: your double take.  :)  And I hope @MaybeBabyMustache and you stay safe.  I'm in the Rocky Mountains and we are currently surrounded by four wildfires.

I ordered two fridge bins, one for cans and one for bottled beverages, and cleaned, filled, and put them in the fridge last night.  It looks much neater!

This morning I "decluttered" about 100 calories on the treadmill.  ;)

[okcisok]

Thanks for the encouragement, everyone!

@slackmax--very descriptive image of the 'clutter archipelago', and a good solution to break it up. If you have curb space, I +1 on just putting it out there for pickup.

I returned a friend's book and gave her one more. SO brought me some supplies that I repurposed into packaging for two more books to mail to an out-of-town friend.

Added three baskets and two throw pillows to the curb pile.

Added a damaged phone charging cord to the pile awaiting the Apple mailing label for recycling.

Threw away a couple of old items from the fridge and wiped out all the shelves. I'd been putting it off because I thought it was a huge chore. It took less than ten minutes...

[Sun Hat]

I hope that you're all staying safe from all of the storms and fires that seem to be all around you!

Yesterday I took a bunch of old paint cans to the hazardous waste centre and tried to recycle some plant pots, only to be reminded that our centre doesn't take black plastics. So, I came home with all of my pots and today I loaded the rest of the car up to the brim with junk from my basement and shed so that I could get rid of the most stuff for the minimum dumping fee at the landfill (even with roof racks to carry odd bits of lumber, my car is too small to hold more than the minimum amount). I feel like I'm on a roll!

[slackmax]

@slackmax it's a weird feeling as things that have been in plain sight become visible. Now to get it out of the house before it fades back into the background!

I didn't put it on the curb, since things like that don't get taken around here, for some reason, plus it's 50/50 chance of rain tomorrow.  And the garbage plan I have won't take it, either.

I barely got it into my car, but I did, without scratching anything! Dropped it off at the donation center, went home and saw a big old footstool in the archipelago, and decided to donate it too! Took it over.   

I vacuumed up the rug that got exposed in the archipelago, and moved some other stuff together, and now have pushed the archipelago a good 5 or 6 feet back towards the wall.   More open space!


 

[oneday]

@MaybeBabyMustache ah, the weather is being so cooperative!  Good to hear your area is less threatened. I was never less than 10 miles from any fire, but that is still pretty close!

That's some pretty good synergy the selling is bringing you!


@MountainGal hope you are safe as well!  Air quality has gotten a bit better here; hope the same for you.

[mspym]

@slackmax bonus points for the footstool! That's awesome stuff

My minor declutter today was using up a small carton of almond milk we had been given on our breakfasts. Now I have to work out what to do with a bottle of pomegranate molasses. I wonder if it makes a nice spritzer

[lazycow]

@slackmax yay for you! I am such a sticky beak: I'd love to see your before and after photos:-)

@mspym can you use the molasses for salad dressing or on rice? I am sure it is one of Ottolenghi's top 10 ingredients! Yes, here is a link: https://www.theguardian.com/lifeandstyle/shortcuts/2016/jul/12/yotam-ottolenghis-top-pomegranate-tips

I decluttered many, many raspberry canes that magically sprung up over the years from just 3 canes. Gave them to a guy who has started a market garden and he gave me a heap of perpetual spinach plants, with the promise of whatever vege plants I want over the coming months, plus some giant sunflowers. I also pulled out a rogue tree that is basically a weed. It was huge, but brittle so easy to do.

I have 5 small mailing boxes waiting for someone to pick up. They are perfect for mailing care packages. I know it would be much easier just to break them down and use in the compost bin but it is nice for them to be reused at least once.

[halftimer]

Lots of tiny decluttering wins lately. I offered some hobby supplies to a friend who was very excited, so I added a few more items when we did our masked trade off. I also was able to gift a number of small items to little family members, and put more things on the local free trade table. Decluttering lots of food this week as well.

@mspym I'm jealous of the pomegranate molasses, I have been trying to find it locally for years since I had it in a fantastic salmon recipe (on each salmon piece - 1/4 cup of onions and carrots cut into matchsticks and cooked in the oven in foil packets with a drizzle of oil, and balsamic mixed with pomegranate molasses or juice)

[Poundwise]

@mspym I've seen (and eaten) pomegranate molasses in a lot of Afghani and Syrian recipes, though not cooked with it myself.
https://www.epicurious.com/recipes/food/views/muhammara-10982

[Frugal Lizard]

I have been putting household goods that my son needs for his first apartment into a bin for him to take to university. I have also been more rigorous on the garden accessories - if it is really not in good shape:  out it goes. 

We also started a family challenge around menu planning to prevent food waste as part of living lighter on the planet group with our congregation.  That will also involve going through the freezer and the pantry. 

[okcisok]

@slackmax-congrats on your newly available 5' or 6' feet!

[LinneaH]

I vacuumed up the rug that got exposed in the archipelago, and moved some other stuff together, and now have pushed the archipelago a good 5 or 6 feet back towards the wall.   More open space!

Sounds great @slackmax!

I should do similar, the living room is a mess. But in our case, partly due to moving in October. However, this could be much better and we do need to live her for over a month still. We have some moving boxes and we can easily get more. We also have a "storage room", quite big and nearly empty, where we have started to put things in two piles (his and mine, so easy too keep separate when moving).

I am working from home today, until approximately noon, and I hope to get to clear ut a couple of mini categories today and during the weekend. Will taget plant pot and other smaller garden stuff. Also two overhead cupboards in the laundry room (those are already partly dealt with before open house so not too bad). And of course the living room. I believe 2 * 15 minutes in there will result in a smaller miracle.

[midweststache]

Decluttering the refrigerator :) I'm kinda bad at hiding perishable items, which then go bad, so had an omelette for breakfast with the dregs of my egg white carton, some hidden mushrooms, and mini peppers. Leftovers planned for lunch and dinner to help clear out the fridge before this weekend's grocery run.

Did another once-over on our books - our shelves now look manageable! (Trying to find a place ini reasonable distant to donate niche academic books with graduate student notes throughout.)

Went through the boys' clothes, and made another bag of hand-me-downs for my sister's impending little one. Got rid of what she didn't want through a local Buy Nothing group.

[MaybeBabyMustache]

Cleaned up the last of the soccer cleats that were used for 2 games last season, but outgrown due to COVID. Listed for sale, and will donate if that doesn't pan out.

[okcisok]

Went through the kitchen drawers and found a large, sharp fork that's a companion to a carving knife. I don't know why I have this. I don't cook large joints of meat, and I never host holiday gatherings. Why do I have this, and why have I moved it several times??

Also a shot glass and a fitted sheet that used to go over the loveseat I sold.

[lazycow]

Got rid of a single bed doona cover. It was on the spare bed and I was lying underneath it, having a rest and it felt gross and slippery with too much wear. The op shops here take this stuff and cut it into rags to sell in large bags, to tradesmen.

This one is more pantry-related, but I am attempting to use up a jar of hemp powder I bought for my son's protein shakes. He hates it, so I am adding a small spoonful each day to my morning porridge and it is quite pleasant, in little doses.

[mspym]

It's been a weekend of 5-minutes declutter tasks.
- Another quick whisk through the drawers and there's a small pile for donation again. Not sure how this lot escaped previous purges but that's common.
- I moved all the cables from various locations to the cable drawer
- Two minor clothing repairs complete and I am one found storage container lid away from completely clearing the sewing table. It looks so clear right now!
- My embroidery threads are now too many for the old casserole dish I have been keeping them in so that's next - sorting through them, finding a new place to keep them and donating the pyrex. It's beautiful but I am never going to the effort of making a two-serving casserole.
- I'm pulling off all the files from my old Galaxy s6 - gorgeous electric blue colour!- in anticipation of donating or recycling it. First I need to wipe it and also investigate if donation is an option.

Just overall, there's a LOT more clear surfaces in the house, without it feeling like an onerous weekend of chores.

[Raenia]

Finally got my pandemic decluttering pile out of the house yesterday - we loaded up the car and did a run to the Salvation Army, which is finally accepting donations again.  Such a relief to have those boxes out of the house!  I might even be able to vacuum the laundry room now - they were taking up so much floor space I couldn't clean properly.

Time to keep an eye out for a new box to start again.

[SunnyDays]

@mspym, women's shelter's will often accept old cell phones.  Even if the recipient can't afford a plan, they will all allow 911 calls as long as it's charged, and sometimes that's all someone needs to stay safe.

[lazycow]

An upright lamp which has a too-wide, and rather ugly shade. I bought it 2nd hand so no great financial loss. Will send it back to the op shop from whence it came, when said op shop reopens.

[slackmax]

Calling up one more reselling shop to see if they will buy my old electronic typewriter. Sort of hoping they will say no, like the other places, so I can just donate the thing to the salvation army, and be rid of it.

On Sunday I went by the S.A. dropoff place, and it was packed to the gills with stuff! I hope they continue to accept stuff well into the future, since I have a lot.   

[Poundwise]

I have been prioritizing the largest items since we need the floor space!  Some people have expressed a wish to buy the giant armoire that ended up in our garage. They may have it at a deep, deep, discount, and they will get my blessings with it.  They claim to be coming to pick it up this afternoon and I have my fingers crossed.

The giant armoire is gone!! Sold it to a Craigslist guy for only $130 (probably was $2K originally, but it's been for sale for almost two months.  I feel like we can breathe again!  So he's happy and I'm happy.

[MaybeBabyMustache]

I've made a few eBay sales, after a quiet period. Sold a sports bra, dress, pair of workout pants, fishing float, & wine chiller. Also sold our old fridge. Our microwave/convection oven is the only kitchen remodel still outstanding.

I need to get back to my "trying everything on" from summer stuff, & putting things I won't use or wear in the donation pile.

[brooklynmoney]

I moved to a new town and there are little libraries all around and I am driving around dropping off my books. Also there’s a bigger donation bin at the library I’m going tk check out. Goal is to reduce from 200 to 20.

[Plina]

Calling up one more reselling shop to see if they will buy my old electronic typewriter. Sort of hoping they will say no, like the other places, so I can just donate the thing to the salvation army, and be rid of it.

On Sunday I went by the S.A. dropoff place, and it was packed to the gills with stuff! I hope they continue to accept stuff well into the future, since I have a lot.

Maybe, you can put it in the electrical recycling. I doubt it is sellable, which is also verified by your efforts with the reselling shops. By donating it to salvation army you are giving them en expense or something to get rid of instead of a gift.

[Dutch Comfort]

Gave away 2 lunchboxes and 2 matching cups which my daughter did not want anymore (pink is no longer fashionable when you're a 12yo). Have to restart the decluttering efforts after the holidays. Will start with clearing out the kids' winter clothes to see what they have grown out, so I can start reselling / donating these (and buy some "new" clothes for them from Marketplace/E-bay).

[slackmax]

Calling up one more reselling shop to see if they will buy my old electronic typewriter. Sort of hoping they will say no, like the other places, so I can just donate the thing to the salvation army, and be rid of it.

On Sunday I went by the S.A. dropoff place, and it was packed to the gills with stuff! I hope they continue to accept stuff well into the future, since I have a lot.

Maybe, you can put it in the electrical recycling. I doubt it is sellable, which is also verified by your efforts with the reselling shops. By donating it to salvation army you are giving them en expense or something to get rid of instead of a gift.

Oh, don't be such a Debby Downer. I bet they could get $5 or $10 for it.