I'm feeling quite virtuous , I took 2 sacks full of pots and a load of empty compost sacks to a local GC that takes them for recycling today. Trouble is we then spent money on more plants and another bag of MPC, another bag and more potsto get rid of😬.
Why is it so hard to get rid of stuff, but so easy to add to possessions? When we moved to this house, the previous owners left things behind. This includes a jar of nails for exterior timber constructions. Well, I still have that same honey jar full of nails. I've not used any in the 22 years we've been here, nor have I added to them, but I just can't bring myself to get rid of them, because they might come in useful!! 🙄 Is there much hope for my kind? I can happily demolish a wardrobe, but can't let go of a jar of secondhand nails.
I am a minimalist and love turning stuff out. It gives me great satisfaction. My sister, on the other hand, well ... 😱 Her house is stuffed to the gunnels. I have spent yrs extolling the virtues of drawers and cupboards you can see the contents of at a glance, which is, I admit, quite a goal if you can't even see the carpet for piles of things! Finally, got her motivated. So far she has thrown out 5,000 items ... and there is still quite a way to go. I've also got her on a "1 item in, 2 items out" schedule, which does help you realise how things "creep in softly" (her description, but I think a very good one).
My Dad has always been one for everything being tidy and shipshape (comes from his time in the Navy), and very practical, and over the years as Mum became more frail and bed bound he slowly got rid of clothes she wouldn't wear again. Anything of good quality he gave to me to donate to local charity shops. He kept some things back though, as he said he couldn't bring himself to get rid of everything before she'd "gone".
When she died last August, a week or so later l went upstairs with him and we emptied her wardrobe of the last few items. I took them to a local children's charity shop, and after l left them there l cried in the car on the way home.
Personally it made a dreadful time a little easier, although l do appreciate that not everyone feels the same and may gain comfort from sorting through their loved one's things.
Eventually we will have to clear out my parents in law's house which will be a complete nightmare as it is absolutely full of stuff. I have edited this from a long description 😊.
I 'm sorry to go on but even if you throw out a couple of empty spice jars or an old moth eaten cardigan, l for one would appreciate it more than you could possibly know.
my main thing is with garden stuff. Bits of string, plastic tie ups which came with plants I bought. And the plastic pots ....
Generally I do throw away clothes that don't fit. I have been thinking that I "need" a new pair of ankle boots, but until I am prepared to chuck the old ones (which are still ok but 10 years' old) I won't buy it. Let's see how this resolution lasts.
For me, it's anything to do with castles, especially books. I have a lovely framed prints of one of the castles in the Isles of Scilly, from our first visit. It's faded, and my wife says it should go. But me? No chance!! It's one of my favourites. I've seen a replacement for sale on eBay, but I refuse to spend out, when I already have one.
I'm a bit of a clothes hoarder. My weight goes up and down so I always think clothes might fit again one day. I did give a lot to charity when I sold my house and downsized. I had to get rid of a lot of stuff then. I gave some to my children. There were things I could have sold but it was during Covid times so difficult. The clothes went into a bin in the village for a charity. I filled a 20m3 skip.
I've posted this before I think.
Dordogne and Norfolk. Clay in Dordogne, sandy in Norfolk.
I'm feeling inspired to give it another go. I just hope that it lasts beyond opening the boxes. I have to confess that I put out a nest of round food storage containers (I prefer the rectangular ones) for someone to take. A few hours later, I retrieved it. Maybe I could use the large one upside down for storing cakes. I rarely make a cake. Two in the last year max. Must try harder.
@clematisdorset your post made me think of sucky bags. ( I'm sure there's another name for them) a good 70% if them don't work and sneakily soften up in the bottom of the wardrobe. How hard is it to manufacture a plastic bag that doesn't leak?
Old frying pans and woks make great container/ big flowerpot saucers and the handles mean you can turn the container without lifting it. They make good bird baths too.
Oh those things yes, (should I use the word vacuum or hoover @b3 ....?😁)...compression bags - and they don't work for their intended purpose because most of them end up with little holes or gaps where the seals or zips are positioned. I did try them once but could not get on with them. When I said shrink, I was thinking of Alice in Wonderland/doll's House proportions - magical realism and not very helpful I admit...
I have sometimes tried to beat the clutter (for those items of clothing or fabrics that are taking up space or that are in a hard to reach area but which are not ready to be 'dealt with' by putting them inside cushion covers and then dotting the 'cushions' about, as if they are innocent cushions only doing their cushion-like job... and you can easily whip out a pair of gloves or a scarf from one of these 'cushions', say, without hunting about in the depths of storage...
I love that repurposing bird-bath idea and the saucer with handles - why cannot the handles be more usual with the dedicated garden saucers!?
Sorry to witness the demise of the forum. 😥😥😥😡😡😡I am Spartacus
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I took 2 sacks full of pots and a load of empty compost sacks to a local GC that takes them for recycling today. Trouble is we then spent money on more plants and another bag of MPC, another bag and more potsto get rid of😬.
When we moved to this house, the previous owners left things behind. This includes a jar of nails for exterior timber constructions.
Well, I still have that same honey jar full of nails. I've not used any in the 22 years we've been here, nor have I added to them, but I just can't bring myself to get rid of them, because they might come in useful!!
🙄
Is there much hope for my kind? I can happily demolish a wardrobe, but can't let go of a jar of secondhand nails.
https://www.goodhousekeeping.com/home/organizing/a43826147/swedish-death-cleaning/
My Dad has always been one for everything being tidy and shipshape (comes from his time in the Navy), and very practical, and over the years as Mum became more frail and bed bound he slowly got rid of clothes she wouldn't wear again. Anything of good quality he gave to me to donate to local charity shops.
He kept some things back though, as he said he couldn't bring himself to get rid of everything before she'd "gone".
When she died last August, a week or so later l went upstairs with him and we emptied her wardrobe of the last few items.
I took them to a local children's charity shop, and after l left them there l cried in the car on the way home.
Personally it made a dreadful time a little easier, although l do appreciate that not everyone feels the same and may gain comfort from sorting through their loved one's things.
Eventually we will have to clear out my parents in law's house which will be a complete nightmare as it is absolutely full of stuff.
I have edited this from a long description 😊.
I 'm sorry to go on but even if you throw out a couple of empty spice jars or an old moth eaten cardigan, l for one would appreciate it more than you could possibly know.
Generally I do throw away clothes that don't fit. I have been thinking that I "need" a new pair of ankle boots, but until I am prepared to chuck the old ones (which are still ok but 10 years' old) I won't buy it. Let's see how this resolution lasts.
Luxembourg
I have a lovely framed prints of one of the castles in the Isles of Scilly, from our first visit. It's faded, and my wife says it should go. But me? No chance!! It's one of my favourites. I've seen a replacement for sale on eBay, but I refuse to spend out, when I already have one.
I've posted this before I think.
I have to confess that I put out a nest of round food storage containers (I prefer the rectangular ones) for someone to take. A few hours later, I retrieved it. Maybe I could use the large one upside down for storing cakes. I rarely make a cake. Two in the last year max.
Must try harder.
I have sometimes tried to beat the clutter (for those items of clothing or fabrics that are taking up space or that are in a hard to reach area but which are not ready to be 'dealt with' by putting them inside cushion covers and then dotting the 'cushions' about, as if they are innocent cushions only doing their cushion-like job... and you can easily whip out a pair of gloves or a scarf from one of these 'cushions', say, without hunting about in the depths of storage...
I love that repurposing bird-bath idea and the saucer with handles - why cannot the handles be more usual with the dedicated garden saucers!?