I'm about to start on a decluttering stint, but have a question about clothes. I have many items hanging in my wardrobes and folded in my draws, all clean when put away over time. Do you pack them up and take them to a charity shop or would they all need washing/cleaning again?
@AnnaB, they'd be fine as they are I think. I would imagine most people who buy clothes in charity shops would wash them when they get them home, as indeed I do.
No point in wasting your time and resources.
I'm heartbroken, found a receipt yesterday for a beautiful navy blue velvet with a lace v back dinner/party dress which I've only worn twice. The receipt was dated 2015! Do I chuck it out or keep it? To be honest, I'm unlikely to wear it much in the future but it is lovely and still fits me.
What l do in that situation @Lizzie27, is try and put my practical head on.
It's a beautiful dress/coat/skirt and it still fits me (not always in my case !). It's been in my wardrobe for x number of years ,l haven't worn it since 20xx
The chances of me ever wearing it again are infinitesimal to zero.
If l donate it to a charity shop, there's a very large chance that someone will buy it, get pleasure from it, and the charity makes some money for a good cause.
If it's something really special l make sure it goes to the charity shop that is closest to my heart, but if you're practical, maybe the shop that's more likely to sell it. I can honestly say l've never regretted it, even the lovely M&S coat with the big "fur" collar that l absolutely loved. I knew there wasn't a hope in hell that l'd be able to fit into it ever again 😊.
If your lovely dress still fits you, you feel good in it and there's a chance you might wear it again, I say keep it, at least for now. Nothing to stop you wearing it for a nice special dinner at home, if you want to!
Doncaster, South Yorkshire. Soil type: sandy, well-drained
I’d hang onto the velvet dress, @Lizzie27! My reasoning would include how much it would cost me ( both time and money) to get hold of an alternative if I found I suddenly needed one. If it still fits you, isn’t wildly out of fashion, and you love it, I’d make space for it in the wardrobe. I have a lovely navy lace dress I bought for next to nothing on a TKMaxx clearance rail before Covid. I had nowhere to wear it, but it was beautiful, and fitted me! Still does. It nearly got taken on a cruise last spring, which I had to cancel for health reasons. It’ll still be there waiting for an outing. I wouldn’t be able to buy something similar for even twice the price, and although I’d usually buy my ‘formal wear’ in a charity shop, that can take a bit of searching, and I may not get lucky.
Thanks folks, thought I'd try it on again tomorrow just in case and will probably keep the dress.
Chucked 9 nail polishes, 3 lipsticks and umpteen eyeshadows from dressing table. I also discovered to my horror that what I thought was an empty box of Chanel No.5 perfume refills (my all time favourite and gifts from OH) was not empty but contained one unused refill. I think I stopped wearing it pre covid as I found it too 'heavy' and not my style any more now I'm older. Another decision to be made.
My daughter recommended I put a blob of nail polish on each bit of kit, then everything with that colour blob on gets chucked out 12 months down the line. 2nd year, you use a different colour. First though I'd have to remember which colour I used for which year!
I absolutely love decluttering! I have got to the point now where I have nothing major to do anymore! Housework is a breeze as you don't have to move stuff to do it. My Mum (90) is currently downsizing from a 4 bedroom house to a 1 bedroom flat. I am constantly surprised at the stuff she has kept for decades and never looked at,just stored away. Gradually getting her to give up stuff, I don't want it but my sister will take just about anything!!
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Maybe throw 2 dry shampoos out and just keep the one. How often do you use the stuff ?
Edited to add, l also found this site, there are lots of ideas for various items, not just scrunchies.
https://www.recyclethis.co.uk/20110613/how-can-i-reuse-or-recycle-lots-of-hair-elasticsbandsscrunchies
No point in wasting your time and resources.
I'm heartbroken, found a receipt yesterday for a beautiful navy blue velvet with a lace v back dinner/party dress which I've only worn twice. The receipt was dated 2015!
Do I chuck it out or keep it? To be honest, I'm unlikely to wear it much in the future but it is lovely and still fits me.
It's a beautiful dress/coat/skirt and it still fits me (not always in my case !).
It's been in my wardrobe for x number of years ,l haven't worn it since 20xx
The chances of me ever wearing it again are infinitesimal to zero.
If l donate it to a charity shop, there's a very large chance that someone will buy it, get pleasure from it, and the charity makes some money for a good cause.
If it's something really special l make sure it goes to the charity shop that is closest to my heart, but if you're practical, maybe the shop that's more likely to sell it.
I can honestly say l've never regretted it, even the lovely M&S coat with the big "fur" collar that l absolutely loved. I knew there wasn't a hope in hell that l'd be able to fit into it ever again 😊.
Seriously though, do whatever feels right for you. Maybe book somewhere really nice and give the dress an outing.
Chucked 9 nail polishes, 3 lipsticks and umpteen eyeshadows from dressing table.
I also discovered to my horror that what I thought was an empty box of Chanel No.5 perfume refills (my all time favourite and gifts from OH) was not empty but contained one unused refill. I think I stopped wearing it pre covid as I found it too 'heavy' and not my style any more now I'm older. Another decision to be made.
My daughter recommended I put a blob of nail polish on each bit of kit, then everything with that colour blob on gets chucked out 12 months down the line. 2nd year, you use a different colour. First though I'd have to remember which colour I used for which year!
I have got to the point now where I have nothing major to do anymore!
Housework is a breeze as you don't have to move stuff to do it.
My Mum (90) is currently downsizing from a 4 bedroom house to a 1 bedroom flat.
I am constantly surprised at the stuff she has kept for decades and never looked at,just stored away.
Gradually getting her to give up stuff, I don't want it but my sister will take just about anything!!