topic Re: Declutter 2025: What Have You Purged Today? in Home

Declutter 2025: What Have You Purged Today?

rnmom — Wed, 01 Jan 2025 12:21:50 GMT

Happy New Year everyone!

Welcome to our Declutter 2025 thread!

This is where we all work together to try to make our homes spaces of peace and joy by ridding ourselves of items that we no longer use or love.

Some will have big purges, some will have small purges. Everything that leaves counts, whether it's as small as a pen or as big as a couch. Each item is one less thing that needs to be handled, one less thing to stress over, one less thing to manage, and one step closer to achieving our goals.

Decluttering in an ongoing process that never ends, as new items come in old items must leave and we are here to encourage each other and give tips and advice along the way.

I hope that everyone joins us this year as we continue on this journey together. Happy decluttering everyone!

Re: Declutter 2025: What Have You Purged Today?

geezerette — Wed, 01 Jan 2025 12:26:10 GMT

Re: Declutter 2025: What Have You Purged Today?

rnmom — Wed, 01 Jan 2025 12:35:59 GMT

I am trying to get hubby to help me purge a little bit before he goes back to work after Christmas break and he's not the most willing participant but I did get him to look at a couple of things.

We went thru the very full coat closet and he found 2 coats to donate. He also found a very stained hoodie to toss along with a flannel shirt that was ripped.

He found 3 long sleeved shirts in his closet that he doesn't wear that aren't nice enough to donate so those got tossed along with a pair of long underwear pants.

We found a pair of running pants to donate and I tossed 2 more bandanan that the dog had gotten a hold of and chewed big holes in them.

I try not to mess with his stuff and his spaces but everything is getting so full and congested he's just going to have to start going thru some of his things and getting rid of the items that he doesn't use. Everything is just stuffed full and it is hard to even put things away. It doesn't seem to bother him but I can't stand it.

One of my goals for this year is to work on using up some of what we already have here before replacing, whether it be food, toiletries, vitamins, cleaners etc. I don't know how to really count it as purging but I want to try to open up a bit of space that way.

Re: Declutter 2025: What Have You Purged Today?

4kitties — Wed, 01 Jan 2025 12:55:44 GMT

Happy New Year to all reading here and trying to purge our "stuff".

I have not posted on this thread lately, but I made a lot of progress the last six months or so. I am so proud of myself and Mr 4kitties. We did a big purge of our basement. I went through seasonal decor, stored in boxes, and made many trips to Goodwill. My daughters took some of my excess kitchen stuff too!👏🏻👏🏻. I finally got rid of items I did not think I could ever part with. Don't miss them one bit!

Our big coat closet was emptied and we both got rid of some old coats, hats, scarves and gloves. That closet looks amazing right now. There is enough room to hang up guests coats when they come over and a bit of space on the upper shelves too.

My main goal right now is to finally settle some items that belonged to my parents. My brother and sister, both keep saying they want to keep some of these items but I cannot seem to get them here to pick them up. Some of the items are valuable and I need an appraisal to assess our individual share. They seem to not understand why this is necessary but I have no other way to determine our one third each. I have decided to give them another couple of weeks, and then I will issue an ultimatum. 🤣🤣🤣

That should get their attention! I will get it settled one way or the other though as I am tired of storing these items and need to settle these matters.

Re: Declutter 2025: What Have You Purged Today?

vermint — Wed, 01 Jan 2025 13:09:08 GMT

I tossed a couple of electric hair tools I don't need anymore...my hair has been short for over a year now, why the heck was I hanging on to them?!?!?

Also purged some expired stuff from the kitchen.

Happy New Year everyone!

Re: Declutter 2025: What Have You Purged Today?

Neetgal2 — Wed, 01 Jan 2025 13:49:31 GMT

Yes, my food processor. Very big, works and all parts are there along with instruction manual and a separate cookbook. I have not used in over 20 years. Moulinex, La Machine.

Re: Declutter 2025: What Have You Purged Today?

jlkz — Wed, 01 Jan 2025 14:10:36 GMT

@rnmom

DH and your DH could be long lost twins ! Mine was a recreational shopper: he stopped that once we sold the mountain place.

They used to wear long sleeved white shirts to the law office years ago, so consequently he had quite an accumulation. To help him get started, I hung 10 shirts on an overhead pipe in the garage and had him select which of those to be donated. Immediately took those away to another room. Returned thise he wanted to his closet.

I did this many times: took over 4 dozen long sleeved shirts to be donated to protect migrant crop pickers from skin cancer.

DH still had over 4dozen on hangers plus some in cellophane-wrapped new packages. Now retired, he needs to go through this again.

I wish it were a different story with his coat closetS.

Re: Declutter 2025: What Have You Purged Today?

We rescue cats — Wed, 01 Jan 2025 14:34:55 GMT

Pictures that hung in the bathroom that we are remodeling, lots of old wrapping supplies, next up is either the camper stuff we brought in or the wear around the house clothes that you all inspired!

Re: Declutter 2025: What Have You Purged Today?

Snicks1 — Wed, 01 Jan 2025 15:25:51 GMT

Happy New Year to all my fellow declutterers. And thanks to @rnmom for starting the new thread.
Yesterday I went through my bedroom, all the drawers, came up empty on things to declutter. Odd. I usually always find something I've been hanging onto that I am willing to let go, but about this time 2 years ago when I was going through all my husband's things I also purged my own belongings (it didn't feel as heartbreaking since I was also clearing out my own excess stuff, too), I really haven't been bringing much in, as I still have more than I need. Then I went on to the bathroom and did find a few things there to declutter, an expired bottle of cleanser, and a stack of washcloths (about 8 extras), altho not much. I guess that's a good thing?
Today will be my living room chair side table, it has 3 drawers (small) and they are full, so I am expecting "stuff" to rear it's head there, then I think I'll also do the hall closet, see what all is up on that high shelf.
And on we go....

Re: Declutter 2025: What Have You Purged Today?

LindaSal — Wed, 01 Jan 2025 15:26:54 GMT

I try to declutter all year long. For me the mood strikes and watch out! I do sneakily (sorry, sounds worse than it is) go through some of DH's things. In my defense he is one of those people who hangs on to stuff way too long. Thankfully we did a huge purge when we downsized 6 years ago now. But it is a never ending battle, IMO, so you have to keep at it. In September we cleaned, rearranged and purged our two stall garage. It is amazing what piles up out there, but it was quite productive. I am a total purger for sure, my family calls me when they want to go through things and get rid of stuff, LOL!

Re: Declutter 2025: What Have You Purged Today?

geezerette — Wed, 01 Jan 2025 15:57:13 GMT

I haven't really been actively decluttering this past year, just trashing or donating things as I decide I don't want or need them.

When I looked over my donation piles, I realized that most of what they consisted of were things I had bought recently (within the last few years) and didn't like for one reason or another so consequently ended up not using. This was a bit of a bitter pill for me to swallow since I couldn't blame any of it on my husband, it was all me.🤗

So my mantra for the New Year is to be mindful of what I bring into the house and into my life. I don't need anymore hair or skin care for months, and I may not outlive most of the clothes I have "stocked".

I have to resist the sales until I can get my current inventory reduced, no matter how much they tell me I can save!😄

Re: Declutter 2025: What Have You Purged Today?

magicmoodz — Wed, 01 Jan 2025 15:44:54 GMT

@rnmom

Thank you for starting our 2025 decluttering thread. You have helped so many of us to stay on the straight and narrow with our efforts to live with less!

I was inspired yesterday to once again sort through my makeup discarding the eyelash primer and two mascaras I use, replacing them with new for the new year.

I then moved on to sorting through all our meds to ensure everything was not expired and tossing lots of stuff that was almost gone or duplicates of things we had already replaced.

Ok, it wasn't much, but to me I felt as if I accomplished a project and a great way to start the new year!

Speaking of new year, wishing happiness to all!❣️

Re: Declutter 2025: What Have You Purged Today?

gidgetgh — Wed, 01 Jan 2025 16:05:25 GMT

@geezerette wrote:
I haven't really been actively decluttering this past year, just trashing or donating things as I decide I don't want or need them.

When I looked over my donation piles, I realized that most of what they consisted of were things I had bought recently (within the last few years) and didn't like for one reason or another so consequently ended up not using. This was a bit of a bitter pill for me to swallow since I couldn't blame any of it on my husband, it was all me.🤗

So my mantra for the New Year is to be mindful of what I bring into the house and into my life. I don't need anymore hair or skin care for months, and I may not outlive most of the clothes I have "stocked".

I have to resist the sales until I can get my current inventory reduced, no matter how much they tell me I can save!😄

@geezerette - yeah, since I live alone, I have no one to blame but me, LOL. I tend to be an impulse shopper and like you sometimes see that the things I am donating or taking to consignment are more recent purchases. I also am going to try to be more mindful of that this year. I can be a little fickle with things. I love it today when I buy it, but in a few months? Sometimes not so much.

Re: Declutter 2025: What Have You Purged Today?

gidgetgh — Wed, 01 Jan 2025 16:08:50 GMT

@rnmom - thanks for starting this year's thread.

I continue to plug along at donating and consigning. I really do well at living a clutter free life and I'm proud of myself for that, but I am constantly looking and tweaking. It's just a purposeful part of my life. Things I take to consignment has slowed down quite a bit because I just don't have that much stuff to take them anymore. Same for Goodwill.

I wish us all well as we go through 2025.

Re: Declutter 2025: What Have You Purged Today?

gidgetgh — Wed, 01 Jan 2025 16:14:02 GMT

@4kitties wrote:
Happy New Year to all reading here and trying to purge our "stuff".

I have not posted on this thread lately, but I made a lot of progress the last six months or so. I am so proud of myself and Mr 4kitties. We did a big purge of our basement. I went through seasonal decor, stored in boxes, and made many trips to Goodwill. My daughters took some of my excess kitchen stuff too!👏🏻👏🏻. I finally got rid of items I did not think I could ever part with. Don't miss them one bit!

Our big coat closet was emptied and we both got rid of some old coats, hats, scarves and gloves. That closet looks amazing right now. There is enough room to hang up guests coats when they come over and a bit of space on the upper shelves too.

My main goal right now is to finally settle some items that belonged to my parents. My brother and sister, both keep saying they want to keep some of these items but I cannot seem to get them here to pick them up. Some of the items are valuable and I need an appraisal to assess our individual share. They seem to not understand why this is necessary but I have no other way to determine our one third each. I have decided to give them another couple of weeks, and then I will issue an ultimatum. 🤣🤣🤣
That should get their attention! I will get it settled one way or the other though as I am tired of storing these items and need to settle these matters.

@4kitties - it's amazing, isn't it. "Did not think I could ever part with".

We can't, we can't, we can't and then one day, it's ok to let Items go. I'm finding now that in some cases, I don't even need to take a picture of the item anymore. I used to do that and keep the picture on my phone as a memory, but not as much anymore.

Re: Declutter 2025: What Have You Purged Today?

amyb — Wed, 01 Jan 2025 18:23:26 GMT

Happy New Year, peeps~wow...y'all are ON IT already here!

Baby steps continuing for me...

Went through my makeup box...I did a good purging last few years of lip glosses and other things there, without adding too much new, so there wasn't a ton...but..

RIP favorite Mally lipglosses (3), she doesn't make any longer and I held onto way longer than I should have! I really had stopped using them, and last time I did it had gotten thicker, tackier, and didn't taste right, so bye bye...nobody got time for lip bacteria in 2025, am I right?!

Tossed a Mally compact that the concealer was gone in, but still had the setting powder. These were the old quality one you could take out the inserts...so, I took out the setting powder & put it into a small empty compact I had saved of hers. Out with bigger compact, consolidated to small one. That's ALL for makeup...

I do need to replace my Laura Mercier "Bare Babe" lip gloss, which is about 5 years old, and near the bottom, but didn't toss yet. I only use that in summer....and yes, I keep makeup longer than "experts" advise.

Went through a box in my bureau where I keep product/mfr/tags of some clothing, for care info, extra yarn & buttons they give. Tossed some old stuff didn't need.

That's all for my not so BIG start...but it's a start.

From the last thread...my freezer felt good to look into today...all neat & organized! I'll peruse pantry, cabinets, but I believe everything in there is up to date. Well....all except that Kansas City Steak "flavor packets" from some 2020 filets we bought....not sure they have an expiration...also not sure I'll EVER care to use those on meat so....yea.

I also have to say...my Christmas decorating this year was so much more organized to get out of storage, put up & will be to put away, as compared to years ago with all my random paper bags stored with things wrapped in tissue! Now everything is neat in Periea boxes, and my older two plastic bins. Payoff from some strategic work over these past few years.

Ok, all for now! Have a nice NY Day, all!

**I lied...Update...broke down cardboard boxes, and spare paper/plastic bags to toss. (Still have too many but I use them for weekly recycling collecting/tossing & outside when planting/pruning, dug out plants being tossed etc)

Also magazine rack, outdated local business flyers, coupon catalogs.

Re: Declutter 2025: What Have You Purged Today?

amyb — Wed, 01 Jan 2025 18:36:13 GMT

@gidgetgh "It's just a purposeful part of my life."

I love that. I feel that way too. I've always been a pretty good yearly declutterer, inventory reviewer etc. Pretty consistent...though I've really gotten even better in the last decade...more organized, as I've adopted better systems and better storage products came out.

I believe our consistency, support, inspiraton from others here, momentum, as we've all been on track on this thread, to all degrees, helps make it "a purposeful part of all our lives." Tks for that good mantra @gidgetgh

Re: Declutter 2025: What Have You Purged Today?

JudyL — Wed, 01 Jan 2025 19:34:09 GMT

@rnmom - It's been about a year or so since I posted here but thought I would start this year with a small purge. Went through closet and got rid of boxes that I kept when I purchased an item in case I needed to return it. Funny thing is, I don't have the items any longer! So out when a few boxes. Purged a lighted makeup mirror that I don't use and went through some clothes for donation. Have also tossed a few small things here and there the last couple of days but can't remember what they were now. Kind of purge as I go along. Had knee surgery in November so have to do things in short spurts but this is a start!

Re: Declutter 2025: What Have You Purged Today?

amyb — Wed, 01 Jan 2025 19:54:52 GMT

Just did the fridge purge! (the other day I only did the freezer)

Before I took out the recycled bags/boxes/catalogs

I went over the fridge...way more in there that needed to go than I realized. (Everything's been buried under holiday cooked items, leftovers...and now that that's dwindling down...I could see what was old and still there. Out! All good now.

Now, THAT is THAT for me today!!

Going to relax and catchup on some tv streaming...and online stuff. I mean, it IS a holiday, after all.

Re: Declutter 2025: What Have You Purged Today?

Fifi1 — Wed, 01 Jan 2025 21:50:45 GMT

Happy New Year!

lazy day, made us brunch with mimosa's and dh fixing ham for dinner.

mentally deciding what my purge plan will be next few days! Hope that counts!

did see some glasses and plastic glasses in cupboard we never use, and odd/end mugs people gift you, but never use - going in donate box!