topic Re: It feels so good to throw some things away! in Home

It feels so good to throw some things away!

Mominohio — Wed, 17 Feb 2016 22:42:35 GMT

OK, lets get this out of the way first. We DO recycle, donate, repurpose etc. Very much so.

But there are some things, that don't have another use, are so shot by the time you are done with them, no one else would want them.

I'm still in the throes of spring cleaning, and have made some sweeping decisions to throw away a number of items that I hadn't considered when the process first started.

I'd been looking for a couple of years for a new quilt on my kid's bed, after one last washing, it was literally falling apart. Even the dog pound won't take it in the shape it came out of the washer. Out it went!

I took down my 20+ year old curtains and ordered new. So misshapen, stitching coming out, been repaired, and then torn when laundering this time. Out they went!

A number of other things that I've wanted to replace, but just hadn't found what I was looking for needed to go (some old silk florals etc.) as well, and even without replacements, Out they went!

Sometimes, we just have to throw thing away. They aren't fit for recycle, or donation, or other uses. They just have to go.

And it is quite freeing to be rid of things that you have been looking at, unhappy with their appearance, and just needed to let them go.

Look out! I'm on a roll! If any man in this house sits too long in one spot this week, it just might mean OUT THEY GO!!!!

Re: It feels so good to throw some things away!

eddyandme — Wed, 17 Feb 2016 23:53:00 GMT

I'd rather go without instead of hanging on to somethings I just don't like in the house. On a different note, there was a post on facebook suggesting going thru our closets and donating forty items, representing the forty days of Lent. I did so today, kinda hard at first as many of which were "new", purchased a few months ago, yet never worn and others older than that, but just never worn. I think the saying that we wear the same clothes over and over is certainly true. Anyways, once I decided to give them up, I felt really good. Somebody will get plenty of use out of things, I apparently just wanted, but never really needed. And I think whatever the case, be it something needing to be tossed or just something never used, purging is emotionally cleansing.

Re: It feels so good to throw some things away!

Irish1210 — Thu, 18 Feb 2016 00:03:21 GMT

Good for you ~ I'm going to use you as a source of much needed inspiration : )

Thanks!

Re: It feels so good to throw some things away!

fthunt — Thu, 18 Feb 2016 00:05:10 GMT

Doing the same here - have 3 bags and decorating items to drop off at charity as soon as the icy roads are better. I hate warehousing stuff I don't need or want. Some brand new.

Re: It feels so good to throw some things away!

sandy53 — Thu, 18 Feb 2016 00:18:05 GMT

I agree! I am taking a serious look at all the clothes I have not yet worn this winter. I have made one trip to donate items and will make another this weekend.

Re: It feels so good to throw some things away!

Cookie2025 — Thu, 18 Feb 2016 00:44:08 GMT

@eddyandme wrote:
I'd rather go without instead of hanging on to somethings I just don't like in the house. On a different note, there was a post on facebook suggesting going thru our closets and donating forty items, representing the forty days of Lent. I did so today, kinda hard at first as many of which were "new", purchased a few months ago, yet never worn and others older than that, but just never worn. I think the saying that we wear the same clothes over and over is certainly true. Anyways, once I decided to give them up, I felt really good. Somebody will get plenty of use out of things, I apparently just wanted, but never really needed. And I think whatever the case, be it something needing to be tossed or just something never used, purging is emotionally cleansing.

That is a nice way of observing. I like having the 40 items = 40 days.

I started clearing out my closets 2 weeks - I gave bags of sweaters to my Son's girlfriend and she will pass them onto her Family.

Re: It feels so good to throw some things away!

Reba055 — Thu, 18 Feb 2016 01:17:04 GMT

I like to update shower curtains, comforters, sheets, rugs, decorative items often. Most are like brand new when I change them. I have managed to accumulate a ton of them. I noticed it last week while looking for something. It's on my to do list now, but I need some manpower help, lol.

Also, I'm about to get brutal with my closets. I'm finally going to part with many pairs of high heels (argh) that I can no longer wear much. I just need a few pairs for special occasions. Need to get rid of some purses too.

I do throw out things that aren't in top notch condition, but I'm not one to hang on to things long enough for them to wear out usually.

Oh, and Coffeemakers. We must have 4 or 5, including back up Keurig's. Talk about addicted 😜

Re: It feels so good to throw some things away!

Texasmouse — Thu, 18 Feb 2016 01:19:23 GMT

@Mominohio

Good for you! My new curtains and rods arrived today! Guess what DH and I will be doing this weekend. LOL! I wonder what I'll do with the vertical blinds we'll be taking down. Maybe Habitat for Humanity?

Re: It feels so good to throw some things away!

lucymo — Thu, 18 Feb 2016 01:40:52 GMT

@Mominohio I need to get a message to your DH and tell him to forget the recliner and keep moving until this phase has passed. LOL.

Good ideas and I applaud your efforts.

Re: It feels so good to throw some things away!

Mominohio — Thu, 18 Feb 2016 02:09:07 GMT

@lucymo wrote:
@Mominohio I need to get a message to your DH and tell him to forget the recliner and keep moving until this phase has passed. LOL.
Good ideas and I applaud your efforts.

He and my son learned not to sit too long anywhere this past holiday season or I'd put a bow on them (I had kind of a bow fetish this year, I had them everywhere)!

I'm constantly cleaning out and donating, but this throwing things in the trash is so much easier. They are just plain shot. No thought to it, no hedging, thinking maybe I'll use it later, or it still has some use in it. No guilt, no second guessing no burdens! Love it!

Re: It feels so good to throw some things away!

Katyq — Thu, 18 Feb 2016 03:14:30 GMT

Me too!

@fthunt wrote:
Doing the same here - have 3 bags and decorating items to drop off at charity as soon as the icy roads are better. I hate warehousing stuff I don't need or want. Some brand new.

Re: It feels so good to throw some things away!

Mominohio — Thu, 18 Feb 2016 03:17:33 GMT

@Texasmouse wrote:
@Mominohio
Good for you! My new curtains and rods arrived today! Guess what DH and I will be doing this weekend. LOL! I wonder what I'll do with the vertical blinds we'll be taking down. Maybe Habitat for Humanity?

Please @Texasmouse, when you get your new curtains up, start a thread and let us know what you think, how it transforms things for you.

I'm still anxiously awaiting my new curtains and rods, and the frustrating part is it looks like the curtains may be here a week before the rods. That ought to drive me nuts.

Right now we have no curtains on the main level of the house. It feels like we live in a fish bowl right now.

Have fun putting up the new curtains!

Re: It feels so good to throw some things away!

Texasmouse — Thu, 18 Feb 2016 03:20:31 GMT

@Mominohio wrote:
@Texasmouse wrote:
@Mominohio
Good for you! My new curtains and rods arrived today! Guess what DH and I will be doing this weekend. LOL! I wonder what I'll do with the vertical blinds we'll be taking down. Maybe Habitat for Humanity?
Please @Texasmouse, when you get your new curtains up, start a thread and let us know what you think, how it transforms things for you.

I'm still anxiously awaiting my new curtains and rods, and the frustrating part is it looks like the curtains may be here a week before the rods. That ought to drive me nuts.

Right now we have no curtains on the main level of the house. It feels like we live in a fish bowl right now.

Have fun putting up the new curtains!

Will do,@mominohio. I might even post before and after pictures and see what everyone thinks of the change!

Re: It feels so good to throw some things away!

In-x-s — Thu, 18 Feb 2016 11:46:18 GMT

Keep in mind, before just tossing unusable items, that Goodwill recycles old clothing/fabrics into carpet padding and fill for cushions and such. They do not just resell items. Anything that is "trashed" clothing they can sort through and grind up and recycle.

Re: It feels so good to throw some things away!

Cookie2025 — Thu, 18 Feb 2016 12:40:10 GMT

OMGOODNESS - I am with you on the duvet covers, lamp shades, pillows and shower curtains. In my world the shower curtain has to coordinate with the duvet covers, lamp shades and pillows in the bedroom and I change out every 2 - 3 months.

I bought a Ralph Lauren duvet cover in December and it is STILL on the bed. A record for me.

I have gained so much weight over the last 10 years due to medication - that is what my Doctor says. I take predisone and lots of other drugs that contribute the to weight but somehow I feel I can control the fatness. My Doctor is NOT concerned - my blood pressure is normal, cholesteral is normal, blood sugar is controlled by me ... my kidney function is climbing though. But the Doctors are happy so I should be grateful.

I am going do the 40 items each week - that is how much small - medium size clothing I have to get rid of.

Re: It feels so good to throw some things away!

Cookie2025 — Thu, 18 Feb 2016 12:43:40 GMT

@In-x-s wrote:
Keep in mind, before just tossing unusable items, that Goodwill recycles old clothing/fabrics into carpet padding and fill for cushions and such. They do not just resell items. Anything that is "trashed" clothing they can sort through and grind up and recycle.

Thanks for taking time to post this info.

Re: It feels so good to throw some things away!

Mominohio — Thu, 18 Feb 2016 13:14:15 GMT

@In-x-s wrote:
Keep in mind, before just tossing unusable items, that Goodwill recycles old clothing/fabrics into carpet padding and fill for cushions and such. They do not just resell items. Anything that is "trashed" clothing they can sort through and grind up and recycle.

Depending on one's location, this is very true.

I managed the thrift, transportation and production facilities for both Goodwill Industries and Volunteers of America for many years, and in our area, they are really cracking down on what they take, even as far as fabric items that aren't saleable. Their buyers don't want certain things like plastic shower curtains type things, lace, rugs, etc. in the mix of their 'rag' sales. The thrift agencies will be very particular, at their buyers request, as to what type of fabrics go in the mix, or they will be stuck with literally tons of unsellable fabric (we used to bale it in huge bales) that they can't sell.

Our local places are also down to almost not taking furniture at all. Some are now refusing some books and all magazines too.

It varies widely across the nation, and between the different agencies, but all of them are getting much more particular about what they are taking, most likely because of the high cost of disposing of trash.

It is shocking to work in this area, and see the volume of trash that is generated and headed to landfills. People think once they donate, they have done their part to 'recycle', but when people donate unusable things, they just end up in the dumpster somewhere else, costing the charity more money than it makes from the donation.

Some are getting better with recycling (cardboard, some glass,etc.) but so many things that are donated are never sold (even though they are in good condition) and after a certain cycle (usually a month) they are thrown away as well, as there is no recycling available for many things, and the cost of handling it anymore is prohibitive.

Re: It feels so good to throw some things away!

151949 — Thu, 18 Feb 2016 13:41:10 GMT

I agree OP. I am very good about this at home but have still to do it at camp this summer.I just don't have room there to store useless junk. I haven't cleaned out cupboards up there since we bought a new camper 3 years ago. Time to get er done.

Re: It feels so good to throw some things away!

bonnielu — Thu, 18 Feb 2016 13:48:56 GMT

I am trying. But just when I toss something out... something that hubby has not used in fifty years he goes looking for it. I kid you not. Yes, 50 years in June. And my kids are after me to decide how to celebrate. Not a happy camper as I should be.... a large party... a vacation away from home with the family.... I guess I would rather just make it another day. Might need some advice on this one.

Re: It feels so good to throw some things away!

Snoopp — Thu, 18 Feb 2016 14:31:33 GMT

Throwing stuff in the trash would be so much easier but I'm not the type to do that. If I think if there life left in something I want to donate it or find some other use for it. It slows me down for sure. I once tossed some perfectly good tupperware cups in the garbage and it felt really good but I guess underneath it all I had some guilt cause I still think about those cups, LOL.