Decluttering challenges - YouLookFab Forum

As I mentioned in the forum previously, we have been doing a renovation at home. We are not quite there yet.....

I have used the momentum from the reno to declutter - mostly homewares rather than my closet - but it is a process... Here is what I have tried and what has worked.

Success so far
Facebook marketplace - mixed success. I have made about $65 across four items but had quick contact ie collection the same day. I had an attempted scam but didn't fall for it. That made me feel awful.
TradeMe (Ebay) - success selling a chair for $2.50 that needed a total rehaul. The person left me $5 and a chocolate bar. This was the best trade!!
Donation - dropped off clothes, kitchen ware, books and records to the Thrift store. They don't take some items but it was easy. But you don't know what happens from there.
Ewaste recycling - another trip but effective. Only choice for some things eg old cords, chargers and screens.
Attempt to give to family members - gave two Babooshka to a small cousin, but failed on other dolls and pram. One jacket still to try and rehome.
Rubbish dump - anything I could not donate or sell.

Still to try/try again
TradeMe - Sale of dolls and pram (they are antique)
Upcycle - painting of wooden chest

It is an effort to ethically try and dispose of "stuff" and your "stuff" is not always desirable to other people.....This is a reminder to myself to not accumulate.

I have a lovely clean bedroom and office and living room and laundry with minimal clutter. We are yet to rehang art and rearrange a few things - and there are a few gaps where I have decluttered in advance of having something to put in it's place (our front entrance is empty!!)

3 months ago

ChristelJ

Veteran

Congratulations on your decluttering! It is an effort for sure, and it's satisfying just to read about the success of your multi-pronged approach. Must be lovely to have empty spaces to work with.

It's so true that our stuff is rarely as desirable to other people as we imagine it will be. And accumulating is easy; culling seems to be much harder.

RobinF

Decluttering is very satisfying! I am trying to do it as we redo rooms rather than let things build up and have to do a big declutter. We just cleaned the garage this weekend and it looks so nice! But we do have a few items that we need to figure out how to dispose of.

I have had a little success with Facebook Marketplace but we tend more to donation and trash. Honestly we probably trash more than we should because it is so easy. I want to do less of that whenever possible.

Helena

Amazing ... love this. Yeah, disposing of clutter is so hard, and it's true that we are all so inundated with stuff that no one wants it! The charities are often the best option, but as we know they can be problematic. I think you can only do your best and commit to consuming less, a struggle for all of us I'm sure!

One thing that sometimes comes up around here is that a local church will sponsor a refugee family, and they are often grateful for gently used home goods to help furnish a home at least as a start.

Enjoy your beautiful, clutter free space Sal!

Sal

Thanks Christel- after going through this process with my Grandmother, Mother and MIL, I had some idea that things they valued are not necessarily valuable to others. It's a bit sad but just the truth.

Robyn - keeping on top of things is a good idea! We weren't too bad but there were some pockets (my high office cupboard, a sleep out, and my sons' wardrobes) where there was scope.

Thanks Helena - stemming the flow inwards is the key thing I agree. Some of this was stuff that I inherited from my Mum and had visions of doing something to - but after five years I have decided I won't. The hardest for me is IT and electronics - old computer screens from the boys rooms, old chargers, a broken laptop, a broken down mini vacuum.

Staysfit

Nice work. Do you have garage sales? That’s a sure way to get rid of stuff here. I’m forever amazed at what people are willing to buy. It’s a great way to pass things forward without putting them into the trash.

Angie

(website)

Fashion Stylist

Well done! This is soooo worth it, Sal. AMAZING!

We did this in 2023, and it was extremely satisfying. (Things accumulated during Covid).

We edited everything in our lives, right down to the paperwork. It put us in a great position to move out more easily for the remodel earlier this year.

Good luck with the rest of your renovation!

Staysfit - yes we do have garage sales! That is a good option.

Thanks Angie - we have the flooring done now and 98% of the painting. I am getting a sofa recovered, and new bedding for one room. Also working out some shelving. Jon is colourblind which adds complexity to the planning.

cat2

A couple of thoughts. We have a picker culture where if you just put something useful at the corner of the street with a Free sign on it, it will likely disappear. We also have an e-cycling day, where we can make a reservation with our town to drop off our random dead electronics. And I learned during a garage clean up that we have a hazardous waste facility that will take old paint, partially used cleaning supplies, and batteries.

Yes some things can be put out and disappear, that can work especially as the weather gets warmer and the days longer. For the moment I am sorted, with just two large nice pieces to make decisions on.

It is so interesting what people want and what they don't - I have seen the most random things be high in demand and vice versa with things that I think have appeal be unwanted at garage sales or online auctions.

April

Sal, in my household, I have announced that my dinner-cooking duties have been suspended for a few days so I can work on two disaster zones: 1.) our mudroom closet (an essential place that houses all cleaning products and tools) and 2.) my workshop, which has been a hot mess for a long time.

Today may see the completion of that closet! Stay tuned.

BTW, that closet contained enough random nails and screws in bins to build an entire house, and enough picture-hanging supplies to open a gallery. I am keeping some of each and gathering the rest for donation.

Good luck April - good to get those zones sorted.

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