Ruthless clear out, What wont you throw away?

[4390evans]

I try to recycle every last bit in this house like plastics etc

I am going to have a ruthless clear out of all my cupboards and drawers, over the last 7 years (that was my last gooooood clean out) I have stored loads of junk and need to get rid as there is just no where to put stuff. My hoover has been in the hall for god knows how long.

But there is some things I love to keep, like the pottery stuff that the kids make or garden labels I have 1000s!

What wouldn't you guys part with?

[Jay22]

I've been trying to gut this place for months now but I'm a hoarder and keep everything. I've bags of books and other things which have been waiting to go to the charity shop since I started months ago and they are still here! I really need a professional to come in and do it for me...if I don't see it going out I probably won't miss it! We always talk about downsizing when we retire...chance will be a fine thing, I wouldn't know where to start. So in answer to your question...everything!

[Nannysally99]

Jay. We have retired and soooo wished we had sorted out the loft years ago lol
Your charity shop donations could be done little and often. Once you get into the swing of it you will be fine , promise

[Jay22]

I know Sally, I just need that proverbial toe up the bahookie. The sad thing is all the books I have look brand new, so would look ok in the charity shop. I love my books and hate to throw them away, in fact I never do that's why I have so many. Most of them, although they have been read,have hardly a crease on the spine. Going to the hospital today to visit my dad and then to the supermarket but tomorrow those bags are going in the car...I won't promise just in case something comes up but they are definitely going to the shop sooner rather than later!

[Nannysally99]

If you donate your books Jay, again little and often. If you overload them with too many, sadly some will end up being recycled. Most charity shops have little storage, well ours hasn't got too much room. We would be overjoyed to have your books in lovely condition. The rubbish we get is unbelievable.
We get up to £2 for a hardback, so it all adds up.
Go on - you know you want to lol

[veggiechicken]

I'm a hoarder like Jay, especially books. I took a load to a charity shop once, and all they said was "Not more books". Not even a Thank you
I was so disheartened as it had taken me a lot of courage to give them away.
I understand what you're saying, Sally, about the storage, but I thought they'd have some central store that would take them and redistribute them to shops that wanted books. Oxfam, I think, have 2nd hand Bookshops, if that helps you Jay?

[Aberdeenplotter]

I am a regular donor to a couple of local Charity Shops, PDSA dor one and the other shall remain un-named. I pass it most days on the way to work but recently have been very disappointed to see bags and bags of stuff being loaded into a lorry and this on three or four occasions. I never put tat to a charity shop and to be frank, (as I am ), I'm reluctant to put anything more in that direction. I know that some stuff won't sell and if they get anything at all for that sort of stuff that is a bonus but I only give them decent stuff and if I wanted to junk it I would do so myself. Should probably have had a rant about that earlier but this thread highlighted it again for me.

[craftymarie]

We have loads of local charity shops so it's very easy to donate stuff. We've always got books and toys to give them when my daughter outgrows them. We donated some of her larger playsets to the local infant school after checking with them first - they were thrilled with the kitchen, castle and farm with all the accessories and the little kids loved them.

I'm not especially attached to anything except my family and my cat. In terms of things in the house it's just stuff.

I guess it just boils down to some sentimental things like special cards and drawings made by my daughter and postcards, letters and emails from dear friends which I like to hang on to. A few cherished baby bits like her first little bootie - only one as the other one was lost out on a walk. I keep little things like that in a box. Those would be the hardest things to part with.

[noviceveggrower]

I reduce, reuse and recycle as much as I can. I have a box of bits like the kids first shoes, first lock of hair or their baby teeth.
I like to keep my books or gardening bits. I'm not a materialistic person so in the event of a fire or anything it would be a case of family out first and leave everything else.
Some things like the kids clothes I send to charity but only if they are decent and other people can get some use out of them. Some bits I bob on E bay.

[bramble]

A couple of times a year I have a clearout.
Give all to the local charity shop. I have kept some things from my children and grandchildren.
what I am most sentimental about are letters, cards and photographs.
these are irreplacable so I treasure them.

[alldigging]

Freecycle.
Sometimes it's easier than charity shops because people will come and collect the stuff. Although I did get messed about with the last lot of books I tried to give away.

For nice fiction they go to the local club we go to as they have a bookcase in the foyer to borrow from.

[Nannysally99]

AP with reference to the lorries taking bags of clothes away,
Your standards are good, but I can assure you that others may be not. I cannot tell you how much 'rubbish' we are given.
Clothes that are worn, faded, dirty, stink of cigarettes or worse. Shoes and bags that are at the end of their life.
All the above are totally unsellable, BUT, we get money for the bags of clothes and it all helps. Which is why we do not turn anything away.
We frequently have to put out a sign saying 'no more donations today ' just because we are full up with the above, books and bags of broken toys etc.
We get abuse if we cannot take stuff, but I do understand why.
It's a flippin hard life being a volunteer lol

[Jay22]

What put me off donating to charity shops was years ago my mother in law took all my daughters baby clothes-and you know what baby clothes are like, brand new-to the charity shop. When she handed them in the lady said oh my daughter is having a baby, as I don't get paid for being here, I'll take these if you don't mind. My mother in law was so taken aback she didn't say anything. Well I did mind. If you want the clothes put in a donation like everyone else after all you are a volunteer aren't you? Not sure if that's the norm in charity shops but if I was volunteering it would be just that and if I wanted an item I would buy it.

[Small pumpkin]

I do lots of recycling and reusing. Not much goes to charity shops, because if it's good enough to go to the charity shop it's still good enough for me to use! I do like to use things to within an inch of it's life, including my clothes. Which is why I generally look like a tramp

[mothhawk]

I do lots of recycling and reusing. Not much goes to charity shops, because if it's good enough to go to the charity shop it's still good enough for me to use! I do like to use things to within an inch of it's life, including my clothes. Which is why I generally look like a tramp

Me too, then when it's got holes in, it's torn up for floor cloths, buffing the silver (plate ), cleaning and oiling gardening tools, then if it's cotton or wool it goes in the compost bin. Man-made fabrics go to MIND as they sell worn out clothes for their rag value, to be shredded and melted and recycled as carpets, or even clothes again.