Carrying on from the de-cluttering theme

I’ve recently given up working in a charity shop because I just couldn’t cope any more with the black plastic bags of rubbish that people sent in.

I think I would say make your donations little and often rather than one big bag. When I saw a nice carrier bag with folded clothes my heart would lift 😊

Our nearest charity shop will only take things in bags, Petra. But all too often they have a board outside saying they cannot take any donations that day.

rafichagran

Thanks Karmalady I agree one box at a time as it is really overwhelming me. I think also because the room is clean and uncluttered, it has been a case of out of sight, out of mind, but as it is affecting me now, and knowing it is there. I will start with a box next week.
Writing it down makes it more manageable in my mind.

Yes, our house looks tidy but cupboards, wardrobes, drawers, boxes, the attic, are all full of stuff.

I start to declutter, then end up re-arranging apart from a few bits.

Well done Rafichagran, I get the `out of sight out of mind`, that was me a couple of years ago. It is very important to not be overstretched and don`t look upon the whole lot at once.

The impetus will come to you later, when you see spaces appearing as spaces.It has not stopped me buying things that I want but I am trying to do similar to Casdon, hence me opening the ottoman lid this morning. I can justify the folding foot spa but could no longer justify me keeping the herbs etc those days of me being mother earth are over

If you are getting rid of good kitchen utensils, check to see if you have a upcycling centre near you if the charity shops don't want them.

We decluttered a lot of small kitchen items in good condition to the upcycling project , and noticed they are selling a box of items for a small sum for people who might be setting up home.

Thanks Karmalady I agree one box at a time as it is really overwhelming me. I think also because the room is clean and uncluttered, it has been a case of out of sight, out of mind, but as it is affecting me now, and knowing it is there. I will start with a box next week.
Writing it down makes it more manageable in my mind.

Magenta8

I would appreciate some advice from anybody who works or has worked in a charity shop as I noticed industrial sized refuse bins being collected from one the other day. I don't want to add to their rubbish pile.

What things are an absolute no-no and just get binned?

Any general advice on what is welcomed. I know this may vary from shop to shop.

I know stuff must be clean and not broken or worn out.

Thank you so much for thinking of us
We are a small local charity. All our income goes to local people.
What things are absolute no no. That’s difficult for me to comment on all shops because we take anything, and I mean anything. From sex toys to a cement mixer to a brand new beautiful made in Italy mens pure Kashmir coat.
Our problem is: we haven’t got the room to sort through donations when donations come in bags.
You can always tell when relatives have sorted a relatives house who has died: there’s always the the cluttered kitchen drawer that just tipped into a bag.
Our skips cost us about £150 a week.
Ask if they want books. Sometimes we are overwhelmed by books.

I’m on my second year now of the one in, two out decluttering method. It’s making a big difference to the amount of excess in the house, without any of the disruption of emptying drawers and boxes all at once. I’m applying it to everything I own, so I can get rid of, for example, two tablecloths if I get a new pair of shoes, or whatever. It’s a good option for procrastinators!

Rafichagran, when I was a child, the oldest of 7. One job every evening was to always tidy the messy living room, all the toys and general clutter. It was overwhelming when I started but then I realised that it felt do-able if I started from a corner and I think I hold onto that now. Doing it in small chunks does work.

Just a portion at a time, one box, a bit of a wardrobe, a drawer

No point in doing eg a box, unless there is somewhere to put things from the box so the order of doing things is important

Thanks Calendargirl

My house is uncluttered apart from the small bedroom where I am storing someone's belongings.
My bedroom on the face of it is uncluttered, but under the bed I have plastic boxes on wheels full of clothes plus a huge wardrobe. All of a sudden I am overwhelmed and it is affecting me. I need to go through everything but it just seems such a big task, I know it's not visible but I know it's there.
My clothes were acquired over many years.
I know it will be a big task but it is getting my head round it.

Magenta8

I would appreciate some advice from anybody who works or has worked in a charity shop as I noticed industrial sized refuse bins being collected from one the other day. I don't want to add to their rubbish pile.

What things are an absolute no-no and just get binned?

Any general advice on what is welcomed. I know this may vary from shop to shop.

I know stuff must be clean and not broken or worn out.

BlueBelle works in a charity shop.

I would appreciate some advice from anybody who works or has worked in a charity shop as I noticed industrial sized refuse bins being collected from one the other day. I don't want to add to their rubbish pile.

What things are an absolute no-no and just get binned?

Any general advice on what is welcomed. I know this may vary from shop to shop.

I know stuff must be clean and not broken or worn out.

Spotted this recently -
We spend our first 30 years wanting stuff,
the next 30 years acquiring stuff,
then,
the next 30 years getting rid of stuff ...

StripeyGran

*I would not want my AC to unfold my mess*

It was grim what my parents left behind.

My mother was an avid declutterer, perhaps that's why I'm so hesitant.

GrannyGravy13

My house is uncluttered.

The attic is a totally different place - we keep saying to the AC come and get your stuff they all have homes and attics/loft space. So far they ignore our requests.

When we pop off this mortal coil, they will then have to sort their stuff/cr*p out…

Ours seem to acquire even more stuff when they come home as well as stuff they left behind.
They'll need to sort it one day, either if we downsize or pop off this mortal coil.

Grandmabatty

I agree Karma. I've recently had most of my house painted and that spurred me on to declutter again. The dining room still has photos and paintings littering it and I need to sort them out sooner rather than later.

We're gradually doing that after having decorating done, it takes so much longer when you get older.

Sorting out a lot of art materials yesterday, I kept thinking "Will I go back to art, will one of the DGC want to choose art as an option? Or will I send it to the charity shop?" Why do I have so much!

I need to organise the yarn stash, it's in various places.
And books ....

There's plenty of clutter in our house! I do try to reduce it but everyone wants to keep much of their stuff - which I can understand so I just let them get on with it. It's important for some people. We get quite a few visitors calling in who seem to find us 'homely' !!!!!!

My house is uncluttered.

The attic is a totally different place - we keep saying to the AC come and get your stuff they all have homes and attics/loft space. So far they ignore our requests.

When we pop off this mortal coil, they will then have to sort their stuff/cr*p out…

I would not want my AC to unfold my mess

It was grim what my parents left behind.

My late husband’s study is now empty, ready for the decorator on Monday. That’s taken two and a half years.
Temporarily my bedroom is full of boxes of stuff, already sorted into categories but more internal sorting is needed. I know where most of it is going, ie a big closet in that room, but I still hope to be able to prune it a bit more if I can. Meanwhile I need to get to grips with my little study where filing has been neglected for far too long.

I wish I could be as disciplined as you karma. I have done a good job in my bedroom as I realised the clutter I was holding onto was giving me anxiety so I got rid of pretty much everything when I had the room painted.

My garage was the major stumbling block but DD1 worked on it when she was here from the US, bless her. She was much more ruthless and practical than I am and took a carload of stuff to the tip for me. I can now fit the car into the garage!

I still have cupboards to work on. I’m not untidy but do tend to hang onto things for sentimental reasons.

Now I am not needed for daily childcare I really intend to work through it slowly. As you say, I don’t want my offspring having to deal with it.

I empathise *Grandmabatty*. I had my whole house decorated 3 years ago, it was a dreadfully tiring time and that is when I reached the same conclusion as you

I agree Karma. I've recently had most of my house painted and that spurred me on to declutter again. The dining room still has photos and paintings littering it and I need to sort them out sooner rather than later.

I feel in control of my home and what is in it these days but from time to time I get a wake up call. I have finished my bit for today and sorted out the big ottoman at the foot of my bed. I kept spare herbs and so in there, not cooking herbs and there were a lot, out of sight and in date. Bottles and bags of this and that and they are all now emptied into a big black bag

Today I ordered a folding foot spa, my feet need it and now I have space for it, good space and no I will not fill the rest of the space

I do love that bit by bit and slowly, I am seeing more spaces, under beds, on shelves, in cupboards

I had a wake up call in the night, my heart skipped a beat and my body jumped. I would not want my AC to unfold my mess