Hoarding - Springing Ahead

MrsAtobe

Suzitiger, I got my OH's sister to come over and help go through my wardrobe. She gave me an honest but sympatheitc opinion about what suited me, after all, who wants to keep clothes that don't suit them? Is there someone you'd trust to do the same for you?

We got rid of about four bin bags full - whoops!

mcculloch29

Suzitiger, hello again. You are a lovely addition to the Toiletries thread, so it's been good to have you there.
I am also a ( recovering ) clothes hoarder. What worked well for me was the No Buying Clothes thread. I've bought virtually nothing this year.

I went through a lot of my life up to age 35 or so (I'm 55) with relatively little to wear, then charity shops became more upmarket (and a much bigger Primark opened locally.) Lots of clothes represented a new security.

In recent years I bought lots - and I mean lots - of really good clothes at stupid prices from the X Catalogue shop. (Northern chain.) The clothes in there used to be just for ages 65+, then they got in some Joe Bloggs stuff - and I've got older as the clothes moved younger too.

Will you wear everything you bought recently? I weaned myself off buying with the questions 'When and where will I wear this?' 'What will I wear it with - if I need to buy a jumper or blouse to match it, it isn't a bargain.' Also 'Have I got one like it or very similar already?'

Do all the spare wardrobe clothes fit? Is there a fantasy you who will wear the size smaller / bigger clothes you bought, but not a real you to wear them? They need to go.

I gave everything that wasn't actually in the sizes I could wear away. (If your weight yo-yos, that might be tricky, I appreciate).

Ask yourself why you haven't worn something. Then deal with it accordingly

I gave a lovely, unworn cream Aran cardigan to a friend because I knew I would spill something on it the first time I wore it. It sat in my wardrobe for nearly 2 years. She has no fears with white or cream.

Is anything in the wardrobe because it needs a repair that you haven't got round to? Get it fixed or sling it. I convinced myself I would get the tricky invisible side zip repaired on a pair of expensive trousers. It never happened in 5 years, they are now slung.

Do you have friends to swop clothes with, the next time you feel the buying urge?
Are the spare clothes good enough to make money at a s/h (good quality) clothes place or the bay of E?
Can you motivate yourself to disposal by thinking of someone who would benefit if you donated warm unloved winter clothing to a charity shop? Women's refuges also accept clothing (along with unwanted toiletries.).:D

whitewing

Kitchen is tidy.

2 xmas presents purchased on behalf of someone else are gone today.

2 gifts to wrap up for an upcoming birthday.

Washing on the new, heated airer. I am quite pleased with it, seems kinder to the clothes than the tumble drier.

Living room is yukky, messy and DH appears to have gone on strike. I am only writing this here so I motivate myself to get it sorted as probably a relatively short time will get it back in order if I put my mind to it.

parsniphead

After weeks of saying I was going to do it I have come on here to say.........

the corner from hell in the bedroom has been cleared.

I still have bits to do in there and it need a really good polish and vacuum but it's looking like a different room. I will be completing this tomorrow.

lobbyludd

yeah parsnip!!!

I've sorted about 5 bits of paperwork! hope to get a bit more done later but have some winter curtains to line and put up (although finishing off these sort of jobs does reduce the clutter).

whitewing

Recycling went out this morning.

I am still chugging through tasks I started this afternoon but the house is much better now.

GreyQueen

:T Well done, parsniphead!

I haven't been the most productive of citizens this weekend, due to feeling like a wrung-out dishrag with the cold, but I have read 3 books in 3 days and got them back to the library, so not all bad.:D

I also re-started candling as a pal gave me some heat-slumped candles of hers to cannibalise and those were quickly re-shaped and the pretend-pr*ngle tube is half full. And then it will be used and gone.

I have been using my kitchen timer to get me motivated to do tasks in short bursts and am finding it helpful. Truly amazing what you can do in 15 min slots. Plus I'm up on the chores and the recycling is out in the communal bins.

Couple of weekends ago, I acquired for a trifling 50p a lovely fuzzy nightshirt, styled like a trad pj jacket with buttons but very large. The buttons are the stem kind and I quickly discovered that they don't stay buttoned.

I was grubbling around for my buttons to see if I had some suitable flat ones to replace them with, then I had a LBM.

This nightshirt is plenty big enough to pull over my head so I will sew the front closed and remove the bliddy buttons. It'll be faster and easier and won't make any difference to the usability of the garment, and will barely be noticable.

And, if anyone would notice, they can beggar off if it bothers them, can't they?

blossomhill_2

Happy to report that a charity near me has started a blanket bank for homeless people, along the lines of a food bank
This prompted me to put out hoarded blankets that are too good for pet rescue and also flushed our some more pillow cases for pillow case dresses for Africa
Also found that the bottom box of a stack of 3 large boxes only had 6 books inleftover from boot sale, so going on free cycle
A good start to the week

greenbee

For anyone getting rid of blankets/sleeping bags/warm clothes/rucksacks, you might consider this:

https://www.facebook.com/rucksackproject

kayester

Very pleased with myself today.
As I said I have started my cleaning rota.
Today was hoovering the whole house, dusting the whole house and cleaning under the sofas ( i have 2 young children and it gets VERY messy under there!! )
I have competed everything, and put some things in their place on my way around. sat down for an hour before school run