KonMari 2016 - The Life Changing Magic of Tidying Up

rosy

Slinky wrote: »

I do feel guilty just binning old clothes that are too far gone to go to the charity shop as we don't have rags recycling where I live.

I don't have rags recycling here either but I've only just discovered that the charity shop nearest to me accepts rags as they can get income from recycling them- I just put them in one of their big bags and write "rags" on it to save the shop assistants time sorting through it.

Redleela

Re: rags the Red Cross accepts rag donations according to their website. My mother donates rags to Cancer Research. An old MSE thread about rags suggests that most charity shops accept them if bagged and marked as rags (or if in doubt ask).

I take mine to my local tip but hadn't realised until very recently that many charity shops take them.

http://www.redcross.org.uk/Get-involved/Our-shops/Donate-to-our-charity-shops

https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/376765

Slinky

Ooh thanks for that, I'll ask in our local charity shops about whether they take rags.

GreyQueen

Several charity shop chains have a facility to collect and sell clean textiles for rag, so it's always worth asking. Every household is going to be producing some worn-out clothing/ household items as not everything is fit for re-use.

As others have said, segregate the rag items into a labelled bag, to minimise the amount of time the sorters have to spend processing your donations. On several occasions, I have had one of the back-room ladies express gratitude to me for doing it this way, so it's obviously not a universal habit.

In defence of the new KM book, I have to say that I consider it better than the original, where the majority of it seemed to be autobiographic. This one has much more practical stuff, as well as the diagrams, and I am really enjoying it. I have it out from the library.

tibawo

I always find the rags idea raises a smile for me because it always reminds me of eBay descriptions when they are so varied. Some people state they are in excellent condition and when clothing comes in my opinion it is only fit for rags but now and again you get someone like my last buy who said it was slightly bobbled inside. The outside was pristine but because of the description they probably got far less than they could have.

I need a good talking to this weekend as I keep putting stuff for the car boot, granted I don't take the items back out but just don't have time to have one. The stuff then lies there, I need the mojo just to get rid and then it's gone but the 'debt' me thinks I should get something foe them to put towards them. Then the other head says paying stall fees and the day taken to do it could be more wisely spent. Decisions, decisions. Think I might just get rid then I have a tidy house and can hit the next area?

GreyQueen

I used to do a lot of carbooting, back in the day when I used to have a car, lol.

It's very hard work for the money, and you have the fixed costs, such as petrol and pitch fee regardless of what you take. I honestly think that if you factored in them, and the time spent packing and unpacking the car, getting things ready for sale etc etc, your renumeration would be about 50p an hour.

It'd probably be more economical to get a paper round for Sunday morning, sell a few items on FB pages/ boards at local shop/ supermarket, and donate the rest.

Just my two'pennorth, anyway.

grunnie

I am enjoying Km's second book much better then the first all those diagrams and she explains things better. Have done another cull and sorted thro my clothes again. Have just finished painting the bathroom skirtings and roof. The rest is wet walling and as I was give 2 huge baskets for Christmas so these are going on the shelves with towels etc. I have been tweeking if that is the word and apart for shoes I won't need to buy any clothes this year. Have taken all the games and toys from the loft ( my youngest is 31) and emailed a list of them to my 3 sons so off they go on Friday:T and my loft will be a bit clearer. 40y ear old lego and teddies anyone:rotfl:I threatened to ebay the lot if they didn't want them.

PollyWollyDoodle

I think car booting can be worthwhile if you have the time and energy, but as GQ says it's hard work, and time consuming; I have done it a couple of times with friends but really just to get rid of stuff, and anything I made was a bonus. I decided that having a clearer house outweighed the potential income. I've sold a few decent bits on eBay but the rest went to the CS.

I had a big tidy-up yesterday - drifts of Komono keep collecting on my kitchen worktop - and it looked so nice this morning when I came down, I feel re-inspired. I'm not bringing much into the house now but magazines - a gift subscription and a couple of hobby-related newsletters- are building up as I never seem to find time to read them.

Slinky

Our local Age UK have confirmed they take rags.

Now the dilemma is do you wash the rags before donating? So often our stuff is given one last wear then binned. I suppose it depends if it's really whiffy once worn!

mrs-moneypenny

Grunnie old Lego is def worth eblaying if it's not wanted. That is very collect able.

Just done a stint at the workplace, and going to put a couple of patchwork squares together then make a veggie lasagne or shepherds pie, we have a meeting at ds2 school tonight so want something I can throw in the oven to warm as soon as we get back.