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Nancy's attempts to declutter

 
steward and tree herder
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My name’s Nancy and I'm a hoarder.

My Permie aversion to getting rid of stuff that 'might come in handy' is somewhat of a handicap. I meant to make a start last year and.....life happened. So, New year, New thread. I'm going to share my broken watches and holey socks with you in the hope of keeping motivated and making space out of clutter.

An easy start: the undies drawers

We generally have too many of the wrong sort of socks and not enough knickers.  Our drawers were over full, yet we could never find a decent pair of either to wear. I have a tendency to steal my husbands socks and vice versa, so they get worn out in unusual places.

Knickers:
Not really enough cotton on the knickers to make rags, but a bit that is really soft, which might make polishing cloths. Some of my husbands hated knickers I'm going to try and see if they fit me first before getting rid. We have also both independently bought new knickers. The only company in the UK that sell 100% organic cotton knickers I could find online are Eczema clothing I have to say they are expensive. But hopefully you get what you pay for. I have found that the 100% cotton knickers seem to last a bit longer that those with 'elastane' in, and all the other organic cotton underwear suppliers seem to include that in the knit and that is what seems to fail first. I was tempted by sports knicker - I remember the fabric being extra thick, but they weren't organic and just as expensive, so I'll try the eczema ones first

Bras, stockings, suspenders:
I hardly ever wear a bra, and only had four in the drawer. Just in case, I have kept one white(ish) and one black in case I need them for modesty reasons. The suspender belts again I rarely wear, most of them were a bit small, so I’m going to try and rehome those (see below). Again I kept a set for posh occasions, sometimes a girl likes to feel dressed up (once every ten years at the moment…). It looks like I have been through the stockings quite recently since they all looked quite nice, so I’ve kept those.

Socks:
I've put all the socks I think we'll need for the moment back in the drawers and  a select range of spare socks will be hidden away in a box to take out when replacements are needed. There are still some perfectly wearable socks that we just don't like, which I'm hoping I can find a charity that will take. Is there one called "smalls for all", or some such?
We don't have a surplus of thick socks - those are the ones that we tend to wear these days with boots. I could probably do with a couple of new pairs to prevent my stealing my husband’s again. To stop him stealing mine, I’m going to put a stitch of coloured yarn through on the toe to identify my pairs.
Uses for worn out socks:
"Mr socky" and "Socky toy" were such a hit with my dogs that I have put some socks together to make some more sock toys for dogs. There are three new puppies adopted locally in the last couple of weeks that I know of, and toys are always useful as distractions for teething puppies. I've put some that I think are 100% cotton to make an outside sock toy for my two. I think I'll put a stitch through in a few places to keep the socks from falling out of the holes in the outer sock.
My husband had some hated cotton socks that were baggy with loopy lining that I think will make good dishcloths, so I have cut those up to make flat cloths.
I have thrown most of the holey ones ‘away’ :( synthetic material for landfill, I’m afraid.

(edit) To finish on a high note - both our drawers now close nicely and have room in them!
IMG_20240121_154609.jpg
Sorting socks
Sorting socks
 
steward
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I would suggest getting three boxes to put items in.

Keep, discard, and give away.

Some of the places I have worked at have a free box.  Maybe you could find items to sell or give away in your store while you declutter.

I also mend many of the items you have mentioned.

There are some PEP Badge Bits for mending, darning or repurposing some of those items too.  

https://permies.com/wiki/105492/pep-textiles/Sew-patch-PEP-BB-textile

https://permies.com/wiki/105490/pep-textiles/Quick-darning-PEP-BB-textile

https://permies.com/wiki/145937/pep-textiles/Harvest-fabric-clothes-projects-PEP
 
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That's awsome Nancy!

I'll be cheering you on. I may (or may not) quietly join in. My sock drawer is one thing already recently done.
 
Nancy Reading
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Thank you Joylynn, it's a small thing (the underwear drawer) but it will make life better. I'm getting lots of ideas for repurposing the felted socks here.
I think I'll carry on with clothes for a bit. The tricky bit is going to be persuading my husband that he doesn't really need all those smart workshirts anymore. Still on socks for the moment however....

Anne miller wrote:Maybe you could find items to sell or give away in your store while you declutter.


I hadn't thought of that, but I don't think it will work well here unfortunately, we don't really get the footfall and ends up as clutter (we have a very small shop!). I've heard there may be a tabletop sale in our community hall in a month or two, so that may be a possibility for dispersal of goods if I get my act together.
 
gardener
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Good for you Nancy! I generally do a decluttering twice a year, it happened not so long ago so I'm good for now, but it's very satisfying.
 
pollinator
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Howdy,

Nancy, have you started something?

"My name’s Nancy and I'm a hoarder"...(H.A.)  
Hoarders Anonymous

Here in rural southern oregon, a local farm(Frog Farm, Takilma,Ore.) set up a small shed where we can drop off items that are still "usable".

I am also someone with a recycling/hoarding problem and have dropped off items that I think I am going to use/fix, table lamps, books, clean jars, even some auto parts. Maybe something a community org. could/would try to get together.  It does take some responsable type folks to keep it together, as in clean.

Thank you for reminding me to, "clean out my clothes drawer". For the last 3 summers we have had large scale wildland/forest fires. I emptied my clothes drawers,closets, ect.,being in a "Stage 1 Evac Now Zone", and am still living out of my duffle bag, meaning I haven't put anything back away. It did make me realize how many things I have and don't even wear.
 
Nancy Reading
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randal cranor wrote:Here in rural southern oregon, a local farm(Frog Farm, Takilma,Ore.) set up a small shed where we can drop off items that are still "usable".

I am also someone with a recycling/hoarding problem and have dropped off items that I think I am going to use/fix, table lamps, books, clean jars, even some auto parts. Maybe something a community org. could/would try to get together.  It does take some responsable type folks to keep it together, as in clean.


There is a 'waste not' shed at the South end of the island for unwanted goods that people drop off, mend and take away for free. It's just a bit out of my way (probably about 50 miles). It would be good to set up something closer, but simply I have enough on my plate!

It did make me realize how many things I have and don't even wear.


Yes! this is one of my guilty secrets too. I hope by getting rid of the stuff I don't wear, I can take more pleasure and care for the items I do.
 
pollinator
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Yes, I must admit I am another hoarder. I thought I had decluttered before we moved here over a year ago but recently "found" some of the boxes we brought with us and went through them with a critical eye. I have now filled another 2 boxes of useful stuff to take to the charity shop next time we're out that way.
I also went through my sock drawer and got rid of some uncomfortable ones (how can socks be uncomfortable and why was I keeping them?) but still couldn't bring myself to get rid of all the ones I haven't used recently.
The wardrobe was also visited and those clothes considered "too dressy" have also been donated to charity. To be honest, they were clothes I bought from charity shops in the first place, to wear at weddings and as the only weddings I go to these days have the same guests it's a bit difficult to wear them too often or people begin to notice, if not on the day, when looking at the photographs.
Keep it up, Nancy. I know I feel "lighter" when I dispose of large amounts of clutter. It also means there's less to dust/wash/polish/care for etc.
 
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I'm a hoarder too! Thanks for the inspiration and nudge to wade into my suffocating old sock situation!  
PS. This post made me giggle

Some of my husbands hated knickers


My goodness, Nancy! How many husbands do you have??? Now that's some next level hoarding! 😊

 
Nancy Reading
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Rio Rose wrote:IMy goodness, Nancy! How many husbands do you have??? Now that's some next level hoarding! 😊


Oh blimey! one husband is quite enough! although sometimes a clone would be handy to get all the jobs done and give #1 some spare time! Sorry for the missing apostrophes, I sometimes get confused between husband's and husbands' but yes - the knickers of his that my husband hates...Today I tackle the wellie boot graveyard, wish me luck!
IMG_20240125_141250.jpg
5 pairs of wellies
5 pairs of wellies
 
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