Nancy's attempts to declutter

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!

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

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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! 😊

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!

Ooh yes, wellies. One surplus pair went to the charity shop last time but there are still another 6 pairs to go. There are only 2 of us nowadays, how did we acquire so many pairs? I still have 2 pairs that get worn frequently, a summer pair and a thermal winter pair even thought we no longer have our smallholding.

Ara Murray wrote:how did we acquire so many pairs?

I wouldn't mind, but I think every pair leak to some extent...that's the first thing to check.

It's a good idea and I want to declutter too!  I'm not a hoarder per se, but I still have too much stuff.  The other day my son and I were making a card together and he found a box of coloured pencils that we hardly ever used;  we discovered that most of them were absolute rubbish for colouring in.  We tried every single one and the ones that actually made a discernible mark were kept and the rest thrown on the fire then and there.  I've also gone through the picture books and donated some I don't like reading out loud (and luckily my three year old isn't attached to).

However I went into my fabric stash (which actually isn't all that much--two boxes) and I couldn't actually make myself even go through it, let alone get rid of any.  I'm not sure what made me freeze like that but I think I need to declutter something easier before I try that again.

G Freden wrote:It's a good idea and I want to declutter too! ......
However I went into my fabric stash (which actually isn't all that much--two boxes) and I couldn't actually make myself even go through it, let alone get rid of any.  I'm not sure what made me freeze like that but I think I need to declutter something easier before I try that again.

I'm hoping that is that case with me too! I'm starting easy, and even if I don't get to my books (that's my "freeze" point at the moment!) I'll have made a bit of a difference. The most challenging may be some of my husbands clutter - one persons clutter is another person's gold. Perhaps, but I just don't think he needs so many smart workshirts now, than he used to when wearing them every day.

Made any more progress Nancy?  

My son (aged 13) and I went through all his clothes and filled a big donation box of too small clothes, and threw out his too small pants (underwear).  The only thing we didn't sort was his sock collection but he gave me permission to throw out the holey ones when they turned up in the wash.  I'm not sure if this counts as decluttering as it's his wardrobe and not a place I ever visit...

I also decluttered my seed collection, throwing out some 5+ year old seed, and sowing in trays: broad beans, tomatoes, chilis, onions, and more.  That's at least 200 seeds no longer taking up shelf space :)

Well I have made a bit more progress, although can't say I've actually finished anything!
I've been having a go at my clutter in our living room. I have part of a book case stacked with books, files with magazine cuttings in them, magazine cuttings waiting to be filed, craft projects and my project books. Stuffed under the chair (which gets in the way of the video storage) I have boxes with more documents that don't have a proper home. Piled on the chair and behind it, are some of my knitting yarn and projects, as well as some easier mending tasks. It's a right old mess!
So I've been through all the loose paper and put it into different categories (thinning it out as I went). So far I have filed away all the gardening cuttings. I have previously got rid of some of the less interesting articles. I don't really need regurgitated articles on how to grow fantastic carrots, but articles about Korean vegetables, or Rosa Steppanova's garden on the Shetland islands may come in useful. I know a lot of this information is available online, but sometimes it is easier to flip through a file than boot up a computer to check something. I reorganised the categories I've filed the articles under, and done the same for my knitting and crochet articles.
I still need to do the same for my sewing, crossstitch, building, pollution, technology, wood and general crafts articles. I'd like to find a better way of filing my old garden notes and receipts too. These are mostly just in folders, but I'm thinking of bundling the invoices and delivery notes up by year, so I can check on things more easily if I need to.
As regards clothes, I've taken all my husband's shirts and hung them in the spare bedroom. The idea being that after a couple of months we'll review the ones he hasn't grabbed back and see whether he actually needs them and consider what to do with them. Many of them could go to a charity shop, or other sale, but some will be a bit tatty. I might sneak those into my 'mending' pile as possibles for garments for me, or patchwork material. My own clothes I'd like to reduce down to three drawers which would free up my bedside cupboard as a mending/crafts cupboard and tidy some of that stuff from various locations around the house......
Plenty to do yet!

I also have been reducing all things...  meticulously. It's taking a long time. I can see a use for everything.

I'm not a hoarder. It's spare parts. Poverty - many times why someone has what looks like a junkyard.

You won't be able to afford a new item nor a part and you can't anticipate what you'll need nor when ...

I love minimalism but in many ways it is only possible for the wealthy.

Still - I seek minimalism as much as my certainly far from wealthy and need spare parts self can do so.

I love empty space.

Peace
Joanna

Mar Viega wrote:I love minimalism but in many ways it is only possible for the wealthy.

I can't say I do love minimalism, at least not to excess. I do like a bit of space, but I like to have my things around me, otherwise you might just as well live in a hotel (if you are rich!). I think a room without books is not a room for living in!
However, if you can't find what you know you have got, then you might just as well not have it. That is the situation I have got myself into: so much clutter I have to tidy up before I can do, or find, anything!

My problem is with paper stuff.

Financial advisors say to keep paperwork for seven years.

Then what do I do with all that paper?  I don't have a shredder and I don't want to send my personal financial stuff to a landfill.

Anne Miller wrote:Then what do I do with all that paper?  I don't have a shredder and I don't want to send my personal financial stuff to a landfill.

Hmm...I think we need a thread on that Anne! I found Abraham's thread on shedded paper here, but not things to do without a shredder. We tend to burn ours and the ashes get spread around outside. Or we have a recycling collection for paper and cardboard, although, like yourself I don't trust the security of that.
There are companies that deal with confidential waste, but it might be a commercial opportunity for a Permie - "Safely and securely recycle your papers by worm power, the environmentally responsible option! Only $100 a tonne!"