It has been planned for a long time now, but always something else got priority. You all know how it goes. While we have a bunch of tasks to do on every side, we want to let time for those activities we want to do really well. We have the intention to focus on that, to be fully dedicated and we don't want to be distracted by other, everyday tasks. However, that special time seems to never come offered on a plate. You have to make that time. You just have to start.
This is how I finally initiated the huge task to declutter my home of unnecessary things. I would shout a bravo for myself because of that decision, but to be completely honest, this action was triggered by some previous situations, like the broken washing machine. The room where we have the washing machine and the water heater is also a kind of storage room where I leave stuff that I could not put into categories. Let's see... a vacuum cleaner, boxes, paper bags, glass jars, plastic Tupperware containers and bags, broom, laundry basket... and a bunch of other things I just don't know where to put. So, the old washing machine had to go out and be replaced by a new one, that's why I took out everything from there... and just left those things on the balcony for two days 😂
Of course, I didn't like that scenery, the big glass doors from the living room were giving me that view that was not really nice. Boxes and bags full of stuff I don't even know why I have them. So, the first phase of decluttering started - I threw away two big boxes and several bags full of trash. Indeed, I could not name it in a better way, as all those things didn't have a real purpose anymore. I proudly binned the unnecessary stuff.
That was just the beginning, just one step. One room. The next step was my wardrobe and at the same time my son decided to clean the bookshelves, he has in his room. Now we were working on two fronts :D
He selected all the notes, notebooks, school books, educational materials, board games and random things he took out from the shelves and closet. Several bags of old music scores (ok, I was questioning that action, but I let him) and other uncategorised notes, papers and notebooks went to the paper recycling facility. The books he had to read for school and he doesn't really want to read them again will find a different destiny. Some of them will go to the book exchange shelf that I found in one local supermarket. ( see the first picture of this post 👆) You can bring the books you don't need anymore, and if you want, you can take the books you are interested in. I was so positively surprised when I saw for the first time this shelf. There is already a similar thing on the beach, it is called the beach library. The same thing, you bring a book from home and take a book from there. No records, no person who would control it, just confidence! And I guess that it works nicely.
Some other books that he selected (photo below 👇) he wants to sell as used books. There is an app that you can install and make an account and sell as second-hand things your books, clothes, vehicles, or anything you don't need anymore. The books shown here are written mainly in the Valencian language (that is the second official language of the area where we live). He will not read those books again, but they were mandatory in school. Three options - bin them, put on that exchange shelf or sell them. He wants to earn his pocket money so you guess he already has an account on that app 😁.
My wardrobe!
So, it took me two hours to select those clothes that will not be worn by me anymore. I am more than sure about that as all those trousers 👖 were diminished with some magic in size. The dresses, shorts and skirts too. Must be the same ghost that played with the home devices recently... I am pretty sure he went to my closet and made many of my clothes one or two sizes smaller. That was nasty and mean!
At the same time, I selected summer dresses, t-shirts and shorts and put them aside. I brought the winter clothes down from the upper shelf that I don't reach usually (just store there the warm garments during summer) and also made a selection. I was not happy with some discoveries... some of the things I will not be able to wear in the near future, as I am not sure how can three four extra kilograms disappear from me. Sigh.
Now I have two normal-sized bags and one large bag full of pants, denim trousers and other items I don't want even to see 😂. Never again lol. I will be happy to give them away and have more space in my closet. Still, there are too many garments in my wardrobe, I think a second selection will have to be made, but at the moment I am satisfied with this first decluttering phase.
I have two options where I would take these clothes.
A local charity shop which receives used things and sells them. It is supposed that the funds are given to associations against cancer - that is what they say and what I found as information about this charity shop. Are there organizations like this at your place? Do you help them by giving away the things you don't need anymore?
The second option is to donate your old clothes to organizations that will distribute the items (after their selection) to people in need. There are big blue containers in several spots in our town where you can leave your clothes, shoes or accessories whenever you want. From time to time, they come and check the content of the containers and take the bags. Also, there are these red containers where you can leave clothes and shoes, they also select them if they can be given away or sold at a low price to the needed ones. If the clothes don't match some quality requirements, they are sent to recycling facilities.
Right now, while writing these last lines I prefer the first option, the charity shop. I even know the old lady who is volunteering there, she sings in the local choir. This gives me a more personal touch, although those things are just clothes and I don't have any emotional connection with them. They have been used by me, they served their purpose but right now I can't use them. They can go freely, I will not stop them from leaving my closet. 😂
Step by step, I am uncluttering my home. There are still a lot of things to be checked, this is just the beginning. The storage room, my wardrobe and the bookshelf of my son can be marked as done. All the rest is still to be selected, but I do have to continue doing it. If I disappear for some time, let's say for a week or two, you know what I am doing - selecting and throwing (or giving) away the unnecessary things!
And what about you? When was the last time you selected unnecessary things from your home and throw them away? Do you like when your home is neat and not full of clutter? What do you do with the clothes/books and all the things you don't need anymore? Would you give them to a charity shop or do you know someone who would take those clothes from you?
