Have been threatening....

Same with his magazines, which were taking over the house. A weekly photographic one, a fortnightly computer one, monthly electronic one and one for his wireless communication interests, (which had been his job).

Not one was to be thrown out just in case there was an article he might need one day. They piled up in the sitting room, the downstairs cloakroom, our bedroom. Eventually I started moving them slowly to the study, one by one, and then one by one to the recycling. I always made sure there was a good pile somewhere that he could see, but slowly the old ones went, to be replaced by the new.

Strangely, he never once looked for an article......

I wouldn’t get rid of DH’s stuff. To be fair, he is pretty good about clothes, but hoards loads of other stuff and is forever buying new gadgets, tools etc. I don’t care, if they will go in the garage but hate it when they clutter up the kitchen.

Oh you have to throw away some of their stuff sooner or later. I do it with individual items. I bag the thing up so he doesn't see it in the dustbin and get it out again.

My late DH insisted on keeping everything he'd ever worn, right back to before I even knew him, back in the 1960s. Old jumpers with holes in were the only things I ever got rid of without him knowing, and he never noticed or asked for them. And I too did what someone upthread did - put my fingers in and made the holes bigger!

I wouldn’t throw anything away that belonged to MrA, but I’ve been known to bring things to his attention and ask if he still wanted them.

Thank you !
Normally I would not dare to touch his things but even with what I consider ample storage in our bedroom, each wardrobe/chest of drawers in our spare rooms is now almost full of his clothes.
No amount of persuasion has worked so today I decided I'd had enough.
Black bags now in the garage .

Good on you! I am with you. I found 15 slightly grubby white shirts when I ventured into DHs wardrobe. But it was the moths which really purged it. He hadn't worn his suits and ties since retiring from the office.
I probably told him but he didn't notice.

I do what Calendargirl suggested. I would never just cull OH wardrobe. Or any of his things. Can't wait to hear how he took it..

How would you feel if he went through all your kitchen utensils while you were away, and got rid of half of them without asking you?
As husband shares the cooking I don't consider them mine.

Mr C says go ahead if I offer to ‘sort’ his wardrobe. Once sorted I present him with a pile of clothes I believe need to be re-homed. He does look, sometimes something will go back in the wardrobe more often he says they can all go as otherwise he’d have to try them on to check fit. We both know how much he dislikes trying on clothes. A bit of a game really but it works.

I am hoping to downsize soon and do need to get rid of a lot of my OH's clothes - there is not a great deal of room for stuff in the NH. I did broach the subject with him and he just said he wanted to choose a suit to be buried in.

He does keep hinting that I should go through my wardrobe(s) though

DH is better at culling his wardrobe than I am mine; however, he does tend to hang on to old jumpers with holes which he likes to wear in the garden.

I have been known to put my fingers in the holes and rip them until they're unwearable.

My husband wouldn't notice

But I'm just as bad as he is

Both our wardrobes are filled with clothes we'll never wear again

Maybe one day

I bet he won't even notice.

I would never throw away other people’s stuff without asking them, as would hate for anyone to do that to me.
However, I might bag up certain items and put to one side. After a while, if he hadn’t noticed, I would show him them and point out they hadn’t been missed, so are they really needed?

Hazel
First of all I'll say that it would never get to that stage where there had to be a big clear out as I can't stand keeping anything that isn't worn/useful/ beautiful to look at.

But if I did I would do it gradually ? I have been known to lie when OH has said where are my so and so shoes the ones I threw out because he obviously bought them without me being there and giving the look: meaning, your not wearing those going out with me ?

I'd be skipping the country, OP. DH would go ballistic. As would I if he started on my tat precious things.

An element of what TrendyNannie said:

Would you be ok with husband going through your wardrobe and throwing away what he thought you shouldn't keep?

I honestly won't believe anyone who says yes.

It depends on the relationship but it seems a bit bossy and infantalising. Is his wardrobe really a problem?

I wouldn't dream of touching my husbands wardrobe, I can easily shut the door on it and not worry about what is inside. I really cannot understand why anyone would think this was ok. I think it is a bit controlling and devalues the other person and their things for no real reason.

I would put all the things into a bag that I thought should go, and ask him to look through them for any special "keepers" - emphasising that in my opinion it could all go to the charity shop, but that his is the final decision.

How would you feel if he went through all your kitchen utensils while you were away, and got rid of half of them without asking you?

Please keep us posted whether or not he notices!

I would do it if he was busy doing something else, but I would show him and ask him but would never just go into his wardrobe and throw things out, I’d have a blue fit if he started clearing mine out

Can't say I blame you, but I'd be a bit annoyed if they were my things.

Maybe you can soften it by saying that those are the things that you think need to go and would he please check them - and that you've already kept the special things. Obviously you risk them all being kept if you do that, but even a 50% throwout rate would make a difference.

Maybe I should have added that anything which I know evokes
memories or has a special significance I would not dream of getting rid of .
I'm not callous simply practical !