Getting rid of unused/unwanted clutter at home

Please consider the sewing machine if useable but old going to TWAM Tools with a mission They are collected cleaned tidied mended if something simple and sent to third world country where it could mean a young woman being able to start a small business
All tools of any kind too so anyone who s lost a husband but has a shed full of tools please consider doing that
Such a lovely charity

Thank you BlueBelle I will bear that in mind for future clearouts.

Just in the process of decluttering fabric. Some are easy to part with; others not so easy. Will I really use those fabrics? Just how many scrap quilts can a person make in one life time. It's a slow process. I don't want to have the biggest stash in the graveyard. I just wish I were more decisive.

Thanks for the reminder BlueBelle. Do they take old garden tools?
I wonder if they operate in Scotland.

I have 5 unused toilets and washbasins in my cellar! I think my late husband was gifted them by a plumber when he bought a shop and wanted to fit out the toilets.
The shop still operates but those items were not required.

I have managed to sell 8 big heavy boxes of 78rpm records via Facebook marketplace, this week.

I have a Singer treadle machine too Aely 🙄

I just decluttered big time as I’m moving house next week. I eventually had to dump many DVDs as no one wanted them, I sold a few things on FB Marketplace, offered a few things to family including an old singer sewing machine which my daughter was over the moon to take. If you have a driveway try putting stuff near the pavement you will be surprised what people will take, tools garden or DIY always went quickly.
Good decluttering to you👍

I do it small bits at a time. Then people buy me stuff or I get something I like and the whole thing starts again.

I have a cross-trainer in my bedroom I'll never use again but have no idea what I can do with it...

BlueBelle
Thanks so much for that info.
Anyone who knows me knows that I’m the opposite end to a hoarder.
But what I do have are 4 sewing machines, all gifted to me.
I want to gift 2 of them. I’ve given up offering to teach family and friends how to use them and make things.

I think it is the toughest job ever. All of these 'things', come with beautiful memories for me. Everyone has left home now, husband died 4 years ago. The memories keep me going. I think that the family will want some things, even though I know full well when I am gone , a skip will be hired and everything dumped . Funnily enough, when I do convince myself to part with something, one of the family will say, oh no, you can't get rid of that!

keepingquiet

I do it small bits at a time. Then people buy me stuff or I get something I like and the whole thing starts again.

I have a cross-trainer in my bedroom I'll never use again but have no idea what I can do with it...

If it’s in working order either sell it on Gumtree (buyer to collect) or donate it to a charity that will collect and sell it themselves.

British Heart Foundation is one that will, as do others including local charities.

We live on quite a busy road for pedestrians walking to the train station so I often leave stuff just by the pavement and it disappears quickly....I never see who takes it!! The last things were 4 garden chairs just before the first heatwave so I hope they were immediately used.

So much stuff still to sort through and send on its way. When we first moved into this house 40+ years ago there was an Aladdins cave of a 2nd hand furniture shop where we bought lots of nice things. The owner grumbled to me one winter that it wasnt cold enough...not enough old people ðying!! Even to a 26 year old that seemed heartless even more so now at 76!!!

Why do so many of us collect so much stuff? I had hoped to pass a lot on to my daughters, but they haven't the room. I have furniture of my parents as well. Oh dear. Oh well I am not alone it seems.

I’ve just gone through all my videos and put them into categories. I’ve seen things on utube that are only there because someone has kept an old recording on video so it makes me loathe to throw them away. I also feel guilty about putting anything into landfill.

BlueBelle

Please consider the sewing machine if useable but old going to TWAM Tools with a mission They are collected cleaned tidied mended if something simple and sent to third world country where it could mean a young woman being able to start a small business
All tools of any kind too so anyone who s lost a husband but has a shed full of tools please consider doing that
Such a lovely charity

Our WI had such a good talk from one of the Tools With A Mission (TWAM) speakers. We had a huge collection in the months following with all of us ransacking garages, sheds and cupboards for unwanted and unused items that TWAM can make use of and make up kits for people in underdeveloped countries to use to make a living. Brilliant idea.

Bluebelle, the Singer was converted to electric, but the motor blew. I tried putting it back to manual but couldn't get the right sized handle mechanism. (It's a 66, the smaller size of machine. It looks to be a little older than the one my Mum bought in the mid 1950s. I am wondering if a modern motor would fit. Does anybody know? I would happily repair and donate. The other is a Jones, It works but has a problematic shuttle system. It snaps modern, weak, thread. Why is it so difficult to buy decent cotton thread?

As for the person (sorry, didn't make a note of which lady) who said about donating tools "left" to a Widow, are you suggesting us ladies can't use a saw, hammer or even a power drill? You should see my tool collection - and it has been used frequently since my husband died 25 years ago. In fact, they were MY tools, not his!

I am delighted that my recently bought, "old fashioned" (reminds me of the Woolworth Dansette) record Player will take 78rpm records. Many don't. Once I can find a decent tape recorder, I will be dumping two, old, "curate's egg" music centres. One has tape recorders that destroy tapes, the other a CD player that eats CDs and won't let them out without a mammoth struggle. The wonky turntable with the non-replaceable stretched belt has already been disposed of. My beautiful, 1960s, soft topped 4 speed record player with a blown capacitor will stay under the bed until I can bear to let it go. It cost me over £20 in 1968 - a small fortune - plus £21 Guineas for the auxiliary amp to make it stereo for my 21st birthday a year later. Thank you so much, my kind and unexpectedly generous Dad!

My daughter arrived yesterday and between us we have cleared the attic completely. Made a start after lunch on sorting some long held stuff howling with laughter at some of it. She has taken a few things she would like to keep and the rest is in the garage ready for us to do another day.

Well done Beechnut and DD!
You'll be exhausted.

There used to be something called Tools for self reliance similar to TWAM but I don't think either of them include Scotland.

Mens' sheds are recommended but I don't think they want these ancient tools in my shed. I guess i can ask.

It's books I am finding the hardest to go through. I took 17 boxes to a charity collection point. I wish I didn't have to see them go but it's unlikely that my next house will have space.

Good luck with the move tanith

Freecycle is what you need!

What I plan to do with books is to list them all before they go to the charity shop and if I really want to read them again then I will just have to order them from the library.
A lot of older books, especially paperbacks, are in such small print. And hardbacks are often heavy to hold in bed.

Recently a paperback fell apart as I was reading it so that went into the bin when I finished it,

We have started decluttering. After my husband’s stroke last Nov we have had to put his hospital bed in the lounge as he cannot get upstairs. The spare room/office is now full of lounge stuff.

We are having to sell his large van so my son has sorted through everything in there and we have sold all the stock. Next his beautiful motorbike will have to go. It is really emotional for us all. 😢

The garage was full of horse gear and now we are down to one ancient horse we have taken 3 car loads of tack, riding gear, numnahs, boots, bandages etc to a horse sanctuary to use or sell in their shop.

I have been taking books galore to Tesco and Aldi to put on their charity book stalls. Bags of clothes gone to charity shops.

We are trying to think whether we should stay in this house or move.

I find that if you offer things free, people don't turn up so I put a negotiable price on things. That seems to give them a value and people flock.

keepingquiet

I do it small bits at a time. Then people buy me stuff or I get something I like and the whole thing starts again.

I have a cross-trainer in my bedroom I'll never use again but have no idea what I can do with it...

Sell it on Facebook market place , put it on free cycle or stick it outside your house , someone will take it .

To sell it I have to photograph it first, and that isn't easy as it's so big!

Then I doubt anyone would pay anything for it.

I'm not sure I could even give it away as it is so bulky and heavy to move!

Grammaretto thanks for that I have everything crossed things go without a hitch I certainly feel the last month has been stress overload.

I have never been a hoarder, in fact I've been in trouble for getting rd of things a bit too quickly. However after mum died and I cleared her house it came home to me that what holds sentimental value for the parent is of no interest to the child.
We haven't used DVDs for over 20 years, everything is digital here. The main thing was books. Many, many bookcases full. I only read on kindle now so I've got rid of 99% of my books. Not easy as charities don't really want them these days. It frees up so much space when you get rid of stuff.