Getting rid of unused/unwanted clutter at home

My husband proudly announced to a friend. Since we got married I don’t think I have thrown much away.
How true and enough to make me cry.
The junk has moved with us a few times

Mine is a bit of a Museum too, although some of it is actually still in use. Bits gathered from granny and mother gradually being sifted out applying usefulness/sentimental filters. As someone commented, things that are meaningful to me are turning out not to matter to my children so that's something to think over, however, I have found this thread very useful to help me prioritise and this morning have hefted a bin bag full of glassware, crockery, books, miscellaneous items to the local charity shop! I will try and keep at it - beginning to hate all this clutter!

Just found this link if you are in Scotland (and can't access TWAM)and want to donate sewing machines, tools etc to 3rd world countries.

.https://www.tfsr.org/support/give-tools/

Grammaretto

It's much easier with another person isn't it Madeleine. I find if I try to tackle it alone, I either get engrossed re- reading old letters or paralysed by the sheer scale of the task. I think I have been trying to declutter since DH died nearly 5 years ago. Progress is so slow.

I have an Italian helper coming in a week or so to stay and I hope, together we will make great strides.

What to do with 2 pairs of practically unworn Galloway clogs?

I can commiserate. My mother (who kept every receipt, milestone etc etc) died 10 years ago After 2 months clearing her house- selling, rehoming, etc I have since been gradually chipping away at the remaining items which are mainly sentimental, including a load of letters, passports, photos etc from early 1900's which I am loathe to part with partly because I have also started tracing my ancestry plus there are family 'secrets' in there They take up a lot of space and as you say it is easy to get engrossed and/or paralysed by the scale of it all.
Re the clogs, doorstep flower pots?

Another large carrier bag away to Charity Shop today with clothing, bags etc. Started preparing another with kitchen utensils, pots, vases etc for tomorrow. On a roll!

yogitree, find/buy/repurpose a special and 'beautiful' box to store all of your family archives. Dispose/recyle the old containers. That way your treasures are all together and safe, and you can forge ahead with clearing your home.

Your nearest pet rescue might take your old but cleaned towels and bedding.

Oxfam always want books.
And so do most charity shops..Do try them.

They don't actually. I've tried most charity shops and they all have more books than they can sell. Might sell more if they put 20p on instead of £2 but I guess they know what they are doing.
One shop said they would take half a dozen books if they were popular fiction.
The book bank at the tip was overflowing and the man told me it hadn't been emptied in years.
I think people just read digital now like me.

As for china tea sets, in the hospice shop they were marked up for £5 for a whole tea set. I asked why so cheap and she said they get lots given and no-one buys them.

Some supermarkets, for example Morrisons, have a table/bookcase just after the checkouts, where you can leave books, to sell in aid of Marie Curie Nurses.

B&Q also have a charity book table.

For anybody still checking in - not been online for a few days, but news is, daughter has a sewing machine repair place near her. She is looking into getting my ancient Singer back into working order, either as a hand machine or a new motor. Once fixed, it can go back into use, perhaps through the TWAM scheme.

RedRidingHood

Oxfam always want books.
And so do most charity shops..Do try them.

They don't actually. I've tried most charity shops and they all have more books than they can sell. Might sell more if they put 20p on instead of £2 but I guess they know what they are doing.
One shop said they would take half a dozen books if they were popular fiction.
The book bank at the tip was overflowing and the man told me it hadn't been emptied in years.
I think people just read digital now like me.

As for china tea sets, in the hospice shop they were marked up for £5 for a whole tea set. I asked why so cheap and she said they get lots given and no-one buys them.

Our charity shops only want paperbacks. I take mine to my groups that have Bring & Buy tables.
As for old china tea sets, as you say, nobody wants them now except for vintage tea shops.

Aely

For anybody still checking in - not been online for a few days, but news is, daughter has a sewing machine repair place near her. She is looking into getting my ancient Singer back into working order, either as a hand machine or a new motor. Once fixed, it can go back into use, perhaps through the TWAM scheme.

I took my 2 machines to the TWAM collection point on Saturday. Lovely people.
He told me they send 15 shipping containers a year to Africa.
Thanks for that info BlueBelle

Our local hospital has a thriving book room full of donated books and it is very popular with visitors. Prices are between 50p and £1.50. Also, selection of the books are taken round the wards for the patients to read and return, like a mobile Library.

We must have a lot of keen, old-fashioned readers here. I know of two of our local charity shops who are asking for "More books please!" Books never run out of battery power at a vital spot in the plot.