Decluttering

I took four summer tops, two little going-out handbags, a few paperbacks, a tankini, to two local charity shops.

Have another bag ready to take to another CS, two board games and two large handbags, plus a big bag of ‘clean’ rags, which fortunately they still take, although I know they are worth very little.

And I plan to donate some decent books to our library. Just need to check which are most likely to be needed.

One thing I do notice is how good condition books are in the charity shops, they obviously only put decent ones out. (And why not?)

I left a pair of large sized men's wellingtons good quality at the front of the house yesterday and they had gone in an hour despite the very warm sunny weather.

I have a king sized pine headboard. Would that go I wonder...if I can get it down the stairs! And a large wooden chair. Maybe I will try the chair first. The headboard was passed on to me. But our beds are double not king so it was always too big. Should have gone a long long time ago. No wonder I am overwhelmed by furniture. But it is so deeply entrenched that things might be useful one day.
The younger generation don't share that feeling at all. I think because everything is so easily obtained. If you need something there's eBay for 2nd hand and Amazon for new. And then if you dont need it you sell on. Not store just in case like I do.

It does weigh me down. I must "lighten up"!!

HelterSkelter

We have a ‘Give For Free’ on our local FB page.

I had a single bed, it was my mum’s, then it was used when GD had sleepovers.

Not needed now, as older and doesn’t stay over.

I advertised it on this page, thinking no one will want a second hand bed, even though it was VGC with headboard, mattress, drawers beneath.

But a lady came and collected it, for her GC when they stayed over, delighted that the drawers would hold their toys.

I gave her the mattress protector and duvet also, which she was pleased to accept, thrilled that it was going to a good home where it would be used.

So worth trying to pass on, and when you see the empty space…..

HelterSkelter1

Thanks Petra. I replaced the brushes in the motor 5 or so years ago. Very pleased with myself it took me 2 days to do it. I followed a youtube how to video. Excellent

This is nothing stuck in the pump outlet as sometimes it does drain and spin and sometimes doesnt. It is the age and the programme mechanism as it skips various functions. So finished too early IYSWIM it is as the end of its days. Sometimes it has a good day and works and sometimes not which is when I use my trusty spin dryer.

But I agree with what you are saying. Lots of mechanical things are quite easy to repair. As well as a normal Phillips screwdriver I also needed a torque screwdriver which luckily a neighbour had. It was very satisfying, but time consuming to do it. I did need a hand to put the belt round the drum again which DH helped with. As it was a bit like putting the chain back on a bike.

Ah, it sounds like the Motherboard. Those can be replaced. You can buy one online.
But to be honest you might have a problem with the age of your machine.
But it’s worth a search on eBay. That where we got our replacement and Mr P wired it in.
It’s fitted under the lid of the machine.

The younger generation don't share that feeling at all. I think because everything is so easily obtained. If you need something there's eBay for 2nd hand and Amazon for new. And then if you dont need it you sell on. Not store just in case like I do.

Or if they're our family members, their "might need one day" stuff ends up being stored in our garage 🙄

The robovac went in the bin, but i did decide i suddenly needed one, so have bought one on ebay.

The dreary coat is hanging back in the cupboard, for now

Very true V3ra.
Petra your post has taken me down memory lane. I worked with a lovely older lady when I was 24 and she had Hoover Keymatic washing machine. She died in her 90s and I ecpect thst machine was still working. It had a keyplate with grooves in it representing the programmes and you inserted the keyplate in different ways for the different settings. So simple.
I read up about it and it was groundbreaking and made in Wales.
I can even almost remember the advert.
"Hoover Keymatic is the name
Its automated and thats the same
As something something something
Washday? Just forget it"
Anyone remember that line? In 1961 they were first produced.

Back to my Bosch which is almost in its 3 rd decade and I think will be replaced by another Bosch. If it werent so old I would think of checking out a replacement motherboard. And look for an instruction video.

Saturday evening I posted 4 tops and 1 dress on Vinted. This morning 2 have sold! Will try and do more today if it's not sunny. Can't bear being inside when the weather is actually nice for once.

That's a fast turnaround!'

I put 4 tops and 1 dress on Vinted yesterday evening. Woke up to find 1 top and 1 dress sold! Depending on the weather I will put more on today. My wardrobe is yet again full of stuff I don't fit into anymore wear now so they have to go!

I'm at a big testing point now.

I have a big, big box of my favourite books under my bed.
I never look at them, and won't reread them.

If i was to get rid of those books, it would leave the lidded container free to store my quilt covers, or sheets and pillow cases in.

They are currently squashed ontp a narrow shelf, behind hanging clothes.
Each time i want to change my bed, it's a fight, which always leaves the remaining bed stuff in a terrible mess.

Its ridicuous; my heart is fluttering a bit, and my breathing is getting erratic, thinking about the demise of these books...

I have a big, big box of my favourite books under my bed.
I never look at them, and won't reread them.

Somebody else could get as much pleasure from reading your precious books as you have done 🥰

They could, but the books aren't in good condition, and I've no means of getting them to a charity shop, as my mobility is bad, and i have a huge infection which is affecting my arm and strength on one side.

So, if they go, it will be into the recycling bin.

I’m hopeless at decluttering. I’ve just put my winter clothes away and got the summer stuff out, as I do every year. Put several summer dresses and tops in a pile for the charity shop, then took half of them back the next day because they might come in. In my defence I do wear things from decades ago when they come back into fashion - wide legged trousers being a recent case in point. And I really do regret getting rid of things like denim jackets, because obviously they were always going to make a comeback. I am good at ditching stuff that doesn’t suit me, however recently I’ve bought them (always in a sale, of course, just because they were a bargain. It’s a bad habit).

My many pairs of lovely high heeled shoes are definitely going to go this month though. Their time has come. I used to wear them every day, but now it’s for a few hours on high days and holidays. Even then only certain pairs.

I’m much better at passing books on now, but still have shelves full. I do weed a few out every now and then, but I love a house with books. Some of our charity shops collect donations, MissA. Our Heart Research shop is one, but I don’t know if that’s a national policy.

Hmmmm yes, youre right, I'm sure, but i have a hell of a busy time coming up, wth appoimtments galore.
Dentist, doctor, hospital, plus sometimes needing to be fitted in at short notice.

If i bag them up, it means they're taking away what energy i do have which, is precious little, for what is a load of scruffy old books.

If the collection people are unable to access my place (which they can't, as ot is a buzzer system which isn't workimg) its extra stress for me, and the books will probably end up back in the box!

Well, as per my post of the other day (finding long-lost earrings) I am now determined to tackle one drawer a day - who knows what else I might find!

A couple of years ago I vowed to myself that once the clocks changed at the end of October, I’d tackle one drawer or cupboard a day. I did precisely two!

The best laid plans of mice and men (and Witzend)

But 2 is better than none! Witzend.

MissA. Write down the titles of the books then if you want to read them again..but probably you won't... you could always get them from the library.

Put off actually getting rid of them till you have more energy.

It sounds really good to have more lidded storage for bedding.

I'm cracking on with sorting as I am close to having cataracts done and then will be not doing any bending etc for quite a while. So decluttering will come to a grinding halt.

Packing up books and taking them to the charity shop or recycling would have been a Bob a Job job years back. Not possible now of course. Health and .safety and safeguarding restrictions. Understandable of course. But a trio of scouts would make short work of your books. And raise funds for their scout group.

I have a very simple method of decluttering.

Imagine it has poo on it. Would you wash it or throw it away?

But back in the days of Bob a Job, books were quite a precious resource, you could only buy them at a proper bookshop.

Now, with Amazon, supermarkets selling books cheaply, the supply of books everywhere is huge.

Charity shops are inundated. You can sell them on online sites, but many are worth pennies.

Hardly worth the effort.

Our local charity book shop takes all sorts. I am sure they would ditch unwanted ones but are always very polite. Are 5hey sold for pulp like rags are I wonder. I am lucky to have such a specialist shop close by. And it is always busy with good displays. Ordinary charity shops often have little space for books.
MissA would you pay an AgeUK handyperson to pack them up for you? There seems to be a gap in the market for such helpers. Not expensive decluttering agencies, but for someone to give a hand.

They're in two pink bags now! The box is empty, although a few bits and bobs have gone into Colin (the cabinet) who is bursting at his seams!

Hooray. Result!

The books went into the recycling.
It was sad, because there was a few in there which my daughter used to read to my grandsons.
There was some dvds they used to watch, too.

My girl used to enjoy disney ones herself, as she became less mobile and more poorly.

She said at least they always had happy endings...