De-cluttering, the never-ending process

Doodledog

A quick question in my coffee break.

I have found a baby dress that belonged to my daughter (I am only keeping one item from each of my children’s babyhood), and it has milk stains on it. It was washed before being put away, but the stains have worked through. It is white cotton with coloured embroidery, so I can’t bleach it. Does anyone know how I can get the yellow stains out, please?

Rubbing it with white toilet soap then washing in a biological liquid might work.
It's odd how stains can reappear.

but we don’t want a hostess trolley
Everyone needs a hostess trolley 😁
So say Barry and Freda.

. Let’s do it. . .

Mum was very proud of it in 1972 or so, but honestly I really don’t want it, even for sentimental reasons. I think we have to remember that our children may well feel the same about our ‘treasures’ down the line.

My kitchen weevil infestation has really focussed my mind. My zero waste policy has resulted in me having to devote my time to sorting out the kitchen and realising that it’s not wrong of me to throw out food that I’m not going to use. I still don’t know how much I can put in the garden waste bin. I do have a lot of pasta that still seems ok. I did stock up on pasta during lockdown. I’m throwing out all of my stock cubes. And reducing my spices: I only use several of them anyway. I did go through my spices just before the pandemic because I could see that there was a growing problem so it seems surreal going through it all again. Some of the spices I bought then are only just out of date but anything that isn’t in a sealed bottle is going. I now realise why so many things are overpackaged.

That's something I plan to do after my new kitchen goes in, Maybee. I have a large pantry cupboard that has deep shelves, and I can't get to the back of them easily. I want to have it made into a walk-in larder with shallower shelves round the edges and holders built into the back of the doors. It will be a mammoth task, as it's currently crammed, but it's on my list of things to look at after Christmas, when the kitchen fitters have left and I can face things being in a mess again.

I have a fridge freezer in my new build, 3 tiny freezer drawers, so I bought a large freezer and a large fridge, both always full. I have never switched the installed fridge freezer on. I can reach to the back of most shelves and I like the shelves on the door. I am sure you can guess what I store in that, all my herbs, spices, cooking ingredients except flour. It is brilliant, so much better than those deep larder cuboard shelves

I am static at the moment re de-cluttering, been busy all week, plus adding to fabric stash

I’ve found one in my Readybrek tin so that’s going now. A mistake I’ve made is putting things into tins etc without washing them out first.

I am truly boggled right now. Started the day normally and had not even made my bed but was hunting in a drawer for trousers that were medium warm. Out came all the summer trousers and anything lightweight in that chest, 4 big drawers. I wanted a medium warm top from my wardrobe and similar happened in the wardrobe

I now have tall heaps on my bed and my spare bed and am needing a cup of coffee while I think this through. I am very cosy in what I am wearing and it looks nice and is a good pointer for what is a definite

I need to be brave, I have pulled out some good clothes like Orvis or David Nieper skirts, last worn pre 2015 when I was out and about pre-widowhood. They need to be released and best for me is salvation army, who need the money, especially for winter. This is going to take some mental strength this morning

I am grateful for the empty underbed spaces that will hold large RU boxes and 2 of the 32 litre (they are brilliant quality) turquisekeeper crates from amazon, folded down under a guest bed. The remaining clothing for warm weather will all go in those and there will be no overspill back into a wardrobe

So I should not be stomach churning, I have space created from previous de-cluttering. It is blooming daunting, especially mentally but hey I did at last find my long sleeved silk vests

If you haven't worn something since 2015, you are unlikely to do so again, so get rid. I do understand the reluctance, but you are not losing money by giving them away - you lost the money when you bought the items, so that ship has sailed. Hanging on longer has a chance to mean that nobody will want them as they are out of fashion, so neither the SA nor the potential buyers will benefit.

I had to give myself the same pep talk when I donated 20 or more Ghost dresses, Whistles and Hobbs work clothes (and more) a week or two ago. They are gone now, and I won't miss them, but getting rid of them meant mentally getting rid of the 'me' who wore them - a 'me' who was younger, slimmer and had a more varied life. That's the hard bit - it's irrational, but human, I think.

De-cluttering, does not always need to mean `getting rid`, it could mean putting to one side for next season or year. It could mean re-purposing or altering to re-use. The need to make space happens quickly at first, then slows but it still happens

I have finished my wardrobe and drawers, again. Boxed lighter clothes for next year and lo and behold, they all went very neatly into nice boxes under my bed. A big de-cluttering success and now reaping rewards from last season, when I got rid of lots

I tried skirts on, fitted skirts and they are lovely and being hand made are just what I want. In a moment I will be dis-membering a couple of bought skirts, David Nieper, the linings are very nice and will re-line hand made skirts or will make petticoats. The skirts themselves will still be intact and they will go to charity shops

I put only 6 winter skirts back into my wardrobe, this time on separate hangers. The only skirts in there now as too many is overwhelming. One skirt is eastex, fairly long, warm and grey, it is on trial this winter. I think fewer skirts for now, then maybe they will show signs of wear one day

My only regret re acquisition is buying a pale cream cashmere jumper, regret not guilt. I make far nicer jumpers and far more useful. I will wear it this year. Some of my wool jumpers will bobble this winter, I have a very good bobble remover to extend how long I keep these tops and that will be for as long as possible

Doodledog, you sounded just like my son. Yes I do get it, had the pep talk and am taking action

The problem is replacing good clothes because clothes which might be suitable for me and my lifestyle ie good basics, are hard to come by now.
Perhaps it's that I'm difficult to please but I don't like much of the stuff I see for sale now.

Shall I be wearing jeans again? Probably not, so six pairs could go but what to replace them with?

Some of you seem to have a huge amount of clothes!

I do. But as long they still fit me and suit my purposes and the various seasons, I am reluctant to get rid, whilst I have enough space
Getting rid of the late DH’s good suits and posh jackets is a different matter. The homeless shelter doesn’t have a call for them and I am slowly dispersing them around charity shops, one in each.

I did, but I am thinning them out. We've lived here for 25 years, and they have been accumulated over that time. We discussed this upthread, but some of us were brought up not to get rid of things in case they came in useful, or to see it as a waste of money. This is a support thread to encourage one another to let things go with no criticism.

I see no reason why you can't wear jeans if you want to, Cal. I now prefer leggings with long tops/jumpers as they are more comfortable - I carry weight around my middle, and jeans dig in - but I don't see them as being inappropriate for those of us in 'later youth' .

Comfy trousers are a godsend if you can find them, but there is a fine line between comfy and frumpy . I have a great pair from Oska - they are a pull-on style made of cotton with stretch, and have a concealed elasticated waist, so look smart as well as comfortable.

Cabbie21

I do. But as long they still fit me and suit my purposes and the various seasons, I am reluctant to get rid, whilst I have enough space
Getting rid of the late DH’s good suits and posh jackets is a different matter. The homeless shelter doesn’t have a call for them and I am slowly dispersing them around charity shops, one in each.

Would the Salvation Army charity shops want them?
Also, some charities have rails of work and interview clothes for people trying to get back into work, I believe.

I see no reason why you can't wear jeans if you want to, Cal. I now prefer leggings with long tops/jumpers as they are more comfortable - I carry weight around my middle, and jeans dig in - but I don't see them as being inappropriate for those of us in 'later youth' .

I think I've gone past even the later youth stage now!

I really don't like leggings, it's just the feel of them on my legs, sets my teeth on edge.
Odd, moi? Yes!

^Would the Salvation Army charity shops want them?
Also, some charities have rails of work and interview clothes for people trying to get back into work, I believe^
That occurred to me. I gave all Paw’s good suits and shirts to Emmaus which trains homeless men (I think) for a job/trade whatever and I thought suits might be useful for interviews etc.
I did keep the one he wore to the last daughter’s wedding though, (2015) out of sentiment, still with its buttonhole.🌸

Thanks, RosiesMaw, I couldn't remember the name of the charity.

Doodledog

I did, but I am thinning them out. We've lived here for 25 years, and they have been accumulated over that time. We discussed this upthread, but some of us were brought up not to get rid of things in case they came in useful, or to see it as a waste of money. This is a support thread to encourage one another to let things go with no criticism.

I see no reason why you can't wear jeans if you want to, Cal. I now prefer leggings with long tops/jumpers as they are more comfortable - I carry weight around my middle, and jeans dig in - but I don't see them as being inappropriate for those of us in 'later youth' .

Comfy trousers are a godsend if you can find them, but there is a fine line between comfy and frumpy . I have a great pair from Oska - they are a pull-on style made of cotton with stretch, and have a concealed elasticated waist, so look smart as well as comfortable.

No criticism intended! I guess we’ve always lived unfairly small houses, with little storage, and also not had a lot of money - so fewer clothes (and “stuff”) because nowhere to put them!

Alice75

Some of you seem to have a huge amount of clothes!

yes and mostly lovely linens, cottons, viscose and silks and almost all are beautifully hand made to a high standard

Callistemon, I wore black jeans in Frome yesterday. They felt and looked very nice. My older jeans I wear for the house, local shopping, gardening and cycling. I will never discard my jeans

Cant say I have a huge amount of clothes.
Average amount or less?

I now work on the premise of, buying something if there is a "gap" in my wardrobe.
Just bought a long winter dress. Or Autumn/winter.

There's another few bags gone. About 10 cushions that will never be used again, more bedding and several coats that no longer fit. I have bagged up a load of books, but I know a lot of shops don't take them. I have a lot more books to go, but I am struggling with those ones.

Annoyingly, as soon as I clear space and decide what I want to do with the cleared area, Mr Dog decides that he wants some of it😡. He did it when I had bookcases built downstairs, and he's doing it again with the linen cupboard. I know he lives here too, but it really feels like one step forward and two back at times.

Shall I be wearing jeans again? Probably not, so six pairs could go but what to replace them with?

Do you sew? You could use the jeans to make yourself a lovely denim midi/maxi skirt. Loads of videos of YouTube 😄 I've already cut my old jeans into strips to make a cross body bag.

I almost live in M&S jeggings - buy a size bigger than your normal size (so they're not skin tight and really stretched) and they're really comfy but still look reasonably smart. I even wear thin thermal leggings under mine in the Winter.