I have a bag of shoes waiting to go to the thrift store. My biggest challenge is to not glance into the bag. I’ve been tempted to pull a couple of the pairs back out.
Do my 3 huge garbage bags full of shredded bills, years of bank statements and very old tax returns count?
Double- or triple-count, emilybee! Great job.
2 bags to consignment today. Of course, I bagged them months ago, so not sure that counts.
As long as they’re now off the premises, that’s a big thumbs up!
Bag-a-weekers, do you have any suggestions for the following? I’m slowly decluttering the basement, which was my ex-h’s area for collecting computers, tools, paint cans, old furniture, random pieces of wood, and so on. It’s very dirty (e.g., lots of mouse droppings), and once I’ve gotten rid of things, it will need to be cleaned, but I don’t particularly want to vacuum down there myself. Are there specialized services that do cleaning like this or should I see if a regular housekeeping service would do so? Thanks.
Yes, you might want to check if there are services specializing in crawl space and basement cleaning in your area.
There are companies like Servepro that specialize in remediation after leaks or fires. They might do the deep cleaning that you will need.
(I’ve never used Servepro, so this isn’t meant to recommend them. It’s just the only name that comes to mind in that genre.)
^ I believe Servicemasters does similar.
I am in fall cleaning mode. Shredding papers makes me feel good. Getting rid of things that need to be returned and getting cash back is even better. Cleaning up the windows and polishing the cabinets. Taking pictures of things that I want to sell so that I can post them on the community board. Feels good to get a few tasks accomplished each week.
My dd doesn’t know what to do with her trophies. I say keep them but I myself don’t know what to do with them. Some of them are almost 3 feet tall from when she got her black belt. I just know that they take up space and require dusting.
Raclut–As to trophies–I would take a picture, take the plates off them since they are easy to save (put them with photos) and donate the trophies. If there is a “special” one just save it.
I am hanging onto a special trophy of baby kiddo’s - a handcraved wooden canoe. The host team got these canoes to give as high point trophies in each age group. Kiddo fell in love with the canoe… then she realized that her coach encouraged her to sign up for her “off” events. I guess the motivation to get that canoe was so strong, she posted personal bests in those events, won a few, and got the stupid trophy! Thank goodness it is small. 
Took 4 bags of clothes to Salvation Army today. Getting back into this after a long layoff. Still have everything in the basement from our first floor remodel. I have to steel myself to go down there and start on it. The cooler crisp air has re-energized me though.
We tried to donate trophies but no one wanted them since they are a mixed bag of sports, genders and sizes. Took pictures and ended upon throwing them out.
@rosered55: We have in our area a company called All Things Basementy. (Yeah, I know.) You might check to see if they’re in your area.
When I was readying S’s old bedroom to turn it into a guest room I took all his stuff left in there since high school and chucked it. We had already save a few sentimental things from every grade (pictures he drew etc) and they are in 2 large Tupperware bins in basement. But, the truth is, he is never going to want any of this stuff I saved or the stuff I threw out and he’ll just have to call 1-800-GOTJUNK after we are gone and he needs to sell the house. I figure I’m saving him the trouble by doing it now.
^^Speaking of the Got Junk guys one of our friends is moving to a chic new highrise condo from his older suburban house (he’s divorced and his daughter is now in college). He had the got junk guys out there yesterday and they were just hauling everything away that our friend didn’t want to spend time on sorting, selling, or giving away. He’d done a spreadsheet to see how much it would cost him in terms of his time to do it, and it came out to be cheaper to have the got junk guys just come and take it (he’s an executive, so his time is pretty valuable to him).
The hardest part for me was to not take anything he was giving away to the got junk guys, but I knew I’d just be doing the same thing with it two years from now. It’s an interesting version of what we’re doing on here-all the “junk”, all at once, gone.
Like ripping off one gigantic bandaid, I would think.
In that same vein a friend years ago hired a service to help organize their garage.
The company pulled everything out of the garage with the intention to put back in only what you really wanted and organize from there.
The garage looked so good empty that they just had them haul away most all of it.
Started the summer/winter closet switch. Two large bags of clothes and shoes donated. It always surprises me when something that I couldn’t part with in the spring, no longer holds any interest when it’s time to pack it away in the fall.
Will reiterate the recommendation for 1800 Got Junk. I have used them multiple times in several cities. Always on time and personable. Easy online scheduling. I find myself actually looking around and getting rid of more things when I know they’re coming ! Added bonus is that they’ll remove items from anywhere inside or outside the house.
Three other moms of college kids and I are having a yard sale next weekend to get rid of some of our clutter and various kid castoffs. We’re all new at this. Any tips for pricing and getting the word out on the sale? The leftovers are going to Goodwill, which has a nearby donation center.