I was ALWAYS the most productive about getting things done around the house at exam time, @MotherOfDragons . 
Hauled 90% of the junk out of D1’s closet. It had become the holding pen for much more than her stuff, though I did find an entire file box related to her college search. Think it’s safe to toss that? She’s over 30 now.
Now if I can get all the bags downstairs my sweetie will haul them to the donation place tomorrow.
Does cleaning out and defrosting my extra freezer in the basement count? A once a year task just about done!
@abasket, that heroic deed equals 10 bags, IMO!
Cleaned out my “huge” closet in my master bathroom. I made several trips out to my recycling bin. Got rid of boxes from hair dryer, hair straightener etc. I also consolidated all the travel size toiletries. Also have way to many small toiletries bags from business class trips. I now have several empty shelves.
Cleaned out make up drawer and just reorganized all the drawers in the vanity and went through my medicine cabinet.
All the while listening and watching CNN.
A large house with lots of storage can be both a blessing and a curse.
Also went through my hanging clothes and moved summer stuff to one end. I also have a bag for giving away.
@abasket no basement extra freezer but I do have a refrigerator in the garage. That might be my next area to hit. Thanks for the inspiration
@mom60, stuff expands to fill the space available.
" Also have way to many small toiletries bags from business class trips. "
I’ve heard that they can be desirable to places that service the homeless.
It depends. Some local shelters ask specifically not to donate small toiletries. They prefer full sized stuff to use in their showers and do not like to pay for the disposal of the waste these small bottles generate.
When oldest D was young, she collected stuffed bears. Or I collected them for her. When she was home during the holidays she asked me when I was going to get rid of them as they are still in her former room. I do not want to throw them away as they are perfectly good. I asked some folks with grandchildren if the wanted any of them. No thanks was the answer.
This past week I heard that our church started a new program giving a stuffed bear to someone going through an “unbearable” time and wanted to know if anyone had stuffed bears in good shape to donate.
This will be at least two or three bags and help me on my way to converting this room to a nice guest room!!
@doschicos @BunsenBurner - I’m thinking about making a few and seeing if my H wants to give them to some of the homeless who hang out where he plays beach volleyball.
@morrismm - glad the bears are going to a good home
A friend does that in her city - hands out small toiletries and food bags to the homeless.
Went through the linen closet and selected some towels and fleece sheets to be donated to the local pet shelter. Will add a pack of garbage bags and some cat food, and Mr. will deliver the bundle later in the week.
Finally convinced DS to sort through the closet and dresser in “his” room and pull out anything he won’t wear again (he hasn’t lived here for 3 years but visits often). Great success - 21 tee shirts and other assorted clothes plus one obnoxiously large sombrero to be donated!
Cleaned out the attic; flattened over 30 old empty boxes. They’re ready to go to recycling. Also found a box of leftover junk from son’s college days (2011 U of C grad). There was this strange landscape of dinosaurs made out of colored push pins, cardboard and black duct tape. Found out it came from a Scav Hunt. Son was a team captain. Made us all laugh.
Completely cleaned out my pantry–found stuff that was dated Feb. 2007!!! Threw out everything that was beyond it’s use by date and got motivated to buy new glass canisters for flour, coffee, etc. Can’t believe how good everything looks. Now, I’m going to attack my desk!!
I have often read that canned goods are safe to eat long after the “best by” date. A couple of months ago we opened some smoked salmon bought in Alaska on a cruise. Tasted like metal, not fish. Looked at the can again and it was two years past date. Oops. At least it wasn’t contaminated like a punctured can might be, and nobody got sick.
So with that in mind and this thread as inspiration, next weekend I think will be clean out the pantry weekend.
I would be embarrassed to admit how long we’ve kept some of the spices.
If they are really old, sell them on Etsy! Looks like others do.
https://www.■■■■■■■■/search/vintage?q=spice+tin&order=most_relevant&view_type=gallery&ship_to=US&explicit=1
I wish we could post pictures-I reorganized the junk drawer yesterday (more procrastinating!), and it looks so tidy-washed all the little trays, threw out a ton of old pens/junk/what the heck is this?/empty tape trays, relocated the stuff that belongs in the workroom back to the work room (about 8 phillips head screwdrivers!), wiped down the inside of the drawer, put it all back.
I wish y’all could see it-I’m happy every time I open the drawer now (what precipitated it was that I couldn’t get the drawer open yesterday in my fruitless search for a thumb drive-found three in the drawer eventually).
HOW do we accumulate so many pens, writing utensils?! I swear I clean out the container in the kitchen to store these items a couple times a year, but right now I bet there are 100+ pens/markers/sharpies in one room!