VH - perfect! Mr. B is traveling next week… The garbage gets picked up midweek, so Mr. will never even notice the stuff that is going to land in the trashcan. 
I have been quite diligent getting at least a bag a day moved out, but am uncovering so many more things that need to leave this house. If it would just stop snowing and warm up, I will have a yard sale to get rid of these treasures.
Meanwhile, I think I need to move the boxes out of my entry hall, as they are just stressing me out by their meet presence. (Yes, I am OCD wrt clutter).
I have read the book by Marie Kondo and enjoyed it. However, her de-cluttered set of possessions seems too sparse for me. Also, I found that old plastic toys of QMP did “spark joy” in me. Maybe this is a problem!
Bromfield2, guessing based on your Mondrian-inspired picture, I’d imagine that Kondo’s approach works well for you. I see the attraction in the approach, but it’s just not me.
I am temporarily stalled on throwing things out, but plan to get back to it at the first chance. Actually, I may have the world’s largest collection of decluttering books. Unfortunately, several of them “spark joy” for me. Maybe they will be among the last bits of clutter to go.
When I first read the title of this thread, I thought “bag a week” meant the opposite … that for some reason, one obtained a bag of ___ each week. (hope this has regulars chuckling)
I didn’t click on the link until I kept seeing it appear routinely. Clarity!
All of you amaze me. I hope that by checking in regularly for inspiration I’ll stay on-track with clearing and creating space to find a place for things to stay or go out in a bag.
Kondo’s book might be the stepping stone. I’m comfortable with clutter, as in many bookcases filled with books. I can embrace neat, so TIDY might be a better way to approach deaccension… a way to start de-cluttering.
And, as I live in an apartment, de-cluttering a house must be quite an undertaking. So, Kudos!
QM: I haven’t touched books yet. I used Kondo’s approach for clothing in closets and dresser drawers and the linen closet. Also, did some decluttering in the kitchen and pantry. I had food that was over two years beyond the use by date.
Has anyone read this book?
http://www.amazon.com/The-100-Thing-Challenge-Everything/dp/0061787744
I took it with me on a girls weekend and we had good laughes reading excerpts. He obsesses about pens andhain one special pen. I thini I can dig up at least 100 on the first floor of my house.
Some interesting points, but overall a bit self consumed.
Ok, back to my piles and figure out what to get rid of today…
Tonight I’m going through my linen closet. I’m going to get rid of sheets that have any percentage of polyester in them.
Yes, I only like 100% cotten linens myself. HI is too hot and humid for synthetics.
Today I tackled keychains and extra keys. OMG - how did we amass that many in only 25 years???
You know if you throw those keys out…! Lol. VH, I laughed at your sheet restrictions. I’ve been going crazy with my comforter lately - too hot (must be polyester in it) and not sufficiently long on each side for my dumb thick mattress. I almost chucked it all this week. If I see anything I like soon, it will be gone.
Well, someone pointed out that we should only keep things that bring us joy. Polyester sheets (or any sheets that are less than 100% cotton) most definitely do not bring me joy.
It’s interesting: Many many years ago I realized this about clothes. I decided not to wear anything that I didn’t really like and that didn’t make me look good. It’s time to do the same thing with all my other possessions.
I had a wonderful time yesterday sorting through DH’s messy corner in our office. (He’s out of town.) He had things just stuffed there since we moved into the house two and a half years ago – I mean, receipts from Amazon for things that we have long ago consumed, books that belong on bookshelves, pieces of art that should either be hung on a wall or go to the basement. I had such a wonderful feeling of peace when I walked in my office this morning and saw how clean and organized it is!!
If anyone has a link to a pricing list for things that are donated to Goodwill, could you please send me a PM? I have a stack of receipts from last summer with lists along the lines of “1 toaster oven good condition, 15 event t-shirts, 4 soda can coozies, 35 books” that I need to turn into dollar figures for the tax deduction.
Many thanks!
If you use TurboTax, it has a tool called “ItsDeductible” which lets you enter items and gives you a range of values. I have a copy of a guide from a place where I donate clothes – if it is helpful to folks, I can retype it and post here.
VH…get rid of those sheets before your DH gets home…or he will likely tell you that they would make great drop clothes…or sheets to put on the car seat if transporting a pooch…or something like that.
I know…my DH has a whole box of such sheets…and there is one in the trunk to each car.
So…hide them in the bottom of the trash!
Actually, see if your animal shelter or homeless shelter wants linens and bedding. They may be very grateful AND you can get a tax deduction!
Our local shelter takes old towels and sheets. Cotton - yes. Polyester - not so much; fleece blankies are an exception, because pets like to cuddle in them.
Actually, that’s where I’m headed right now – to purge the sheets. But I am thinking of keeping a few to cover the LR furniture that my dogs seem to love to sleep on.
The homeless shelter will likely be grateful for anything. There are so many in need! Salvation Army and Goodwill take them too–can be use for sewing and costumes too.
For anyone who’s keeping track, I’m getting rid of:
11 cotton/poly pillowcases
18 cotton/poly sheets
1 XL twin fitted sheet
I’m keeping 3 cotton/poly sheets and I’ve draped them over three chairs that the dogs sleep on. Kinda makes the house look like Downton Abbey did when the family went away and the servants covered the furniture.
(Yeah, like my house looks anything like Downton Abbey!!)
I don’t think I’ve ever purged my sheets before.