I need to go through all my potions and lotions under my bathroom sink. Especially the samples. I love a sample size beauty product but rarely use them!

I posted this, which @hhireno started, because it spurred me to do something. Even little projects matter. Also, you guys give me ideas about places to look; I'd forgotten the coat closet, for example, so yesterday I had 3 nice coats that i added to my boot donation haul.

Question.

How often do you think we should have these threads? Monthly or just qtly?

I think monthly is fine. I think they are a good reminder. If participation wanes you could always switch it to quarterly.

I was going to suggest quarterly but monthly is fine by me.

Monthly, depending on input. My guess is that Jan-March will be popular but may wane in summer months.

Mtn, that storage google doc is next level. 🙌🏼 I aspire but will never achieve.

I know it sounds weird but it is not that hard. I did not sit down and document the location of every item I owned one day, I did it over time. Especially when I put something some place weird, I would just type it in. Try it. It will grow over time. Lots of things don't need to be there, but it is a godsend when you are looking for something that could be in one of several places, or that you moved, or that you stored someplace counterintuitive.

EG self-tanners could be with makeup, or could be w SPF (which gets moved seasonally, addig to confusion). If I can't find it I buy duplicates and then leave them someplace and they all expire! But I don't record that my toothpaste is in the cabinet over my sink. Like that is not a surprise, right?

That makes sense. I need to start with items I set aside for my kids’ places—there is a lot I forget I have that haven’t made it to them.

Yes!

It doesn't need to be "complete," it's just a start. Something is better than nothing

I've been trying to purge autopay and autorenew subscriptions that I have just forgotten about. I searched my inbox for those terms, but then found three hiding in my Amazon account!

I do not think I have used any of these more than once.... goodness knows how long i have been paying for them

Next week my office and guest bedroom are swapping places, so I'm purging where I can.

Almost 20 years ago I went through a jewelry-making phase that ended and isn't going to make a return. Yet, I've found it hard to part with all the beads and fittings, mostly sterling silver, that I have stashed away. I mean, they really don't take up much room, so why not keep them? I don't want to make jewelry anymore and it pains me to hoard nice things for the sake of maybe-just-in-case.

I recently discovered a non-profit second-hand craft materials store in the next town. Checked with them and yes indeed they will happily take all this stuff off my hands. And a little tax deduction is always nice.

I'm a retired clothes sewer but now do small crafting and quilting projects. I was in a store this week, saw a Christmas item and panicked. Where would I buy Christmas fabric if I wanted to make something?

Unfortunately this event has caused me to hold on to fabric that I was ready to donate. That saddens me as I have boxes of my mother's I'm gearing up to go through. Argg!

I'll give it a few years and see what becomes of the home sewing fabric market. Perhaps something like Joann's will come back around.

To me, monthly reminders are good. Can skip if you're on top of things. I hate to admit it but when I move things to organize, then I can't remember where I put it. Documenting and keeping it updated is key. Great idea. Now if only I can implement that. This is not the old me, or should I say the younger me. I've slipped into overload mode.

Yesterday I tackled my two binders of printed recipes (remember when we used to do that?). Boy, did I hold on to sheets and sheets of mostly untried recipes. Needless to say, I filled a bag of them to add to the recycling bin. I felt I accomplished something as I'm still getting over my cold.

ummm I still do use the recipe binders. I may not print out when I'm going to test it, but once it's a keeper I do use the binder. However, I did go through that because I would save rip outs from magazines, with the thought that ooh one day... Well so I did go through the binder and only the ones that make sense remain.

I wanted to share that I did do the under kitchen sink yesterday and honestly it took less than 30 minutes. I thankfully really didn't have much crazy to discard; it just had gotten pretty wild looking. It's also helpful to see what I do have.

The hardest part was getting down on the floor and up a few times

I feel like I accomplished something.

(next up will be the vanities. I have a bad habit of stashing things to get them out of the way or off a counter).

Every trip home for the last year DH and I have been purging his childhood home but in all truth the lions share of that has fallen to his twinsister and her daughter. DH's parent's built the house when they were engaged, almost 70 years ago. We're going again next week for FIL's memorial, he died in Sept just 10 days shy of the 1 year anniversary of MIL's passing. The house is on the market (pocket listing for the moment) and the realtor is not concerned about a total clean out - it's on a double lot and likely to be torn down.

I did a hair care clean out a few days ago - every curly hair product I've tried and rejected in various stages of never used to less than half full. Took a pic, bagged them up and offered on a local buy nothing group - gone!

Not purged, but photographed, packed and shelved in the basement with content identifying photo on each box - service for 12, 6pc place settings and every serving piece known to man of Royal Worcester Evesham Gold. It was being purged by a customer of DH's - I know, I know that's against the rules of these posts! Saving it for the day DS and DIL can actually build and move into their house - she loves it.

I have a bad habit of stashing things to get them out of the way or off a counter

Raising hand! Yep, that's me. I call myself a closet slob. Come into my house and you think oh, nice and clean and orderly. However if you open a closet, you take your life in your hands. You never know what will come crashing down on you.

I will say I am better than I used to be. And I have been cleaning out closets so it's definitely more manageable.

I can't stand clutter that I can see. But behind the closet doors...out of sight, out of mind. Kind of drives DH crazy which is why I've gotten better.

if you open a closet, you take your life in your hands. You never know what will come crashing down on you.

🙋‍♀️

🙋‍♀️

But it’s clean😁

Always good to know I'm not alone! I'm telling DH!

🙋🏻‍♀️

Anyone need to purge their car?

Sueb, I often call my car my ’rolling closet’. Since we live in a small rural community and have to drive about 20-30 minutes to get anywhere for groceries, doctor’s appts, gym, etc, I have a bag or 2 with hats, an extra tshirt & shoes, and various other items i might need at any point in time. That’s not including the small flashlight, notebook, pens, charging cords (even tho my car can charge my phone without one), sanitizer, microfiber cloths, grocery bags, and ??

I did an electronic purge of phone photos and screenshots today, so nothing anyone else will notice but I know I did some cleaning up.

I suppose reading this thread earlier had me reorganing the armoire contents in our MBR and a dresser (in a closet!). I have a small bag to donate and hope to add more before end of November.

I would like to second C's suggestion to donate to safe houses. DD is a DV/SA counselor. After mentioning some need a change of clothes (kept as evidence), I started donating better and NWT items to her organization.

I swapped out my summer sandals and shoes for winter shoes today and had a bag of 5 pair of shoes to purge. While putting away some personal care products I had ordered I decided to make another pass through a couple of bathroom drawers and now have a bag of nearly new or new shampoos, conditioners, samples, and such to donate, plus some cleaned and re-organized drawers. Oh, and the cabinet under my bathroom sink was the source of some cleaning and purging too.

I just saw this and thought it belonged here.

I'm assuming we are most definitely including papers in this purging ( or recycling shredding etc).

Yes, paper! And digital!

Task of the week:

Go into your email and find at least 3 things to Unsubscribe to!

A search for a pair of wool socks (other than no-shows) let me to clean out my sock drawer once again. So around 8 pair are being purged. Since today is trash day I also made another pass theough the pantry and fridge this week and had a bag full of stuff that went to the trash. I still need to go through some of my Christmas decor boxes and get rid of a lot of things. I did a little last year but not near enough.

By the way, do any of your cities have a ’Shower Up’ program? It’s portable showers that are set up to give the homeless or others a chance to have a hot shower at least once a week. I found out from a friend they take used clean towels in good condition. In the past I’ve taken perfectly good towels to the animal shelter but will probably take many to this effort too.

I just unsubscribed from many (grrr) emails yesterday. I get so tired of those! Have gone through clothing recently and have a box to donate, plus some other items stored in closets. Why do I have so many bed pillows - these have not been slept on - have only been used for shams for pretty made up beds. I am now going through Christmas stuff as we start decorating. Confession: While I went through hanging clothes, I still need to go through the drawers in our master closet and one dresser. More purging to continue after the holidays. A good project for winter, when it's cold and the busy-ness of the holidays has slowed down. I'm also going to try listing some items on FBMP as I have a few framed prints, a pair of lamps, some antique glassware and even a corner cabinet that I would like to get rid of. Will try selling first, if that doesn't pan out will donate.

Yeah, the fact that, when you go to a site to unsubscribe, a stock reason is "I never subscribed to this list" is so telling/galling. I prefer to select "Other" and then write in "I never subscribed to this effin stupid list as you damn well know."

Confession: While I went through hanging clothes, I still need to go through the drawers in our master closet and one dresser. More purging to continue after the holidays.

The perfect is the enemy of the good. It does not have to be The Purge. I probably find something to drop off every week, to the local charity near my favorite grocery store. Saturday it was just two garlands of faux ivy.

I have been on a mission to unsubscribe. The number of emails I receive daily is ridiculous!

I know I am guilty of just clicking "accept cookies" on sites-- but this is how I get added to so many lists. I am slowing down and being much more selective.

I also join lists for a discount this time of year-- from sites I wouldnt normally visit of buy from outside of christmas. I wont necessarily stop but I will be more mindful of unsubscribing more quickly.

I didn’t sign up !

I find that when I "deny all cookies," everything still works the way I need it to? Sometimes I have to agree to "functional cookies."

As far as email, my kids have a heart attack when they see my Unread Email tally on my email icon at the bottom of my iphone, LOL!

Don't you just delete all the emails you are not going to read? I delete about 75 a day or more. And about 30 texts.

I find that when I "deny all cookies," everything still works the way I need it to? Sometimes I have to agree to "functional cookies."

For web sites (vs applications), this is generally true-- but some features do require minimal cookies (a persistent shopping cart, for example).

LOL! SO had a similar reaction to my # of unread emails ... but yours make me look like I am on top of things!

Holy smokes, Mtn, are you in solitary confinement?

My second thing to do each day is check emails. I delete everything Ive read or dont need or want, saving the ones requiring follow up.

As for purging, I just threw away about two thirds of my socks. Its finally gotten chilly enough that I have to wear socks. I went to find a pair and realized my sock drawer was in total chaos. I dumped the drawer out and started matching the unmatched, at which time I realized life is too short to match socks, so I dumped them all.

Also working on scarves.

Cleaning desk drawers is my goal. Not an entire drawer, just a folder or two. If the shredder would quit overheating, it would go faster, lol.

My Christmas decorations will be coming out of storage soon and this year I am going to get rid of all that I never put up and have saved for way too many years. A Christmas purge is much needed.

Suggestion for all that plan to purge holiday decor --- give yourself a deadline of one week from today, so that you can donate it at a time of year when it will be used/needed! We did that a few years ago and it felt great. (LOL i got rid of anything that was red or just tacky 😬 )

Also, please consider a cash donation whenever you donate goods. Face it --- these people are doing us a favor, too.

Sounds like a great plan! Thanks

I set side multiple pairs of pants, representing all seasons and a few sizes, for giveaway. I don’t wear them, some because they don’t fit, and others because I just never base on outfit on them, IDK why. I’ll give my sisters and niece first dibs, then donate them.

I had a black, no button cardi sweater in a giveaway pile. At the last minute, I threw it my luggage as a just in case. The wind made my destination colder than I expected and I wore that stupid sweater under my coat multiple times. I hung it back in my closet but I think my first instinct to get rid of it was correct. I was glad to have it when I needed it but I hadn’t worn it in years.

My real challenge is to get my husband to go through his clothes. Since retirement there are multiple things that he hasn’t, and probably won’t, wear again.

I have been gradually deleting photos. Now I only have about 26,000. 🤨

Just checked. Without even deleting any, I am so ahead of you! Only a tad over 22,000.

I delete emails and unsubscribe but it can take a while for unsubscribe to kick in, but still, new emails come in. I thought I was bad when my emails got to 800! I got down to 500, now I'm in the 200s. My dad was getting inundated, even three years after he died. After I took care of everything, we saved his personal contact list and closed the account. I think those emails are still bouncing around in the universe looking for a place to land.

@mtnrdredux_gw, I’m totally copying this right now and using it, "I never subscribed to this effin stupid list as you damn well know." And i thought I had a lot of emails! Can’t hold a candle to the champ. And yes, Pal, the first thing I do is delete a bunch first every day, then go back and look at the ones I want to read further. Also, good advice about Christmas decor items to donate. I made a pass thru most of mine the ither day just ro look and see what I needed to do. Moved a couple of boxes to the side to get ready to go through those in the next few days. I also set aside a small white flocked tree and a mailbox wreath to donate.

@Funkyart, yes, I am guilty of that but have been changing my ways for a few months now. Has it made a difference? Maybe. I’m unsubscribing to a lot of things lately too.

I am pretty regular about cleaning up my photos as a rule, but not lately. I do save the ones I really want to keep to a 2TB external hard drive and then I feel better about running thru the older photos and deleting a bunch.

My purge for November - dry cleaning bags!! Although a few of them are just wadded up not folded, most of those are folded flat. I save them to use when packing, but it has gotten out of hand!

I’m also purging digital photographs. I take a lot of screenshots and then never delete them. 🙄

Plus, DH’s daughter is coming to town for Thanksgiving. I’m sending her home with a bunch of memoribilia from DH’s side of the family. Well, maybe not a “bunch”, but one good size plastic storage box full. It’s a start.

Thats quite a colection, Bb. Since retiringI rarely have dry cleaning. I have a few saved bags.

Photos are at 6110. Thats not counting Snapfish.

Right now Im lying on my bed looking with dismay at the pile of shoes I just pulled out of the closet. At least half are going to recycling orr the thrift shop.

Sometimes I look at all the stuff in my house and I could cry! Well, not really, but you know.

I know, ded, I know.

I only have 5100 photos. You’re making me feel better. 1/2 of mine could probably disappear and I wouldn’t notice.

I find myself paralyzed by trying to figure out how to best get rid of things. I cannot bring myself to throw fabric items in the trash, but often that is where they need to go!

I went into to my late DH’s study a couple of days ago and just stared at the walls. He was often honored in his profession. There are tons of plaques on the walls. His children don’t want them. Do I just throw them in the garbage?

His sister-in-law did a lot of genealogy work. She gave him copies of what she had done. I have a desk drawer full. No one in the family wants it…and I’m not sure I’d give it to anyone if they did. My mother did meticulous genealogy research that was very accurate. This sister-in-law made huge leaps, accuracy be damned! (I think I’ve just answered my question. It’s crap and needs to be pitched!)

I tried to get DH to purge a few coats, but he was resistant. Seriously, we live in Floirda! I only got him to go through the first floor coat closet that is also my second "pantry" for storage bulk supplies. I gave in and moved most of them to the bunk room closet. DGS is the only one that stays in that room and he uses the dresser.... or the sofa. LOL

I ordered an IKEA Kallax with 12 cubbies for the closet and organized all the extras (cleaning supplies, laundry detergent, storage bags, DH's diet Coke obsession, canned cat food, bark butter, dog and cat treats, etc). So much better. This even opened up two cabinets in the laundry room, one shelf now hold the items I purchased in multiples that DH uses twice a day in the outdoor shower.

I am tired of opening cabinets, closets, drawers and armoires only to see them full (not crammed). @dedtired I've about decided I will not be buying anything else for the house. (Ha!)