I received an email from one of our fellow 365ers, who shall be referred to as O, this week and she would like her fellow 365ers advice on what to do with a certain object she is having trouble parting with. It is difficult, not because she doesn’t want to part with it because she most certainly does but because it falls into the obligation clutter category and it is difficult to know exactly how to dispose of it responsibly. Perhaps you can help her out with a little advice, I have already given her mine. Please see below the story of this item.

O’s Story

Some years ago I took part in a sporting event as a volunteer and it was an amazing experience. Personally, I only need to think of it and I feel the same happiness and joy because I was part of it. I didn’t buy or want any memorabilia then – and this was way before any ideas of decluttering came my way. However, to mark my own and the team’s I was working with involvement, a group of volunteers from the host town commissioned a local artist to make us the souvenirs. You can guess where this is going, right? They were chunky, ceramic plates with the logo and date of the event. My plate is really pretty for what it is *but* it is neither something I’d display as it’s not really my taste nor I’m a fan of the ceramic as such. Nor I like the color of it. So, for the last several years it had been shifted from one shelf to another as I really didn’t want to even look at it for the fear I’d feel guilty I hadn’t displayed it. And I am now in my third home from the moment when I’d been given the thing!

I consider myself reasonably decluttering mature (still a long way to go, but I am on the right track), yet this plate is a problem I want to solve.

I don’t like it and don’t want it. There shouldn’t be any dilemmas about it’s destiny.

But. Part of me, of course, thinks that throwing it away deliberately would offend the wonderful, kind people who gave it to me. Not that they would know, but still. It is a work of a respected and well known artist in the region, and I feel it’s not right from that point of view either.

Yes, if it fell of the removal truck it would have been problem solved, but that did not happen. Thankfully. Yet, I cannot think of any other way to make it leave my life but to throw it away. Nobody would really be interested in it, it’s not really thrift store, ebay or even museum sort of thing.

As I think there are only two options here: keep it forever in the bubble wrap (and be annoyed by the space it takes, however small) or throw it away, can somoene please enlighten me that there are other possibilities – or give me enough encouragement to simply throw it away?

* * * * * * *

So readers please leave your advice in the comments section below.

The Weekend’s Mini Missions

Saturday – Declutter excess gift wrapping supplies. Last week I took the bulk of what I had left ~ gift bags, ribbons and bows ~  to the thrift store. As I have adhered almost religiously to my “no material gifts” pledge I decided it was time to purge these “just in case” items. The bag of bows was sold before I finished my shift.

Sunday – Declutter excess serving bowls. I probably have too many nice serving bowls but one thing is for sure, I don’t need to keep the cheap plastic one. It tends to be the everyday use option while the good ones are saved for when I have guests but you know my opinion on that tactic so out it goes.

The title of today’s post may have you thinking that I am going to give you some user reviews on washing machines but in fact it is your opinions that I am seeking. I would really appreciate your assistance in this matter to help my mother chose between a front or a top loading washing machine. What she is really trying to decide, at her age of 73 years young, is which machine would be easier for her to load and unload.

We understand that one can acquire a platform to mount a front loader on bringing it high off the ground. The one opinion we have on this is not encouraging though due to it becoming unstable during fast spin cycles.

I would be happy for you to give use your entire experience with the models you use right now.  Feel free to include the brand name and model of your machine but it isn’t necessary. Include information such as how well powder detergents dissolve in your machine, whether you can access the machine during the cycle, what sort of cycles options it has and how long the cycles are in general. Any other information that comes to mind would also be helpful.

I suppose when it all boils down to it what I really want to know  is how difficult do you all find loading and unloading either style of machine. I feel the top loader would probably be the easiest for her but both machines require some sort of bending, leaning or possibly squatting in the case of the front loader. My laundry has a toilet that directly faces my front loader so I can actually shut the lid on the toilet and sit on it to load and unload my machine. A short stool could suffice to perform the same function making a front loader easier to work with.

Anyway enough information from me now please let me know your opinion.

The Weekend’s Mini Missions

Saturday - Declutter something that you are keeping “just in case” you finally might get around to reading it.

Sunday - Declutter something that you are keeping “just in case” you fall on hard times and can’t afford to replace it. There is no end of items that you really won’t actually ever NEED ~ find a use for yes, but need NO!

Week after week, tons of clothes arrive in Guinea‘s capital : Conakry. They are sent everywhere and sold at the markets. Here in Kissidougou, the sellers open new bunches of clothes every Tuesday. There is a rush on them, as everyone wants to have the best pieces. Then, the rest is sold during the week. You can really find anything: clothes, bras the seize of shower basins, gloves, ski suits, and the most beloved pajamas. Guinean love pajamas, because the shirts match the pants. They don’t understand pajamas as such, and wear them all the time. They don’t mind wearing ski suits either, even with 100°F !

I often go on a treasure hunt too. Today, I found six shirts. They seem brand new, are of good quality, and only cost me 30’000 francs. Don’t worry, this represents only 4,50$ ! But I must say I was lucky . There are some days where I only find torn, dirty clothes. Some people don’t mind wearing socks with holes, but who wants to buy them? A few people over there seem to think that « the poor africans » will be happy with anything, even their trash. But let me tell you that for 3000 francs, « the poor african » has to choose between a pair of socks with holes, or a whole meal. What would you do ? And what do you think we do?

But I must say, even if everything is not perfect, we love what you send, and it is SO useful to us ! So thank you everyone!

But I must say, even if everything is not perfect, we love what you send, and it is SO useful to us! So thank you everyone!

Just one last thing : maybe you are shocked because these bunches of clothes are supposed to be given to people in need, not sold on the market. But let me tell you that nearly everyone here is in need. The women who sell the clothes are usually very poor women, who earn their living, and their whole family’s living with this selling. The cooking oil I buy is « Gift from the Russian Federation ». I don’t mind, and nobody does : this oil or these chlothes are meant to help people, and this is exactly what happens !

The Weekend’s Mini Missions

Saturday ~ Declutter items that have accumulated on your desk top.

Sunday – Declutter items that have accumulated on the coffee table.

“In daily life we must see that it is not happiness that makes us grateful, but gratefulness that makes us happy.” Brother David Steindl-Rast

It matters not how fast I go, I hurry faster when I’m slow

The video below may only be an advert for tea but it makes a good point. Why not use those special things you are storing away for good everyday instead of someday. If you are going to have a casual glass of wine before dinner why not use the Waterford crystal. Why not use the best china when it is just you and your partner sitting down to dinner. Wear your best dress any day of the week for no particular reason than to enjoy it and feel good. Who needs a formal lounge room that only gets used when guests come, turn it into a games room for everyday. Use that special fountain pen you bought to sign  the marriage register to write your daily to do list. You get the idea, make everyday a special day.

Weekend Mini Missions

Saturday – How about decluttering an existing bad habit like eating too much sugary food. Get the last of it out of there (preferably not by eating it) so that you can start a fresh without the temptation.

Sunday – Do you have a habit of not putting things away after you use them. This can lead to a mess or an inability to find the things when you need them. Work on changing that bad habit into a good one. It might be putting your car keys on a hook whenever you walk in the door so you know where they are the next time you are rushing out the doore. Or perhaps putting your cell phone in a certain pocket in you handbag when you are out so when it rings you can find it before the call cuts out.

 

Craft Storage Unit

The storage unit to the left is my latest declutter item. Why did I declutter it? Because I have decluttered all the craft items it contained so I no longer need it. Years of neatly organising my clutter makes me hesitate to part with good storage items of this kind but I have no desire to ever need them again as I have no desire to clutter up my house again. So these days as soon as they are empty I try to get them out the door. This one lingered a little longer because I was trying to sell it and sell it I did for $30. I was pleased with that and even more please to see the  space liberated on its departure.

Now the Simple Saturday question for today is…

What is your latest declutter item and why did you declutter it?

The Weekend’s Mini Missions

Saturday – Declutter something that used to fit with your previous lifestyle but no longer does.

Sunday – Declutter an unused craft, hobby or sports item.

I recently did an interview on simplicity with Mohamed Tohami for his blog Midway Simplicity. I really enjoy what Mohamed writes about at his blog and he seem to me to be a genuinely nice fellow as well. You can read more about his goal for Midway Simplicity here.  Mohamed is also the bestselling author of The Pharaohs Code (Creating a Joyful Life and a Lasting Legacy).

Without further adieu here it is the interview.

This Weekend’s Mini Missions

Saturday ~ Spy and declutter something soft.
Sunday ~ Spy and declutter something made of fabric.

Here is an Aussie decluttering video for you to enjoy.

Today’s Mini Mission
Declutter single use gadgets that you really don’t have a single use for.

Time for another What Am I quiz.

The image below is a fraction of a photo of  something I am decluttering. What do you think it is?

Take a guess and see if you re right when it appears as the declutter item of the day on Monday.

I received and email from Ideealistin recently bring a subject to mind that has been mentioned in passing here at 365 Less Things one or twice before. Ideealistin thought it was worth bring to the fore in the form of its own blog post and that is what we are doing today.

Here is some of what she had to say…

Hi Colleen, as I am sort of moving at the moment (since almost everything in the apartment has to be moved around, I came to the conclusion to consider it something similar to moving at least …), I am digging through everything and found a pair of glasses. Yep, yet another one. In the process of decluttering I think I discovered at least 6 pairs of glasses, tucked into various boxes. (bad sight since primary school …) I donated them all and will donate the ones I just found, too. (It’s very easy here, a big optometrist chain takes them) And I wondered if you might like to address the whole subject of donating old glasses in a post one day….

… Just imagining I had to live without my glasses makes me sad for the people who DO have to live without glasses because they can’t afford them. From a certain degree of defective vision one practically is disabled without glasses … Helping is the one (and important) point. But from the decluttering perspective I think glasses often slip through because it actually is smart to keep one old pair as a spare pair, but not all pairs that accumulate in the average spectacle wearer’s life.

Just a suggestion, but I think even the chance of some kid somewhere learning to read better because it can actually see what is written on the blackboard or somebody not falling because he can see where he is walking is worth that we privileged spectacle wearers rifle through our drawers and donate what doesn’t serve us anymore.

* * *

As a fellow Australian to a very special man by the name of Fred Hollows it would be remiss of me not to bring to the attention of my fellow declutterers that your old unused glasses could be life changing  for someone else. Please take a look at the work of The Fred Hollows Foundation does to restore sight to folks less fortunate than yourselves.

Not only does eye surgery help to restore the sight of those inflicted with unfortunate eye problems but there are also those whose sight would be easily improved simply with a pair of glasses. Glasses that they can’t afford to buy. Glasses that you might have going to waste in a drawer somewhere in your home. Even cheap reading glasses are useful.

All you have to do to improve the sight of a fellow human being is to donate your eyeglass clutter to an organisation that distributes them to those in need.

How to donate

• Australia ~ recyclingnearyou.com.au/glasses or www.lenscrafters.com
• USA ~ www.allaboutvision.com/resources/donate
• Canada ~ www.hakimoptical.ca/donate
• UK ~ www.vao.org.uk ~ recycling glasses
• Germany ~ Fielmann which is the biggest optometrist chain in the country accept donations.

If none of these sites work for you just google ~ donate eyeglasses ~ and I am sure something useful will appear. Also ask you optometrist if they take donations or know who does locally.

Today’s Mini Mission

Take a quick look in your dining space and find something to declutter. It’s that simple. Don’t fuss don’t hesitate just find that one thing and get it our of there.

A decluttering story from Debbie from Alberta Canada

I came across your website last year and proceeded to read backwards through the archives. I follow several blogs on minimalism; but yours has really helped me the most with my steps towards minimalism. One thing I thought I’d share is my ‘ah ha’ moment last year when our house we had listed for sale here in Canada took a long time to sell.

It was at an overwhelming time for us as we had purchased a great house in a great location that we were renovating while we were trying to sell the house we were living in. In order to declutter our house to get it ready to sell I was moving lots of stuff from one house to the garage of our other one. It seemed like I was constantly moving things around in the garage and covering things up so they wouldn’t get covered in sawdust etc. Each time I’d move something I’d think of getting rid of it; but felt the guilt etc of reasons I shouldn’t that you have covered many times in your blog – paid too much, my college age kids may need it when they are settled on their own, a relative gave it to me, I could eventually sell it and get $___ for it, I may need it in this house. I got the house we were still in ready to sell and our realtor commented that ours was particularly clean and organized.

Well a month went by, and lots of showings – but nothing. The problem was, we had renovated and moved houses several times over the years, and it had never taken us more than a month to sell a house. My kids would cringe when I would give them the drill that we had to keep everything in it’s place; but if we did the hard work we’d sell fast. Well this time was different, the housing market wasn’t what it was, and it became frustrating. Two months went by, then we took the house off the market for a while. We would concentrate on finishing our other house in hopes of finding a better time to list.

Without the stress of worrying about showings, one day I had my ‘ah ha’ moment. I looked at my house listed for sale and realized how much less stressful it felt living in this ‘staged’ house. Living in this house with less clutter had made it much easier to keep it neat, everything had a place, and I had developed a habit of putting things away right away when I was worried about getting a call from our realtor for a showing with short notice. I also began every morning of another habit of making our bed, something I’m embarrassed to say I rarely did before. I realized living in this neat, clean, decluttered house was the way I wanted to live in our newly renovated house.

I had started the tough first steps of decluttering before; but this was the defining moment when I realized I had to get rid of the clutter. We listed our house again last fall and sold in the first couple of weeks it was listed. Since our two houses were only a few blocks apart we moved everything on our own. It was at one point that my husband said, ” Boy we have a lot of stuff!” That was all I needed to get him on board.

Your postings on how you’ve overcome issues with decluttering have really helped. One example – I had received an old trunk from my grandmother several years ago. She has since passed and it wasn’t going to find a spot in this new house. Sure I could have found a spot for it; but not in a decluttered ‘staged’ house and it didn’t suit our decor for this house. As the oldest of 5, I sent out an email to my parents and siblings that it was up for grabs (and to be kept in the family according to my dad) and I ended up doing a draw as 3 people wanted it.

We moved into our renovated house, and although we have some painting and trim that didn’t get done in time, we are concentrating on getting all the rooms decorated first ( I know, sounds backwards ) and have steadily been selling and donating items that aren’t going to work in this house. We would have been constantly moving things around if we had tried to finish absolutely everything first. When this stuff is out of the way we’ll have less to cover up and finish the touch ups.

Today’s Mini Mission

Fridge Declutter ~ Since everything is clean on the inside and out why not move the fridge out of it’s position today and clean underneath it. Perhaps if it is an old fridge it might be an idea to give the element on the back a bit of a vacuum.