get rid of all my clutter

Yesterday I took several boxes of clothes down to the AmVets station – they were really happy to get it. And I was happy to have walking room in my hall.

I also took all the soaps and shampoos and things like that from my bathroom, along with the bags and backpacks I hadn’t used in ages down to a local shelter that needed them.

Now I have to get rid of the printer and associated computer paraphernalia that’s been sitting unused for a few years. I got a great tip about Freecycle, so I’ll go that route first, and if no one wants it move from there.

Then there are just the hangers to take to the dry cleaners who will recycle them, some boxes and mailing tubes I kept saving “just in case” and some old fancy dresses. I read about a place that collects used party dresses so that teenage girls who can’t afford a prom dress can come and use these. They’re pretty classic styles (no puffs or big skirts or anything) so they should still work. Otherwise, I’ll just give those to AmVets or the good will or something.

Next up – the kitchen! (insert scary music here…)

Yay!! the closet is done. It took a little longer than I thought, but it’s finished (for a while anyway…) I had no idea how many of the clothes and shoes and things in boxes I’d had that I’d never wear again. Who knows why I was keeping them. I did still save a sweater (used to be my mom’s) and some really weird costume appropriate type clothes, just in case. But the closet is done, the bathroom is done, still a little more work to do on my room. And tons of things in the hall waiting to be given away before they make their way back into the closet, my room, or the bathroom.

And while I was staying at a hotel this week, I managed to resist the urge to take all the little bottles of shampoo, conditioner, lotion, bath gel, etc. I just got my bathroom clutter-free! I don’t want to start heading down that road again…

Now the clutter has moved from the shelves and closets and into the hall. Which is okay, because if I see it every day, I’m reminded that something needs to be done vs. when it’s hidden from view. Out of sight, out of mind and all that. And I gave a bunch of stuff to a friend. It was a little painful to see the jeans I was getting rid of because they were too darn tight hang loosely around her hips – BUT that’s part of the lose 18 pounds goal…

I got the bathroom under control. And have given away all of the little bottles of lotion and shampoo and stuff that I’d take from hotels, thinking I’d save money by having spare lotion and shampoo when in actuality all I did was lose valuable drawer space.

Also cleaned out the shelves in my closet, the space under my bed, and thinned out my wardrobe. Now I have to get all this stuff to Goodwill before it migrates back to its former home…