How often do you purge your house of stuff?

[ATLCheap]

Until we settled in our current home in Atlanta, my husband and I moved every year or two. Each time, we got rid of a bunch of stuff. Now that we're staying put, I want to make sure we're not keeping stuff just to keep it.

How often do you go through your house & get rid of/sell/etc stuff you no longer use?
Jenn

[KKCondrey]

I usually go thru storage boxes about every change of season or when the mood hits. Usually its at least 2-4 times a year that I will go thru them. The last time I did it was this past Memorial day since I was off work. I went thru about 7 storage boxes, all the closets, the book schelf and the kitchen cabinets and got rid of so much stuff that I only filled up about 3 of the storage boxes and ended up with a half empty closet and an empty cabinet in the kitchen.

[MoonMommy]

Every change of season, since I don't have a lot of closet space, I rotate the clothes through...bring out the winter stuff and put away the summer. As I am doing that, I go through them and check ours (DH and mine) for ones with holes, or too many stains. I put them in a pile for me to either toss or reuse/recycle. I go through the kids clothes and anything they have outgrown, I give to one of my hubby's coworkers who has twins (a boy and girl). I will also do that with the toys.

As for other things. I just try to get rid of stuff when I have a chance to be by myself. My kids don't like to see anything of their go away and my hubby is a pack rat.

[madhen]

About once every 12-18 months, I go through what my friends and family call my "minimalist mode." I think I do this because people have a weird habit of giving me stuff that I can't really use, and saying, "Oh, I thought you could use this." A George Foreman grill, a toaster oven (I've tossed about four of those, and my mother keeps giving them to me, as if life is not complete without a toaster oven. I've told her, 'I have a toaster and I have an oven. I'm covered.'), clothes that are totally not my style, but that fit me, etc. I throw out everything that isn't bolted down, including clothing, old furniture that I don't really use or that is just plain butt-ugly, gadgets that I either bought and that didn't work as expected or were given to me by my sister, the kitchen gadget queen, paper records (receipts, coupons that didn't get used, recipes that didn't get tried) that I accumulated since the last purge, etc. I'm not a "collectible" kind of person anyway, and my walls are blank (except for one sculpture of my parrot that was given to me as a birthday present by an artist who lived next door), so most of what gets tossed is stuff that doesn't rise to the level of "valuable" anymore.

[Starlight9803]

I do the big clean-out about twice a year, usually when I change out the seasonal clothing. I declutter smaller things (like cabinets, drawers,etc) when I notice that it is needed and the mood strikes me.

[voodidit]

I almost never do a big purge but I try and find something every few days that I can get rid off, it keeps things from building up.

[rebecca]

About every 2 - 3 months. It seems like I'm making progress than I find more junk!

[Persimmon Lace]

Another seasonal person here as well! But I am going through stuff about every 4 weeks right now, going through every room and saving the worst one for last! Our office is trashed right now and I need to clean it up!

[Lady_V]

Wait... whats that... a calendar from 2003??

I am not the best when it comes to purging. I have been trying to get better about it though. I do go through DD's clothes twice a year and pass on the ones she outgrew. Same with her toys, books, etc. Me... eh... not so much. I still have shoes I wore to high school... and I graduated in 1990!

I plan on having a major 'non-disaster-disaster' soon... in other words, if I wouldn't run in to my burning house to save it... it's going out the door. It's a slow process. So far I've 'not saved' a pair of slippers.

[Monner 1]

Lady _ V You are so funny. I love that so far you have thrown away a pair of slippers.


Monner

[TexasPeanut]

I do twice a year cleaning out and once a year a huge purge. I sadly have fallen a bit behind this year but plan on finishing up the last two rooms over the next month.

[C@rol]

How often do you go through your house & get rid of/sell/etc stuff you no longer use?

Every few months. Can't stand clutter.

[geckoace]

continuously purging cause we have a tiny house.
but 2 times a year i really hunt for stuff to get rid of, I always get ruthless with toys around now because Bink's birthday and Christmas are coming up plus i hate being stuck in the house all winter with a bunch of junk

[shoiji]

I have been getting rid of things through out the year. Most of the throwing out is done as the seasons change. It is the letting go that I have trouble with. I do like the fact that since getting rid of a sofa and four chairs I feel like I have so much more space!!!! Will hopefully be able to unload more items before moving!

[missyali]

Weekly I try to recycle/throw out/donate stuff. It is during the summer when I am off work and during the month of December (when I know my family will WAY overdo Christmas) that my biggest purges happen. Next weekend will be the "old switcheroo" weekend for summer clothes.