Not So Green

[pollypurebred39]

Is there ever a time that just getting rid of stuff trumps cleaning, sorting, bagging, and storing until you can donate it?

I'm truly tempted to just go wild and start chucking stuff. It's taking me forever to be green about it and I just want it done. I want to breathe in this house again.

So if it were your sanity VS. the environment, would you push past the guilt and just do it?

[stinkbug]

I did a huge purge a few years ago. I boxed up what I could for charity and they picked it up. I freecycled some stuff and the rest I pitched!!
Ya gotta do what ya gotta do.

[LeeCee]

yes even though it's best to donate it I know what you mean. if you are so busy and your life is very stressed do whatever you can to make it easier on you.life is so hectic nowadays and don't feel guilty.whatever makes life easier. after all you are the one who has to clean everything

[monkeywrangler71]

There have been times when it has been so overwhelming that I just throw everything in the trash. Usually if it's close to a move, or if we're renovating.

If you are in a position where there is just so much that you have no reasonable expectation of ever getting through all the sorting, then maybe you should not worry about it for awhile. Maybe you can try giving yourself a set time period or volume of trash where you can put aside your guilty feelings and just throw stuff out. Enough to get caught up so your not overwhelmed, then go back to being more conscious of where it's going. Like one weekend, or one truckload to the dump. That might give you a bit of breathing room.

You may also want to find a way to donate stuff more quickly so it isn't hanging around forever after you've decided you don't want it anymore. If donation bins are out of the way and you don't get to them as often as planned, there are many charities that will pick up items at your house.

[Libby]

Polly - if chucking stuff sets you free...do it. Just chuck it all to goodwill or salvation army so you won't feel so bad. Waiting for something to sell = more clutter time in your home making you feel all bugged out.

[pollypurebred39]

There have been times when it has been so overwhelming that I just throw everything in the trash. Usually if it's close to a move, or if we're renovating.

If you are in a position where there is just so much that you have no reasonable expectation of ever getting through all the sorting, then maybe you should not worry about it for awhile. Maybe you can try giving yourself a set time period or volume of trash where you can put aside your guilty feelings and just throw stuff out. Enough to get caught up so your not overwhelmed, then go back to being more conscious of where it's going. Like one weekend, or one truckload to the dump. That might give you a bit of breathing room.

You may also want to find a way to donate stuff more quickly so it isn't hanging around forever after you've decided you don't want it anymore. If donation bins are out of the way and you don't get to them as often as planned, there are many charities that will pick up items at your house.

LOL, Not a truckload. But it sure feels like it. I've got CFS and things like this can just take me out. No one here wants to let go of anything, I find myself begging them to gather together their outgrown clothes or fill in the blank, so I can take it to my Sister or GW. It is a major fight with everyone. I really would like to just hit each room armed with trash bags and start filling. Of course they could not be home during this or you can be sure there would be major tantrums.

I just want this stuff out of here. I don't want to sort and clean and pack up and make several trips to Sisters house (pretty far away) and Goodwill. I just want it done. To be green would take me ten times as long and have lots of family tantrums.

[NikoSan999]

Polly, You do what you have to do to get it done. Stress isn't good for you.
Wait for them to Leave for work/school. Lock the door. Start pitching. Figure out how to keep the stuff in the bags once they get home,

Just toss it. Lightning isn't goint to strike you. Sometimes you gotta do what you gotta do.

[Palooka]

I would do whatever right now for your sanity.

[sinopa27]

tell them who have the tantrums that they have "x" amount of days to make their own decision and reduce clutter or on "x" day, its GONE! Give it away, throw it away.....but in a green way. (smile)

[ladytoysdream]

Give anyone the same size bag. Start with a small one if need be. Tell them to fill it of stuff they no longer need. First day could be trash type things. Head it to the curb, dump, whatever you use. He who does not work with the plan will lose privilages.
Wait a day or two, then assign another bag per family member. Maybe this time clothing that no longer fits, whatever, and head those bags to a thrift shop or other family members not in the household. Keep going with different bags. He who does NOT cooperate, tell them if they don't do it on their own, that mom will do it for them. If they all cooperate, make them a nice treat. Keep it simple, like a home baked scratch goodie.

Just pretend you need to move in 2 months, and you are downsizing to a smaller house. Years ago, when we moved from a large farm tenent house with 5 BR to our 3 BR doublewide, it was quite an experience.

[nuisance26]

~Just for the sake of argument though, isn't putting one's own emotional(or convenience)needs first what causes all the waste and need to "be green" in the first place?
I'll freely admit to chucking things that *may* have been able to be fixed or given away just for the sake of getting rid of the mental and emotional burden of the items. But I don't think my solution was the most responsible choice.
If emotional needs can "trump" the most responsible choice than how can we get angry at all litterers? Can we judge their emotional needs at the time they left that dirty diaper or soda bottle in the parking lot?
I think the answer(and difference between litterers and declutterers) may be in offsetting the items you trash with a positive action. That could be resolving to and following through with buying little or no plastic, or gardening more, or shopping less.
I think that unless there is a commitment to change the behavior that got the clutterer into trouble, the declutterer who sends bags to the landfill is just as wasteful and selfish as the litterer.~

[shoiji]

I was just thinking about purging my closet today. Get rid of what ever spring/summer clothes and shoes. Same with the fall/winter clothes.

Right now it looks like a bomb exploded in it.

[pollypurebred39]

Yesterday I purged 2 garbage bags full of stuff! I feel guilty, but it was freeing as well.

I can not however bring myself to throw out DS2's curriculum from last year or a bag of his shoes, they will be headed over to my Sister's house.

I have a long way to go, but unless things are in near perfect condition they will be going in the garbage. If I had held on to yesterday's purge to donate I'd have double the bags and have no help loading it in the car or lugging it into my Sister's house. As it is I won't have help for what I am going to take over there.


The yard sale boxes I'm going to sneak over to GW a few at a time after DH goes to sleep. I'm also going to drag a few yard sale items at a time and put them by the trash can the night before pick-up. If DH catches me my goose will be cooked. But I haven't seen our grill in two Summers. He has it buried in yard sale boxes on the breezeway. I'm determined to have at least one meal grilled outside before first snowfall!

[angelbumpkin]

Every time my kids clean it looks like a bomb went off in my house. We are all time having things given to us. If it is horrible shape hello Mr. Trashcan , if it can be reused it gets reused , if not it goes across the street to be donated except clothes they go to various friends or a church I know that gives away clothes.

[pollypurebred39]

Oh Angie, I know just what you mean about being given stuff! All the time, every week we are gifted. on one had I'm thankful, on the other I'm thinking, just where do I go with this?