"Someday, I'll Do Spring Cleaning: Part Two"
Now it's Decision Time!
We started Spring Cleaning with the easiest thing—purging the obvious. If you missed that post, it’s here. Now we have to make some tougher decisions about parting with things that are no longer serving us. Someday I’ll write a much longer post on that topic alone, but for now, we’re keeping it simple by only looking at five categories again. Choose one or more and get rid of something today!
Clothing: This is a great time to edit, especially if you live somewhere with seasons and you’re in the habit of rotating your wardrobe. I got rid of a ton of clothes last year, including a giant bag full of high school cross country gear from my years of coaching. I was able to donate it to the team, and I’m sure the new freshmen appreciated it. Gently used running shoes are collected by many shoe stores. I donated a couple of winter coats in December at my local grocery store because they always have a collection box up front. Several charities will pick up clothing and housewares, so you can choose one you care about and schedule a day using an online form. Here’s one that benefits veterans. Anything new or more valuable can be sold on Facebook Marketplace or ThreadUp. More on that below.
Missed Returns (is this just me?): This used to be one of my worst offenses—missing the date to return something I’d had delivered, then been unsatisfied with. I still have some of the brand new, but unwanted, crap that I have to get rid of, so I’ve primarily used Marketplace for simplicity. ThredUp didn’t work well for me when I tried it with a few higher value items. Another option is to see what groups in your area pop up when you list on Marketplace, like a local “Garage Sale” page. Or sometimes you luck out and can give that electric tea kettle to your friend who is building a second home to escape our winters. Happy Housewarming, Kim! Ok, maybe that’s just me.
Books (wait, what?): I know, hard to believe I’d ever discuss decluttering books, but I still had some education books from my undergrad, and some literary criticism from grad school that I knew I wouldn’t revisit. Anyhoo, books can be donated lots of places. There are collection boxes in my area that I’ve used, and some libraries collect them for sales. I also end up with doubles of great books that I buy ahead of a writing conference, then buy another to support the conference/author and get that one signed. The extras I give to friends or put in my Little Free Library out in front of my house. Organizing what’s left is another story. We’ll get there.
Kitchen Items: I downsized my collection and donated a bunch of dishes, and doubles (and triples) of utensils that I’d never need, to the Salvation Army. There’s one nearby, so I dropped it off, but feel free to use a pickup service as discussed above. Now, do you really need to keep that egg separator? Someone just started baking and will be thrilled to buy it secondhand for a dollar, which goes to some good cause. Let it go. Ditto for appliances like the Instant Pot you bought in 2020 and used once, and probably the ice cream maker that I still think I might use someday. Get real with yourself. I’ll try, too!
Sport/Hobby Items: What are you hanging on to that you’ll never use again? I did an inventory and decided to part with several things.
Scuba Gear. Those days are officially over, since I’m not buying a third set and I won’t use rental gear for breathing/life support. Snorkeling is still on the table, which is good enough for me.
Rollerblades. Too dangerous and too old (the rollerblades, not me, yet).
One of two bikes. I sold it during the writing of this post, on Marketplace! My older bike used to live in the track shed at school for coaching, and I’d sometimes wish I had it at home. Right after I bought a spare, I broke my wrist, then never rode it. Now I’m retired, and all I need is one bike—my old one.
Skis. They haven’t been used in about 15 years, so I think it’s time. I learned that these can be tough to dispose of, so I was thankful that the veteran’s charity that I linked above takes skis.
That’s it for now! I’m fully aware that I haven’t even spoken about cleaning products, personal care (the drawers in my bathroom!), linens, basements, etc. The truth is that some things have to stay on the Someday List for a while. We aren’t trying to be perfect, or overwhelmed, just to check some things, even one thing, off the list. Perfect is the enemy of progress, right?
A note—as tax day approaches, I’d like to remind you that donations are tax deductible as well as morally satisfying. Win-win!
What’s one thing you could donate, today or tomorrow, not someday? Tell us about it in the comments. What did you let go of? How did it feel?
Happy Spring Cleaning!
Thanks for these content recs! What’s your general cutoff for how long it’s been since you’ve worn something before donating / selling? I think mine is 3 years. But I don’t always stick to it😆 curse that one dress I swear I might wear someday and never do!
The most difficult things to purge are the belongings of loved ones who have passed on. It helps to do it in stages. All at once can be a bit of a shock to the system. Every time I see someone near me walking around in some Dallas Cowboys gear, I can’t help but wonder if they picked it up where I donated it. It brings a bit of a smile.