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Tip Store: Storage: De-cluttering
Pack up the Clutter
Get two suitcases (op shop ones are fine) and let him know you have one each to store your "treasures" and that is all. Gather all his bits and tell him it is up to him to decide what goes in and what he wants to let go of. Having a case each makes it look fair, but you have to abide by the rules as well. Cases can slide under a bed or be put away easily. Once things have been out of sight for a while it makes the next de-clutter easier.
Contributed by Chris Peachey, 11th August 2016
Get two suitcases (op shop ones are fine) and let him know you have one each to store your "treasures" and that is all. Gather all his bits and tell him it is up to him to decide what goes in and what he wants to let go of. Having a case each makes it look fair, but you have to abide by the rules as well. Cases can slide under a bed or be put away easily. Once things have been out of sight for a while it makes the next de-clutter easier.
Contributed by Chris Peachey, 11th August 2016
Out of Sight, Out of Mind - Move it on!
One method I've heard of is, with his agreement, put everything in a suitcase or box, and move it out to the shed. Ask him in six months or a year if he still needs them. He may realise that he hasn't given them a second thought in that time and let you dispose of them.
Contributed by Andrea Hewitt, 11th August 2016
One method I've heard of is, with his agreement, put everything in a suitcase or box, and move it out to the shed. Ask him in six months or a year if he still needs them. He may realise that he hasn't given them a second thought in that time and let you dispose of them.
Contributed by Andrea Hewitt, 11th August 2016
From Favourite T-shirt to Precious Quilt
Centre panels of t-shirts can be cut into a square and with the aid of some stabiliser from a fabric shop, can be turned into a quilt top. Music, sport and other themes could be combined for a front or back and will keep specific memorabilia in a usable format. Ideas can be found on the Internet or Pinterest.
Contributed by Judy Tewierik, 11th August 2016
Centre panels of t-shirts can be cut into a square and with the aid of some stabiliser from a fabric shop, can be turned into a quilt top. Music, sport and other themes could be combined for a front or back and will keep specific memorabilia in a usable format. Ideas can be found on the Internet or Pinterest.
Contributed by Judy Tewierik, 11th August 2016
Show Your Clothing Packrat How He's Outgrown Old Clothes
I had a fiancé who, at 45 years old, took pride in that he still wore the same little boy collared t-shirts he wore as a 12 year old. He was a very frugal man and didn't realise how tight and ugly these shirts were, Horizontal yellow and white stripes with a white collar, stretched over an adult male body? Yes, it definitely LOOKED like he was wearing the clothes of a 12 year old boy. I took photos of him in his various horrid gear, that he was phone with, (for the album I said). Then the next day, I washed and donated them (they did make clothes to last back then!) or bin it. Then I took him shopping at Kmart and it was sale day, he got some on trend t-shirts and appropriate gear, and he was stoked that most of the tops were sale price $3. But then he said "oh, I can't buy anything new unless I throw something out." I said "already done that hon" and showed him the photos of him in his 12 year old boy shirts (that he's had for over 30 years). Once he looked at the pics, he was horrified at how silly he looked, and finally realised why he'd been single for so long! I came clean about what I'd done with the old stuff, he was fine. We still talk daily now, and he'll often point me to online catalogues, saying he likes this, what do I think? Sometimes, I'll say spot on, other times, I'll say, you're not 12 anymore, growing up means dressing like one.
if you don't want to go through that, just tell your hubby that all the washing got pinched off the washing line, so all those clothes and some of yours (men don't pay attention to what we wear, even though we like to think they do) but make it small, you don't want hubby letting police or insurance know, as that would be fraud, but all his horrible stuff, would be worth less than an excess, so just bin it or have an "accident" with the bleach bottle on them, or just tell him, "you're a grown up, there is no pride in being able to wear the same crap you've worn for 3 decades, especially when it just looks mega daggy and well, ancient.
Contributed by Lisa DeLace, 11th August 2016
I had a fiancé who, at 45 years old, took pride in that he still wore the same little boy collared t-shirts he wore as a 12 year old. He was a very frugal man and didn't realise how tight and ugly these shirts were, Horizontal yellow and white stripes with a white collar, stretched over an adult male body? Yes, it definitely LOOKED like he was wearing the clothes of a 12 year old boy. I took photos of him in his various horrid gear, that he was phone with, (for the album I said). Then the next day, I washed and donated them (they did make clothes to last back then!) or bin it. Then I took him shopping at Kmart and it was sale day, he got some on trend t-shirts and appropriate gear, and he was stoked that most of the tops were sale price $3. But then he said "oh, I can't buy anything new unless I throw something out." I said "already done that hon" and showed him the photos of him in his 12 year old boy shirts (that he's had for over 30 years). Once he looked at the pics, he was horrified at how silly he looked, and finally realised why he'd been single for so long! I came clean about what I'd done with the old stuff, he was fine. We still talk daily now, and he'll often point me to online catalogues, saying he likes this, what do I think? Sometimes, I'll say spot on, other times, I'll say, you're not 12 anymore, growing up means dressing like one.
if you don't want to go through that, just tell your hubby that all the washing got pinched off the washing line, so all those clothes and some of yours (men don't pay attention to what we wear, even though we like to think they do) but make it small, you don't want hubby letting police or insurance know, as that would be fraud, but all his horrible stuff, would be worth less than an excess, so just bin it or have an "accident" with the bleach bottle on them, or just tell him, "you're a grown up, there is no pride in being able to wear the same crap you've worn for 3 decades, especially when it just looks mega daggy and well, ancient.
Contributed by Lisa DeLace, 11th August 2016
Put it Away or Out it Goes!
One thing that can work and it works well with teenagers stuff left hanging around too is to suggest that the things you think are extraneous go into heavy black plastic rubbish bags and then get put in the garage with a time limit. If they are not used within a agreed time, then they go. You will be surprised how quickly it gets to the time limit without use.
For teenagers once you have picked up their stuff and put into bags in the garage, and they have retrieved it from the garage (which they inevitably do) often the threat of it happening again, or worse that it will not go into the garage it will just go, can be enough to ensure a tidier room.
Contributed by Susan Czermak, 12th August 2016
One thing that can work and it works well with teenagers stuff left hanging around too is to suggest that the things you think are extraneous go into heavy black plastic rubbish bags and then get put in the garage with a time limit. If they are not used within a agreed time, then they go. You will be surprised how quickly it gets to the time limit without use.
For teenagers once you have picked up their stuff and put into bags in the garage, and they have retrieved it from the garage (which they inevitably do) often the threat of it happening again, or worse that it will not go into the garage it will just go, can be enough to ensure a tidier room.
Contributed by Susan Czermak, 12th August 2016
Clear the Clutter by Stealth
I remove an item at a time from DH's wardrobe and hang in wardrobe in back room. If, after 6 months he hasn't looked for it, it goes to St Vinnies. Out of sight, out of mind.
Contributed by Samantha Eyre, 12th August 2016
I remove an item at a time from DH's wardrobe and hang in wardrobe in back room. If, after 6 months he hasn't looked for it, it goes to St Vinnies. Out of sight, out of mind.
Contributed by Samantha Eyre, 12th August 2016
Move it Out of the House First
You are not going to like my suggestion, and it's not environmentally friendly at all, but I would suggest to get rid of the clutter (let's face it a 25 year old t shirt is not worth much) put it all in boxes, tape them up and put them in the shed outside or under the house, with any luck they will get damp and go mouldy, and then you will have to throw them away, even your hubby won't want them :) good luck
Contributed by Tracey Dobra, 12th August 2016
You are not going to like my suggestion, and it's not environmentally friendly at all, but I would suggest to get rid of the clutter (let's face it a 25 year old t shirt is not worth much) put it all in boxes, tape them up and put them in the shed outside or under the house, with any luck they will get damp and go mouldy, and then you will have to throw them away, even your hubby won't want them :) good luck
Contributed by Tracey Dobra, 12th August 2016