# Help me throw things away **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [February 24, 2006, 11:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-me-throw-things-away/346001 "2006-02-24T23:51:34Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Plan\_B](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/3ec8ea/32.png) [@Plan\_B](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Plan_B)\ **Post date:** [February 24, 2006, 11:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-me-throw-things-away/346001/1 "2006-02-24T23:51:34Z")
I’m having a hard time getting rid of things that just aren’t worth keeping. The biggest problems are perfectly good clothing that has gone out of style. Especially the ones that were gifts. For instance my wife bought me a real heavy Scandinavian sweater about twenty years ago. Beautiful quality product, could easily cost over $100. I wore it about five or ten times within the first few years. But it’s just not a style I could wear now - I’m not sure if anyone could. And it’s too warm anyway. If we could only afford to heat the house to about 55 degrees this winter I’d love it, but there’s nowhere I go that stays that cold. I know I could haul the stuff over to the Salvation Army, but from what I hear most of it goes to third world (warm climate) countries. I’m looking for rationalizations, justifications, anything I could think about when I say good-bye to all this stuff. Or any rules that you use - things like “If I don’t wear it for two consecutive years, it’s history.” Also if you have any good ideas on what to do with it. Like maybe you know of a NYC shop that pays top dollar for 1980s ski clothing. Thanks. ---
**Author:** ![tiltypig](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/dbc845/32.png) [@tiltypig](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/tiltypig)\ **Post date:** [February 25, 2006, 1:02am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-me-throw-things-away/346001/2 "2006-02-25T01:02:01Z")
Post it on Freecycle (see [freecycle.org](http://freecycle.org)) or the Craigslist free section. ---
**Author:** ![AuntiePam](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/f19dbf/32.png) [@AuntiePam](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AuntiePam)\ **Post date:** [February 25, 2006, 2:26am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-me-throw-things-away/346001/3 "2006-02-25T02:26:43Z")
How about taking it to a consignment shop that donates part of their sales proceeds to charity? So there’s rationalization and justification – you’re clearing up space in your closets and giving to a good cause. I don’t know about NYC, but in Seattle, Children’s Orthopedic Hospital (and I think Group Health too) have (or had) connections with consignment shops like that. Garage sale out of the question? Those can be fun. I made about $400 a couple of years ago on just junk – VHS tapes, tee-shirts, jeans, bedding, small appliances, etc. ---
**Author:** ![twickster](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/ec9cab/32.png) [@twickster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/twickster)\ **Post date:** [February 25, 2006, 2:34am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-me-throw-things-away/346001/4 "2006-02-25T02:34:27Z")
My BIL thinks of it as releasing objects back into the wild so they can find people who will appreciate them. He’s kind of a nut. I like him a lot. ---
**Author:** ![Shirley\_Ujest](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/45deac/32.png) [@Shirley\_Ujest](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Shirley_Ujest)\ **Post date:** [February 25, 2006, 2:43am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-me-throw-things-away/346001/5 "2006-02-25T02:43:58Z")
Ebay. You would be surprised in the things that you are sure won’t sell, do. and the things you are positive you will make some quick cash on because it is fantastic, doesn’t. clean out your closets, list items in themes ( shoes, bags, clothing, whatever) and price it to move. Like .99 to start out with no reverse. Make a few bucks, start a new addiction. Buy more stuff with your free money, then sell it on ebay. lather rinse repeat. ---
**Author:** ![Johnny\_L.A](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/johnny_l.a/32/1084_2.png) [@Johnny\_L.A](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Johnny_L.A)\ **Post date:** [February 25, 2006, 2:48am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-me-throw-things-away/346001/6 "2006-02-25T02:48:12Z")
You know, I’ve collected a lot of stuff over the years. I haven’t looked at most of it in years. Last year I started selling stuff on eBay, but I became preoccupied. I’m a bit of a procrastinator. But the time has finally come to get rid of it. It’s going to take a long time, since there’s so much of it. Last week I posted seven auctions. It’s amazing what people will buy. The A-7E ejection seat survival seat pan sold for over $30 more than my minimum bid. My King Schools Commercial Pilot Course w/Helicopter Supplement sold for three times my starting bid. Who knew people still buy VHS? The Martin-Baker ejection seat drogue 'chute container sold for $25. Of the three remaining items, two will sell and the other has two watchers. I’ve posted my Shiloh Sharps 1873 rifle and 1967 Winchester 94 Canadian Centennial Commemorative carbine at the shooting range. (No calls yet.) The point is that there are people who will be interested in many things you may have. You may not get $100 for your sweater, but something is better than nothing. And the rest of your stuff? May as well get a little money for it. Or you could donate it to a shelter. ---
**Author:** ![Hello\_Again](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/85e7bf/32.png) [@Hello\_Again](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hello_Again)\ **Post date:** [February 25, 2006, 2:58am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-me-throw-things-away/346001/7 "2006-02-25T02:58:53Z")
I have to second Freecycle. I’m pretty sure it was fellow member **crankyasanoldman** who turned me on to it. It really is amazing (a little disturbing actually) what people will take off your hands if its free. But send me the sweater. I’ll frog it (dismantle it) for the wool. 🙂 My point is, you might not have even imagined the uses some people will find for your quasi-useless crap. But do get rid of it. You will feel cleansed and lightened after you do, even if the process is a little stressful right now. ---
**Author:** ![ZipperJJ](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/zipperjj/32/211_2.png) [@ZipperJJ](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ZipperJJ)\ **Post date:** [February 25, 2006, 4:23am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-me-throw-things-away/346001/8 "2006-02-25T04:23:47Z")
If you live in a place that gets cold in the winter, and you’re in a giving mood, and not opposed to religious charities, I am sure one of your local religious institutions would be happy to provide your clothing with some of the families they “take care of.” Also local lodges (moose, elk, eagle, etc) take care of local families if you’d rather not give to a church or temple. When I was a wee one, most of our clothes came from church. Now we are able to give to the church for other poor families. ---
**Author:** ![Annie-Xmas](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/ecc23a/32.png) [@Annie-Xmas](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Annie-Xmas)\ **Post date:** [February 25, 2006, 2:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-me-throw-things-away/346001/9 "2006-02-25T14:01:58Z")
Who told you that most of the Salvation Army stuff goes to third world countries? There are Salvation Armies all over the northern US! Good thing too, or I’d be nekkid ---
**Author:** ![Eva\_Luna](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/e495f1/32.png) [@Eva\_Luna](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Eva_Luna)\ **Post date:** [February 25, 2006, 2:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-me-throw-things-away/346001/10 "2006-02-25T14:40:14Z")
> [@ZipperJJ](#): > > If you live in a place that gets cold in the winter, and you’re in a giving mood, and not opposed to religious charities, I am sure one of your local religious institutions would be happy to provide your clothing with some of the families they “take care of.” There are all sorts of nonreligious organizations that accept donations - refugee resettlement, regular community orgs, battered women’s shelters. Just think of all the places that provide human services, and a good chunk of them will probably be glad to accept clothing donations. ---
**Author:** ![Annie-Xmas](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/ecc23a/32.png) [@Annie-Xmas](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Annie-Xmas)\ **Post date:** [February 25, 2006, 4:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-me-throw-things-away/346001/11 "2006-02-25T16:32:57Z")
You could donate them to the local battered women’s shelter. Some of the women come there with literally only having the clothes on their backs. ---
**Author:** ![hajario](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/hajario/32/171_2.png) [@hajario](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/hajario)\ **Post date:** [February 25, 2006, 4:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-me-throw-things-away/346001/12 "2006-02-25T16:40:20Z")
If you itemize your deductions, you can get a nice tax write off for giving things to charities for them to give away or sell at thier thrift stores. I got divorced last year and after splitting up the stuff we had piles of things that neither of us wanted. We saved a great deal of money on our final tax return together. All you have to do is box it up and they’ll pick it up from your driveway. ---
**Author:** ![Johnny\_L.A](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/johnny_l.a/32/1084_2.png) [@Johnny\_L.A](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Johnny_L.A)\ **Post date:** [February 25, 2006, 4:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-me-throw-things-away/346001/13 "2006-02-25T16:42:28Z")
> [@Annie-Xmas](#): > > You could donate them to the local battered women’s shelter. Some of the women come there with literally only having the clothes on their backs. I donated an old (analogue) mobile phone and charger to a women’s shelter. They seemed pleased to get it. ---
**Author:** ![Lissa](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/85f322/32.png) [@Lissa](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lissa)\ **Post date:** [February 25, 2006, 4:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-me-throw-things-away/346001/14 "2006-02-25T16:54:38Z")
> [@Annie-Xmas](#): > > You could donate them to the local battered women’s shelter. Some of the women come there with literally only having the clothes on their backs. This is a wonderful idea. Any household items, clothing, baby items, and canned foods are almost always welcome. Also, don’t discount the idea of your local museum. In the museum in which I work, our clothing collection dates from the 1700s up until the late 1960s. No one thinks to donate modern stuff, so we have a 30 year hole in our collection right now. (My curator says not to worry-- in twenty years, we’ll start seeing donations of flannel shirts and neo-bellbottoms.) If the sweater is sort of funky and interesting-looking (meaning that it screams a certain time period) your local museum may want it. ---
**Author:** ![Johnny\_L.A](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/johnny_l.a/32/1084_2.png) [@Johnny\_L.A](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Johnny_L.A)\ **Post date:** [February 25, 2006, 5:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-me-throw-things-away/346001/15 "2006-02-25T17:04:10Z")
> [@Lissa](#): > > our clothing collection dates from the 1700s… Breeches are coming back, man! Like bell-bottoms! You should have kept them! Before I left L.A. I donated two rows of airline seats, a large _Memphis Belle_ stand-up display, and some othter stuff to The Museum Of Flying. Museums are a good way to get rid of the right junk! 😉 ---
**Author:** ![Lissa](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/85f322/32.png) [@Lissa](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lissa)\ **Post date:** [February 25, 2006, 5:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-me-throw-things-away/346001/16 "2006-02-25T17:26:20Z")
> [@Johnny L.A.](#): > > Museums are a good way to get rid of the right junk! 😉 My curator keeps saying he’s going to change our slogan to include "_We’re half the distance to the dump!"_ It never ceases to amaze me how many people stop by with all the “junk” they want to get rid of that they found in Granny’s attic-- wonderful treasures. Sometimes, they’re monetarily valuable, but other times, they’re of value only to local history. Recently, someone mailed us a photo album they found in a trash can. It had pictures of the same family from the time of tintypes up to the present day. Yes, please, give us your “junk.” One guy dropped off a box of ancient, rusty tools. In the box was a part of a huge drill press. We had one on display, but it was missing that part. Now we can use it in demonstrations. (I spent months cleaning the rusty tools, and now they’re on display, too, in a wood-working exhibit.) Don’t discount modern “junk”. We don’t have any computers in our collection, or modern diaries. (Yes, we’d love to have your daughter’s musings about the Backstreet Boys.) We don’t have any letters from modern wars (the art of letter-writing seems to have died in 'Nam.) We don’t have modern appliances, or those stupid gadgets sold via infomercials. We don’t have many modern toys. We don’t have anything from the Y2K phenomenon. Some museums are limited as to what they collect, but we take EVERYTHING. (Though if we have an identical item in our collection, we may decline it.) If something looks like people two hundred years from now might find interesting, think of giving it to your local museum, particularly if it says something about our time period. ---
**Author:** ![MsMitey](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/f19dbf/32.png) [@MsMitey](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MsMitey)\ **Post date:** [February 25, 2006, 7:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-me-throw-things-away/346001/17 "2006-02-25T19:03:28Z")
I have a fool-proof way of making you stop keeping things. Move. Preferably a couple of times. After you’ve schlepped all that crap around, up stairs if possible, you’ll have no problems getting rid of stuff. We moved all the time when I was a kid, and now, if I haven’t used it in the last year, it’s gone. Also, if I get a new pair of shoes, I throw out an old one. My husband was a terrible packrat, but 3 moves later, he’s as good a junk-tosser as I am. This may not be an easy solution, but I promise it’ll work. Other people, like my stepmother, will occasionally say to me “But they’re memories!” No they’re not, they’re things. Which is why she has 2 houses full of tchotchkes she can’t afford, and we’ve happily got a little apartment with our essentials. My memories don’t have to get crammed into a truck every few years. Good luck! ---
**Author:** ![Miss\_Purl\_McKnittington](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/e9a140/32.png) [@Miss\_Purl\_McKnittington](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Miss_Purl_McKnittington)\ **Post date:** [February 25, 2006, 9:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-me-throw-things-away/346001/18 "2006-02-25T21:45:15Z")
> [@Annie-Xmas](#): > > Who told you that most of the Salvation Army stuff goes to third world countries? There are Salvation Armies all over the northern US! > > Good thing too, or I’d be nekkid And it’s not as if it _doesn’t_ go to places where it gets cold in the winter. Afghanistan and other Middle Eastern countries get pretty darned chilly in the winter. [This](http://www.pbs.org/independentlens/tshirttravels/film.html), however, is kind of troubling. > [@T-Shirt Travels blurb](#): > > n T-SHIRT TRAVELS, Bloemen first travels to the Jersey shore, where she interviews Americans who donate their goods to various charities but have little idea that their former wardrobes end up in Africa. She talks to export agent Barney Lehrer from Brooklyn, who tells her that the Salvation Army doesn’t even unpack most of the donated clothing but sells it to companies for export to third-world countries. > > Strapped and packed in bales like hay, the companies who export the goods sell them to commercial dealers in Africa, who mark up the bales of clothing a whopping three to four hundred percent. These dealers in turn sell to Africans like Luka Mafo, a 19-year-old Zambian who sells secondhand clothing to support his mother, brothers, sisters and cousins, hoping he can help them to stay in school and graduate. Whoa. Really? What does the Salvation Army do with the money from the selling the donated clothes? Is it like Locks of Love, where most of the donated hair is sold to make wigs and extensions for rich folk, rather than wigs for little kids with cancer, and then no word as to what is done with the profit from that? I’m feeling really naive right now, but this has actually surprised me quite a bit. ---
**Author:** ![Cat\_Whisperer](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cat_whisperer/32/4839_2.png) [@Cat\_Whisperer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cat_Whisperer)\ **Post date:** [February 25, 2006, 10:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-me-throw-things-away/346001/19 "2006-02-25T22:26:50Z")
> [@MsMitey](#): > > I have a fool-proof way of making you stop keeping things. Move. Preferably a couple of times. After you’ve schlepped all that crap around, up stairs if possible, you’ll have no problems getting rid of stuff. We moved all the time when I was a kid, and now, if I haven’t used it in the last year, it’s gone. Also, if I get a new pair of shoes, I throw out an old one. My husband was a terrible packrat, but 3 moves later, he’s as good a junk-tosser as I am. This may not be an easy solution, but I promise it’ll work. > > Other people, like my stepmother, will occasionally say to me “But they’re memories!” No they’re not, they’re things. Which is why she has 2 houses full of tchotchkes she can’t afford, and we’ve happily got a little apartment with our essentials. My memories don’t have to get crammed into a truck every few years. > > Good luck! Are you me? 🙂 This is almost exactly what I intended to post. It also helps when you have a hoarder in the family, and you can see what lies at the end of the “keep everything because it might be worth something someday/you might need it someday/it’s too good to give away” road, and it ain’t pretty (how many old toothbrushes does anyone need? How about the boxes they came in?). Cut your ties with stuff. Lighten your load. Some of my rules: crafts/hobby stuff - if you haven’t picked it up in two-three years and it’s not a big deal to replace if you ever want to get back into it, toss it or donate it. Clothes - doesn’t fit, out it goes. This is a hard, fast rule that is sooooo hard to keep. If it’s out of style and you’d feel silly wearing it, out it goes. If you haven’t worn it in two-three years and you haven’t missed it, out it goes. You can ignore the rules for, let’s say, 1 % of your possessions for sentimental reasons; so, if you have 100 pieces of clothing, you can keep one simply because it has sentimental value to you. I think if only 1% of your belongings are sentimental but the rest are in your house for a valid, current reason, you’re doing just great. ---
**Author:** ![ivylass](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/9de053/32.png) [@ivylass](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ivylass)\ **Post date:** [February 25, 2006, 10:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-me-throw-things-away/346001/20 "2006-02-25T22:41:54Z")
I have a rule when going through closets, drawers, etc. If you forgot you had something until you came across it, obviously you don’t need it. Donate it, sell it, whatever. A co-worker has a plan to keep her closet neat…she has a set number of hangers. Every time she buys something new, something old has to go. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-me-throw-things-away/346001.md?page=2)