How do you de-clutter? I am way tooooooo sentimental...

[Legacy]

Have been trying to clear out my wardrobe. Have found seriously old stuff which needs to go (e.g. maternity stuff... DS2 is 5....)

But everything has so many memories attached to it - I find it really hard to let go. especially if I can't be sure something is going to a 'good home' (e.g. have nightmare images of all my stuff in a skip outside a charity shop )

How on earth do you get past all the nostalgia and 'let go' of stuff??

[JackieNo]

You can either steel yourself, maybe take photos of some of the stuff (takes up less room than keeping the actual stuff) and then give it away. Or just hang on to it, and eventually it will be the right time, and you'll be ready to let go of it. Or a combination of the 2. Maybe if it's baby/maternity stuff, you could investigate women's refuges that might want things, then you'd know they were going to a good home.

[ShrinkingViolet]

Warning - tough love message!
Start with things which are obviously rubbish - broken, torn, worn, stained. Put them in a bin bag and get rid.
Then look at what's left - decide if you're ever going to use it again, and if not, think about the person who is going ot the charity shop tomorrow to look for a "whatever" and can't afford to buy it new. You're depriving them of a "whatever" by being selfish, aren't you? If you were that person, how would you feel? It's not your "whatever" any more, it's theirs.

(Alternatively, take photos of it to keep hold of the memories, and put in the charity bag. or make all the clothes into a patchwork quilt.)

I found it was a change of mindset, from "but I can't let it go" to "all this stuff is holding me back" - like the "fat clothes" I was keeping for just in case.

[ShrinkingViolet]

oh, and charity shops recylce stuff they can't sell into rags which they then do something with (can't remember offhand, but it's something Good) - it doesn't go into a skip.

[peanutbear]

Just get rid of it, it feels harsh at the time but great when things fit in yur wardrobe and your house looks great

[ShrinkingViolet]

or get a friend round to help you - the embarrasment of having to sob out a pathetic reason why you can't possibly let that skirt go should sort you out

[Pannacotta]

How about offering old toys/books to a local playgroup or library?

[Legacy]

Pannacotta - it's more clothes than books etc. I associate certain clothes with periods in my life, and I don't want to let them go

Should I be getting a therapist, rather than a de-clutterer??

[Pannacotta]

HAve to admit I am the same, as pretty bad at letting go of nice things which I no longer need/use.
Might be worth finding a local decluttering service (if there is one) and paying someone to come and help you, might make you feel more committed to clearing out.
I thought the refuge suggestion was a good one, or perhaps a local charity close to your heart.
As for the actual declutter other than getting help in I cant give much advice. I too am drowning in stuff.........

[hana]

we just don't have the space for keeping things like this
have no maternity clothes at all, as soon as dd3 was a few weeks old I got rid of them all ( felt v v good!) and likewise her clothes, as she grows out of things, i'm passing them on to a friend with a baby girl. have kept one outfit for each of them that was a bit special.

do it, you'll feel better

[expatinscotland]

You just start hucking it out because you've got no space for it.

[Anna8888]

Bag up the stuff you might want to get rid of, put it away out of sight (garage/basement/attic), enjoy your lovely empty tidy wardrobe (have a little trip to Ikea for new wooden hangers, a shoe rail etc just to make it really nice in there) and, after a few months, you won't have any trouble at all putting those bags out for recycling .

One step at a time...

[SecondhandRose]

We have a hospice near here and they hold regular jumble sales. Although everything is sorted before and some goes to boot sales, some to auction and some is sold privately. So I have no qualms about my decent stuff being sold for 20p as hopefully they take the good stuff elsewhere.

There is a jumble on Saturday and my garage is bursting with stuff to take.

[RubySlippers]

if you are really sentimental then keep 1 piece of maternity clothing the rest will be well used by a refuge or charity shop

I am ruthless - every 6 months i go through all our wardrobes, cupboards etc and sort into charity shop/rubbish/recycling piles.

I have kept a few things (like DS's first babygro) but the rest has gone. Also, i took a bag of DS's toys to our local health centre (where they hold mum and baby groups) and they were really pleased

[lilolilmanchester]

I am exactly like you Legacy. Have tried to limit my nostalgia to one box per child. When the box is full, something has to go.
Can't say it works 100% but does focus the mind a bit. Also, as the years go on, it gets easier to be dispassionate about some of the stuff (ie I used to keep ALL their artwork, now can just keep some select pieces from each age/class) so having it all in one place and having to go through it when you add new stuff does help.