How To Get Rid Of Items You No Longer Want

There was an article in Huffington Post Green over the weekend that started me thinking about all the stuff we no longer want that’s cluttering up space. So often we work with clients who have corners or rooms or even floors of their homes that are filled with items they really don’t want anymore, but there’s something standing in the way of getting rid of it. Maybe it’s great grandmothers old rocking chair, (hopefully it’s your great grandmother’s rocking chair, because if it belongs to a spouse, that can be the source of even more tension) or maybe you have items that your adult children can’t fit into their own place. Whatever it might be, any extra item that’s lying around and not being used amounts to clutter.

So how can we pare down and eliminate without feeling guilty about hurting someone’s feelings or being sensitive to the sentimental value attached? The answer is tricky. What one person thinks of as a treasured heirloom, another may consider trash. The value lies in the eyes of the beholder. At Chaos To Order, our organizers are very sensitive to this matter. They are there to coach you through the process so that you can make a clear decision on your own. They will ask questions to get you thinking about an item so you can determine the personal value it has. On the other side, you also need to keep in mind the expense of holding on to clutter. Real estate is expensive and if clutter is piling up, is it really worth losing that space, room or entire area?

If you want to eliminate something of sentimental value, your best bet is finding somewhere or someone to give it to that you feel is worthy. Knowing that someone else will make use of that item and enjoy it takes away the guilty feeling of getting rid of it. The article in the Huffing Post entitled, “Recycling Electronics, Donating Books And More: 10 Things To Give To Charity” gave some good suggestions of organizations and websites that will make good use of your cast-aways. We also have a page on the Chaos To Order website with a frequently updated list of organizations in Chicagoland accepting donations. You can find it under Resources–Where to Donate Stuff.

If you have an item that is not being used, consider that someone else may actually enjoy having it and you will clear some space at the same time. If you want to always cherish it, you can still do that without actually hanging on to the item. Take photos or video, with digital technology, it will take up much less space! The decision is yours, don’t hang on to the guilt of what to keep in your own home. Set boundaries with those adult children, Grandmother wouldn’t want to burden you with her old stuff. Remember her in other ways and enjoy the freedom of taking control over your own space.

About the author

Monica Friel is president and founder of Chaos to Order. Monica manages and trains a staff of professional organizers who specialize in everything from household clutter to corporate chaos. She also represents brands and speaks publicly as an expert in the field of organizing. Learn more about Monica and Chaos to Order and follow her on Facebook, Twitter, Pinterest, or Google+.

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