When I donate or get rid of something I own, I feel lighter. Over the years I have donated probably dozens of bags of clothes (and I still have more I could donate). Having less makes my home feel more manageable, and what I do own then feels more intentional. It makes it easier to find things, easier to clean (I don’t have to move things around to dust or vacuum!), and by owning less, I feel like I’ll put less waste out into the world. Clutter is much more apparent when you live in a small space. And we live in a small space. Not only that, but moving will be so much simpler with fewer things.
Donating vs. Selling (vs. Repurposing)
My main challenge at the moment is figuring out if I should stop trying to sell things and instead just donate them. I’m giving myself a rule that if I don’t sell something within a year, then it goes into the donate pile. BUT is the cost of my time taking photos of my belongings, and posting them online worth the small dollar value I get back? I’m not sure.
When I have donated in the past, I’ve typically chosen to donate to local organizations as opposed to Salvation Army or Goodwill. These organizations include group homes, local churches, local homeless or womens’ shelters, Dress for Success, or local veterans organizations. Animal shelters often also take old linens and towels.
Pickup Please is also available in many states (including Virginia!) and offers door-to-door pickup of donations often within 24 hours and rain or shine. It’s run by the Vietnam Veterans of America (VVA) and allows you to schedule a free pickup of donated household items, which are then sold to support programs for veterans.
Repurposing old clothes
There is a surplus of used clothing out in the world. If you don’t think someone will purchase or pick up your used shirt, it’s better to turn the shirt into a rag and give it a final use instead of donating it where it will likely just go abroad and into landfills. Fast fashion has unfortunately made this problem even worse.
I’ve so far turned old kickball tshirts and wornout clothing into rags for cleaning the bathroom, and Mr. Nacho sometimes uses rags for his woodworking. If you know how to sew, you can turn old tshirts into napkins (I don’t know how to sew but maybe I should learn!)
Textile recycling
I haven’t tried textile recycling yet, but it’s an option that I’m learning more about and is now more appealing.
From this 2022 study, textile recycling is “Reprocessing pre-consumer and post-consumer textile waste for use in new textile or non-textile products.”
From what I’ve read online, Retold seems like a legit and easy-to-use company for textile recycling. Retold offers one-time bags (or a subscription) for you to load up your clothes for them to either resell or recycle.
Consuming less
At the same time I’m trying to declutter, I’m also trying to consume less and put fewer things in the trash. This is me trying to do my small part in contributing less to landfills and impacting climate change.
We have reusable napkins that we try and use instead of paper towels (one small regret is that I purchased these new and did not purchase pre-owned). If I do have to purchase books instead of take them out at the library, I try to purchase used.
Changes I’ve made to try and own less and waste less
These are other ways we’ve been consuming less (for the environment, but also for our health and wallet)
- Re-usable napkins to try and reduce the number of paper towels we use
- Re-usable silicone bags for storing food (vs. plastic ziplocks)
- Ground coffee instead of individual Nespresso pods
- More meat-free meals
- Books from the library (but if I do need to buy a book, I try to buy used)
- Reducing our TV subscriptions to just 1 or 2 at a time
- Bring clean takeout containers to restaurants for leftovers instead of using their containers (especially if styrofoam)
- Donate extra takeout containers and plasticware to shelters that serve food
- Not getting the latest phone model as soon as it comes out
- No more manicures and fewer hair appointments
- Less alcohol
- Unfollow social media accounts that tempt me to buy new clothes or makeup
- When I purchase one thing, I try to “get rid” of another
- Consider buying better quality (often more expensive) clothes that I truly like that will last awhile
- Add an item to my shopping cart but wait a week (or month) to think about purchasing
- When I want something, I add it to a “Promotion” list—things I might reward myself with if I get a raise or promotion
Books I’ve read on minimalism and zero waste
Minimalista: Your Step-by-Step Guide to a Better Home, Wardrobe, and Life by Shira Gill
The core things I’ve gotten from this book are to “edit” first (get rid of things), and THEN organize. Go “shopping” in your house first for storage containers (vs. purchasing new- often new containers you don’t need will just get filled with more junk). Don’t try to tackle the entire house. Start with one room and one space at a time. For example, the kitchen countertop; or the top of a dresser. Don’t bring home free swag.
Zero Waste Home: The Ultimate Guide to Simplifying Your Life by Reducing Your Waste by Bea Johnson
Some of what is written in this book is a bit too involved for me to easily bring into my life in terms of making my own butter and things like that, but I did get inspired to start exploring purchasing bulk foods. I also learned about how to get less junk mail sent to your house.
- Register at the Association of National Advertisers’ (ANA) website DMAchoice.org to get off mailing lists (there is a processing fee to register)
- To reduce credit card solicitation, go to https://www.optoutprescreen.com (this and the above link are also on the FTC.gov site)
- To remove yourself from catalogs, visit http://www.catalogchoice.org
Goodbye, Things: The New Japanese Minimalism by Fumio Sasaki
This book was an easy read and gave me some new ways to think about minimalism. Reducing visual clutter, reducing ties to “things” and losing them in natural disaster, less time being distracted by media or ads, less time doing chores (cleaning is easier with less). Less stuff, less to clean, less to store. Less to look for.
And, of course, as many are already familiar with, The Life-Changing Magic of Tidying Up by Marie Kondo.