Nothing lights a fire under your arse like making a public proclamation that you’re going to get rid of 100 things. So even though we’re not moving until mid-December, we made our way from room to room paring down every single thing that we don’t love/need/use. The mantra as we went? No mercy. Because nothing is worse than packing, moving, and unpacking things that aren’t worth the time they took to transport or the space they’re eating up in the new place.
Here’s our getting-rid-of-it office pile:
Then we tackled the kitchen (Clara helped):
Here’s our outgoing kitchen pile (what you don’t see are a bunch of baskets and towels on the floor):
And here’s our den’s see-ya-later pile (cry not for the board games, they were doubles so we still have a copy of each one):
Our garage to-go pile:
Our basement done-zo pile:
And our big bedroom buh-bye pile (minus the baby and the dog of course- they stay):
And now for the full list of purged items:
- 11 pairs of shoes (10 of mine, one of John’s)
- 36 books (10 of which were cookbooks)
- 10 video tapes & DVDS
- 1 alarm clock
- 1 computer mouse
- countless padded envelopes & mailing tubes (from the days of our online print shop)
- 6 board games (some of which we had two identical versions, so we got rid of one)
- 2 yoga mats
- 1 radio
- 1 stocking
- 2 faux pumpkins
- 1 lamp
- 4 pillows
- 1 mirror
- 5 frames
- 54 items of clothing (including coats, hats, ties, tees, jeans, shirts, socks, etc)
- 4 plastic plates
- 6 ceramic plates
- 1 power screwdriver
- 4 outdoor chairs
- 2 welcome mats
- 1 rug
- 2 baskets of faux plants (they lived in the not-sunny-enough-for-real-plants basement)
- 1 floor lamp
- 4 plant pots
- 6 garden hooks
- 1 stencil
- 1 frisbee
- 4 old quarts of paint
- 2 buckets
- 2 metal tins (we came up with a new diaper & wipe disposal system- more details soon)
- 1 sprinkler
- 1 trash can
- 1 fabric basket
- 1 dark wicker basket
- 5 bath towels
- 1 nursing cover
- 8 baby toys & feeding supplies
- 4 glass cups
- 3 vases
- 4 pieces of faux fruit
- 8 wine glasses
- 8 mugs
- GRAND TOTAL: 222 items
Saweeeeeeeet. I mean on one hand it’s kind of embarrassing to admit that we were storing all that excess but boy does it feel good to get rid of it. Yup, that’s right. It’s all out of our house already – thanks to donating and selling every last item (we had an impromptu moving sale this weekend while we still had some steam and that no mercy attitude). We feared if things sat around for a while before we had a chance to donate or sell them we might have changed our minds and kept things that we didn’t need. And you know I have the patience of a 5 year old, right? More of those get-it-gone details coming soon.
What have you guys been purging? Have you identified any problem areas? We definitely held onto lots of books and clothes that we had no need for, but we were also surprised how many unnecessary kitchen items we were hoarding (many of which we had used exactly zero times).
Not the board games! I think we own more board games then we do shoes… ha ha
Wow, good for you!! We’re planning on doing this soon too. We’re not moving, but expecting our second little baby. I hope our list turns out as long as yours!
I noticed that those two aluminum buckets in the garage pic look like the ones you were storing Clara’s dirty diapers in. Did that system end up not working out? I ask as a soon-to-be mama planning on using cloth diapers and looking for storage options.
SATC? (Sex and the City) I don’t think i’ve ever seen anyone willing thrift SATC. Board games? i guess with all your work you two(four) don’t get bored too often. Great job on the decluttering!!!
Great job! I noticed the two pails you used for your cloth diapers and wipes were in the pile…did those not work out for you? If not, what are you using now?
Hey Laura B & Emily,
We got high tech with our diaper & wipe disposal and we’ll be posting an update all about it on BabyCenter tomorrow. Stay tuned…
xo,
s
I have been on a purging rampage all fall long. I have gotten rid of mostly books, toys, and wierd little decor items that were unused. I unlike you, am having a really really hard time taking a look at my closet. Part with my shoes??? No way! But I know I need to. Now that I am a stay at home mom I pretty much live in a selection of 4 pairs of shoes, so I don’t really need a closetful. Sigh.
You guys should have a blog sale! If I lived closer I would take all those chairs in your garage off your hands!
I’ve become a bit of a book hoarder over the last few years, so every few months I go through them, write up a list of the titles I’m clearing out and send an email to friends letting them know they’re up for grabs. I’m like my own little lending library.
PS: If you guys happen to be swinging through NY anytime soon, I’ll gladly take those lawn chairs, a few fake pears and Rummikub off your hands.
Wow! I’m super impressed! I haven’t even begun yet…. but I should get on that, huh?
My #1 biggest problem is CLOTHING! And shoes. And books. And to be honest, I just thrive in clutter. BUT NO MORE! I’m totally inspired by you guys and I am going to do it!
But I can’t believe you got rid of Scattegories. Best game ever.
Hey Samantha,
A lot of the board games were actually doubles (so we had a travel version of Scattegories and a regular one, so we cut one down and kept one).
xo,
s
We just had a yard sale in preparation for our move next weekend. We made almost $300, but even better was the freedom in getting rid of so many unused items!! I thought DVDs and home decor items would go quickly, but the first item sold: a concrete paperweight carved to look like a skull. Huh.
Good luck with the move!!
I’m a big advocate of a good “stuff” purge, but you can’t get rid of Taboo, which is one of the best party games ever!!
Hey Leslie,
We had two Taboo games, so we just got rid of one. We’re bard game freaks but we draw the line at owning two of the same game. Haha.
xo,
s
Your post asked if we have any “problem areas” – well, it’s more like a problem person (ME!). Looking through your photos, I was thinking “Oh no, they’re not throwing out that cute lamp!” and “Oh, those are great board games!” We/I desperately need to adopt your “no mercy” style around here!
Not Scattegories!! That is one of my family’s FAVE games ever! Lol. You are however, motivating me to go through my (newly bought) house and do the same… I wonder if I will make 100, or if I might do as you did, and go over… I might keep you posted, lol.
Looks great!!! I’m inspired! I’ve been in MAJOR de-cluttering mode lately…after today there just might be nothing left in our house ;)
Ummm, may I buy a bunch of it off you? :)
“And a partridge in a pear tree.”
Nice work!
You guys inspired us – this weekend my husband and I pulled together 100 items of clothing to donate to charity. We give some things away every season, but I often hold on to things that I think I “might” wear again. Having to meet the 100 mark made me very disciplined and our closet looks so much more oragnized! Plus, it is great to do something like this around the holidays when it feels particularly good to give back. Thanks for the inspiration!
You tossed Sex and the City DVDs!? I think that’s a sin ;)
My husband and I did a major purge this weekend too. Knocked down a giant DVD rack and put all discs into 2 (300 count) binders. Now all those cases are gone too. phew! Now our living room looks and feels bigger without that giant piece of furniture (and dust magnet) weighing us down!
I’m not wearing my glasses, but is that paint drops I see on your yoga mats? Too funny! That must be the secret giveaway of a DIY household. We have paint drips on ours too and I don’t even know how they got there.
Haha, yes. That’s a bit of a long story.
xo,
s
AUGH! there’s a sex and the city DVD in that pile! Stop, I say!
Also, Scattergories and a pretty lamp! I will take those off your hands, thank you! Haha. Um but seriously.
OMG – Scattegories?? I’m glad you’re at least keeping your travel version!
I’ve never played Taboo… I guess I won’t start. Not so much fun, huh?
Yes- all the board games are fun! We just had doubles so we got rid of one and kept the other!
xo,
s
Not Scattegories! LOL! Well, okay, just the travel one. = )
That’s awesome that you guys got rid of all that stuff. Out with the old right? You’ll really be thankful that you did that, especially when you beging the boxing and unboxing process of moving. We just moved and I wish I did this before, I’m thowing away the excess after we lugged it to the new place. Congrats on thinking it through – I wish I did -heehee = )
xo
Mindy
http://fisilis.wordpress.com
Great job. You could have a killer yard sale! I just finished purging my entire main level from the pantry to all the closets. I donated a huge pile. I have a Craig’s list pile and a trade in pile for used book store. Next I tackle my upstairs after the holidays. Attic and all. I do this once a year. I love to purge everything I don’t use in a year. It is amazing what collects over such a short time.
I would buy that second copy of Taboo if you didn’t already sell it. I collect board games (they get their own closet and like another reader I DO have more games than shoes.)
I second the blog sale suggestion.
Hey Lisa, CarolinaHeartStrings, & everyone else interested in our castoffs,
As we mentioned in the post, we actually have donated and sold everything already! We had a last minute moving sale this weekend so it’s all gone. Love the feeling of being lighter on stuff- and we made a few bucks while we were at it (and donated the rest)!
xo,
s
Wow…very impressive – 223 items? Whew.
Did you find it difficult to part with them?
Hey Brandt,
Nope, we felt surprisingly detached. We just had to remind ourselves that anything we kept would be packed up, moved, unpacked, and placed in our new house. So it really helped us see what we used and loved enough to fuss with (and what we just didn’t need anymore).
xo,
s
If you’re pitching the round glass lamp in the kitchen picture I’ll take it! It would be purrrrfect in my new office!!!
I so need a good house purging, and this is a great time of year for it!
Wow, I already thought you guys were minimalist on your clutter. I would be so ashamed if you visited me. My boyfriend painted my bedroom while I was out of town yesterday and when I got home he gave me a stern talking to about all my clutter. I’m trying to amass a craiglist pile because I don’t have a car to mass drop-off donate stuff and no way to have a garage sale (i live in a condo). Still pretty inspiring!
Hey, If you haven’t already gotten rid of the board games, I know a teacher that could desperately use them. I’d be glad to meet you somewhere to pick them up.
Hey Tamisha,
As we mentioned in the post, everything that you see in the pics is gone (we had a last minute moving sale and donated the rest). So sorry!
xo,
s
Curious, if you donate the items to salvation army or wherever, what type of form do you need to get to make sure you get a tax break? Thanks! This is really motivating me to go home tonight and stare at my closet for awhile. Hopefully something will come of that.
Hey Katy,
Just ask for a receipt when you drop things off and you can fill in what you dropped off and keep it around for tax purposes.
xo,
s
Oh man, I’m so insanely jealous of your purging! I desperately need to but can’t bring myself to do it! We just put in an offer on a house; hopefully I’ll get to jump on the purge-wagon!
good for you, better to do it now than after you’ve moved all of the stuff to the new place! we went through all of our personal files this weekend, and went from 4 filing cabinet drawers to one drawer…lots of old manuals, bills, very old immigration paperwork from when I was a student (I’m a citizen now! :)
everything is shredded and out for recycling! now the files all fit in my office filing cabinet, which means I’m much more likely to actually file stuff :)
This is awesome! I’ve now made one of my 2011 new years resolutions to get rid of 365 things…I think each day! Thanks for the inspiration!
Great job on the decluttering! I am 6 months pregnant so the decluttering at our house has reached mammoth proportions. Amazing how things that never mattered to you before suddenly drive you insane! Must go clean out the medicine cabinet now…
I’m officially inspired! Let’s hope this inspiration lasts through my work day, and after my workout, and after dinner so I can declutter tonight when I get home :)
That is great. I just got rid of about 10 pairs of shoes myself!
Woah, I thought this was going to be an on-going thing. A handful of items one day, a couple the next… but you two really knocked it out of the park with this one.
Are you gonna try and up the ante to make it an even 300?
We’re thinking we might see more that we don’t need as we pack- so who knows!
xo,
s
I knew y’all would easily get rid of more than 100 items…it is shocking how quickly the toss pile grows! Congrats on a great purge and selling some stuff to boot!
good for you!! I love that freeing feeling of being a little lighter on the “stuff” front!!
You listed 1 mirror twice. :) Is that two mirrors? Or are you padding your list? :)
Hey Kathy Z,
Fixed! Just one mirror.
xo,
s
I tackled my bathroom closet after reading another one of your posts. It felt so good to get rid of two bags of useless items. Some of which I had for years (you know that stuff had to have went bad a looong time ago). You must feel great to get rid of over 200 items before the big move. Woo hoo to more space both in the purging items and future home.
Sort of sad to see the board games go, but I’m sure they’ll go to a happy home. Also, I love that Clara is placed among discard items on the bed! What is the going price for a cute baby at a garage sale these days?
okay…that’s it. the purging at my house begins today! i thought it was a great idea when you first mentioned it but i’ve just been pushed over the edge to do it myself!
i have a 2 and a half year old so i’m fairly certain i can weed out a ton of his clothes and toys that he’s out growing. i don’t want the number of his things i get rid of give me any excuse to not purge enough of my own so i think i’m going to set my goal at 200 items!
thanks for the push!
You more than doubled your goal! That’s amazing!
I need to purge my house, desperately. I recently purged my closet (and as a result, I have several bags of donations I need to drop off to Goodwill!). Thanks to your inspiration, I will definitely “purge” my house next!
It must feel so nice to be rid of excess stuff! Good luck on the light(er) weight move coming up!
You guys don’t mess around!! Way to go! I think nothing feels better than de-cluttering and getting rid of un-needed items around the house. Great for moving and the holidays! = )
Congratulations on your big purge. I hope you write a post on tips for creating an “impromptu sale” of your unwanted items. I’ve been meaning to hold a yard sale for quite some time but the only other time I held a yard sale no one came (and I’ll tell you, it was so depressing to sit outside among all my unwanted things and realize no one else even wanted to look at them, let alone pay me money for them).
Hey guys!
I’m almost done! A huge (like 3 feet by 2 feet) size box and then another half that size filled with stuff is going to my Goodwill this weekend after I finish the purge. So far about 80 items are in the toss boxes. Very liberating. I constantly purge via Apartment Therapy’s outbox method, but I was still surprised how much unused stuff I had. Multiple sets of towels I never ever use, more than three sets of sheets for each bed in our house, when we only use one or two in emergencies.
Thanks for inspiration!
Wow too bad I don’t live in your area – I would have totally taken those planters off your hands! Kudos on the impromtu sale – way to go!
I recently purged my closet of shirts that I never wore anymore. I went through the coat closet and put over half of the jackets and hoodies into the donate pile. Jackets tend to be left at our house and never claimed again, so we had a ton in there. Now I just have to get my butt to take it all to Goodwill because I keep forgetting to…