what to do with stuff you replaced?

[RosieTR]

What do you do with stuff you have replaced, that might have *some use* but none you can think of? For example, a swim suit that has a rip in the liner, or winter boots that are no longer waterproof because of an unrepairable gash? They aren't in shreds but there's good reason I bought new. I don't feel good donating because they aren't in good condition but I can't think of a good use for them either.

[iris lily]

I throw them away.

I don't intend to be a smartass with my answer, I just am realistic. I'm not going to spend my life energy worrying about "things." These possessions don't own my time. And I do deliberately keep crap out of the bins of Goodwill. I'm a Goodwill shopper and it pisses me off when they put out stained, ruined merchandise.

[Zoe Girl]

there are times I will re-use part of them but most of the time I throw them away. I try to make my impact in not buying things but I really hate having too much stuff so I get rid of it.

Actually trash day is the best day of the week. I love putting out all this stuff and it just goes away! Not the most environmental attitude but it is right up there with dropping at goodwill.

[shadowmoss]

I am admitting that 'stuff' doesn't have feelings to be hurt if I don't squeeze the very last use out of it. FlyLady says don't make your house a landfill (or said it several years ago when I followed her). If I am embarassed to donate it, and I don't want it, I toss it. Basically, if I wouldn't buy it at a thrift store for $1, then I shouldn't donate it. Into the dumpster at the park where I live it goes. I do have to take it there as I can't bear to put it in my regular trash. More ceremonial I guess.

[Songbird]

I personally won't donate anything I would find unusable due to damage or repulsive due to stains, or wear and tear. It's not the Goodwill workers job to dispose of my 'trash'. Some things just need to be thrown away. Not everything is useful or recyclable. I try hard to do what's right with my stuff regarding the environment, but sometimes it just has to go to the landfill...

[Miss Cellane]

Could the swimsuit be mended? Would the boots still be okay on a dry day, so you could wear them a few more months until they are worn out?

If not, then could they be disassembled and the parts used for something else? And within the next month, not "sometime"? In other words, if you know right now you could use part of the swimsuit to patch another swimsuit and you are willing to do the work in the next month, save the suit. If the suit could be used as a patch, but you have nothing right now that needs a patch, throw it out.

If you can't use them for their intended purpose, and the parts can't be used in a reasonable amount of time for something else, then just get rid of them.

While we shouldn't just toss things that could be donated, or reused by someone else, or recycled, there are times when the useful life of a thing is over, and it needs to hit the trash.

[catherine]

I throw them away.

I don't intend to be a smartass with my answer, I just am realistic. I'm not going to spend my life energy worrying about "things." These possessions don't own my time. And I do deliberately keep crap out of the bins of Goodwill. I'm a Goodwill shopper and it pisses me off when they put out stained, ruined merchandise.

+1
Good answer.

Just yesterday I threw out a beautiful Irish knit sweater that had a stain on it. I spent a few good sessions with it last spring trying to get the stain out and just put away for the summer because I hated to throw it out. My son had bought it in Ireland. So when I went to get my winter stuff out of the basement I came across it, saw the stain, and it went right in the garbage. OK, I could have worn it around the house on a cold day and it would have served that purpose, but why should I subject myself to wearing something that's all "slethered" as my MIL used to say--and why should my husband have to look at me dressed like a slob?

[pinkytoe]

I either obsess over them and then procrastinate further about what to do with them and ultimately throw them away. We learned our lesson with Goodwill when we took our perfectly comfortable but well-used recliner to a GW and the attendee screamed at dh "what do you think we're gonna do with that junk?"

[jp1]

The clothes can still be donated. Planet money did an episode about donated shirts during their series about having t shirts made. After clothes get donated most places send them to a sorting facility. The good ones wind up in a thrift store. Less good ones get exported and sold in bulk elsewhere. The worst, unusable ones, get sold in bulk to be shredded and used for stuff like insulation. Worst case scenario the place you donated it to will just throw it out, the same as you would've done.

A ripped bathing suit doesn't seem worth keeping. My mom used to keep a 'rag bag' of old cotton t shirts to use when cleaning, and keep a box of buttons she'd cut off stuff that was being thrown out. But a ripped swim suit doesn't have much use, at least that I can think of. I have a very old and ruined pair of dress shoes that I removed the laces from and use as quick slip ons for taking out the trash, since I don't wear shoes around the house. They're perfect for keeping my socks clean. I can't think of any other use for old, non-weatherproof shoes.

[ApatheticNoMore]

1) for just a stain I wouldn't give up so easily. I'd take it to the dry cleaners, they can get out stains you'll never get out at home no matter what you do. If you dislike the chemicals used at the dry cleaner, try the green dry cleaning places, I've used them. Don't know if they are as good or not, they usually get out the stains though.
2) but when there is significant structural damage to the item, I don't know. I'd probably throw it away. But you could try to Freecycle it or something first. Someone might want it and find a use for it. You could see if it has any takers and if not then throw it away.

[awakenedsoul]

I was thinking many of the same things as Miss Cellane. I would probably have mended the lining of the swimsuit and worn it until it had worn out. I just threw away a Speedo swimsuit that I bought several years ago. I got a lot of use out of it, but it was all stretched out and looked terrible. I thought I'd have to replace it, but now am wearing some lycra leotards that I used to use to teach ballet. They had been sitting in my drawer for the last three years. They're in good shape, dark colors, and they work perfectly! I was pleased I didn't have to spend money on another Speedo.

The shoes I would probably use for gardening. I do that with my old hiking boots and sneakers. Once they have holes in them, I toss them in the trash. I also live in a warm climate, though. Because I bike to much, my shoes last for several years.

[Packy]

The clothes can still be donated. Planet money did an episode about donated shirts during their series about having t shirts made. After clothes get donated most places send them to a sorting facility. The good ones wind up in a thrift store. Less good ones get exported and sold in bulk elsewhere. The worst, unusable ones, get sold in bulk to be shredded and used for stuff like insulation. Worst case scenario the place you donated it to will just throw it out, the same as you would've done.

A ripped bathing suit doesn't seem worth keeping. My mom used to keep a 'rag bag' of old cotton t shirts to use when cleaning, and keep a box of buttons she'd cut off stuff that was being thrown out. But a ripped swim suit doesn't have much use, at least that I can think of. I have a very old and ruined pair of dress shoes that I removed the laces from and use as quick slip ons for taking out the trash, since I don't wear shoes around the house. They're perfect for keeping my socks clean. I can't think of any other use for old, non-weatherproof shoes. Yes, I should toss more stuff. Last winter, I went through my closet, and there were shirts 35 years old. Things I never wear. So, I tossed them. But, the closet is full, again. That said, I like that info about shirt sorting, simply because there's a great "tongue-twister" in there. How about "She sold several sorted shirts separately"?

[Sad Eyed Lady]

I usually keep a "rag bag" going for a friend who loves to get old clothes that are no longer wearable - she uses them in quilts, doggie blankets etc. I wouldn't save them if I didn't already know someone who could and would use them for another purpose. Just a thought.

[Sagewoman]

We have a small local thrift shop in our area. It takes cloth items that it doesn't put out for sale and the fibers are used for other purposes. They have large bags of stuff that I asked them about and they told me this. They go somewhere else. This is not uncommon, so you could ask your local thrift shops. But separate them out, so they don't have to. It's good to see things not go in the landfill.

I garden, paint, diy, etc. Old shoes, shirts and pants etc are used in those activities. Plus rags. I cut the elastic out of underwear when it gets too many holes. I've used it for various things, like tying up tomatoes. Only for one season, then it gets thrown out because of plant fungus, etc. Anything stretchy can be used for tomato ties. My favorite paint shirt literally fell apart and it made me sad because it was a tie-dye that gained character as I painted in it :).

I have a pair of work/hiking boots that doesn't fit. I bought them while visiting someone in another city because the sole came off my boot and I had no other shoes to wear. On sale, but ultimately didn't fit. Practically new. Why did I keep them? Time to donate.

[meri]

I have a box of rags cut out from old t-shirts, towels, socks ... anything that was unwearable, 100% cotton and in too bad condition for charity. They get used for all kinds of cleaning, insulation, housework ... piece of old t-shirt still gets some use for wiping counters, polishing car windows or doing some bicycle maintenance.

In general, if there is no chance of using something regularly - out it goes. It can get used somewhere else or clutter someone's apartment but not mine. If it had some sentimental value I take picture of it before it goes.

We don't have so many thrift stores but there are those wonderful containers scattered around cities for collecting used clothes, shoes, toys, towels, bed linen, bags ... it goes to some sorting facility where the perfectly useable stuff goes to charity, the rest is turned into clearing equipment or yarn and only some 5% of what they collect is ecologically really disposed. They look like this http://www.naseprahacentrum.cz/data/USR_099_DEFAULT/14_KONTEJNER_NA_TEXTIL.jpg and it makes me feel much better about throwing away clothes and shoes that I cannot re-purpose or give to someone who would use it. Maybe you have something similar in US?

[Miss Cellane]

We have a lot of containers for clothing donations scattered around in cities in the US, but they are all sponsored by different organizations. And the clothing is usually intended for resale.

But you have to be careful, because some of the donation boxes are run by charities, and some are run by businesses that want you to think they are charities.

There's no organized system for collecting clothes in the way meri describes. Charities that collect clothing usually sort the clothes in the way she describes, however.

[goldensmom]

If I cannot repair, recycle, re-use, re-purpose, donate or know someone who can and I know I will not use an item within a certain period of time (time depends on the item) then I will throw it away, no guilt or second thoughts I just do it. Depending on the item, first I will put things at the end of the drive and most times someone will pick it up.

[Float On]

If I could cut and re-sew the swimsuit into a swim top I'd do that, otherwise I'd toss.
Are the boots cute enough to become planters for the porch? I've sort of been looking for old beat up rainboots to plant some succulents in.

[CathyA]

I know it's hard to throw out things that still have a little bit of life left in them, but I think it's wrong to send something that's fairly unfixable to a donation place. Having taken a lot of stuff recently and previously to 2 types of donation places, I can see that they are totally overwhelmed with stuff. (even good stuff). So I try really hard to not send things I really think probably can't be fixed.........or they don't have the staff to fix it.
I know the feeling of "oh gosh......I just can't throw this into the earth..........so I'll let someone else do it for me"...........and it's just wrong.
It's like people throwing totally ridiculous stuff into the local recycling bin.........it just makes life harder for other people.

Speaking of how overwhelmed these 2 donation places were...........it makes me realize how unbelievably over-consumerism-ed we are. It's crazy. Just crazy.

[kib]

I've always had a dream of a place called (S)crap, where you could take anything of this nature and drop it off, and take anything you wanted that other people had dumped. I have a dozen plastic 1.5 gallon screw lid jars. Yes at times I would have been thrilled to find one of these for free, at the moment I have no use whatsoever, but I can't see someone buying them. A lot of cheaper DIY projects specify things like "scrap of rubber" or 'broken solar panel' but there's no venue for these things.

[CathyA]

I always have this problem.........do I give something away and then they just throw it into the earth? ....or do I just recycle it?
I just got rid of tons of hardly used metal bands for canning jars. In retrospect, I should have taken them to Goodwill, but instead took them to a metal recycling place. Got 1.00 for them. :(
I regret it now, but in my huge cleanout, I just couldn't make perfect decisions all the time. Even if someone eventually threw them out, at least they are biodegradable. But I was getting pretty overwhelmed by trying to find the perfect home for everything, and thinking of the earth too.

[pinkytoe]

There is a small shelf unit in our garage with a row of DH's old tennies and hiking boots - there must be about six pairs.
I always ask him why he saves them once they are worn out and he says they make good lawn mowing shoes. I guess one pair of lawn-mowing shoes is not enough.
Always makes me laugh!

[catherine]

There is a small shelf unit in our garage with a row of DH's old tennies and hiking boots - there must be about six pairs.
I always ask him why he saves them once they are worn out and he says they make good lawn mowing shoes. I guess one pair of lawn-mowing shoes is not enough.
Always makes me laugh!

haha. Same thing with my DH. He had probably 30 golf shirts. 20 of them are stained and unwearable, but he keeps them for when he has to work under the car. I keep asking him, how often is he under the car? Won't a couple of old shirts do?

[Sagewoman]

HaHa, Catherine and Pinkytoe. That's hilarious. Just like I have favorite clothes that I wear all the time, I have favorite paint/diy and gardening clothes. It's kind of funny, but when I put them on it feels right. I do have a pair of odd colored pants for painting that I never wear and another khaki pair that I wear all the time with different colors paint. Think I'll get rid of the pair I've never used since it's in decent shape and someone might love that color.

[Miss Cellane]

There is a small shelf unit in our garage with a row of DH's old tennies and hiking boots - there must be about six pairs.
I always ask him why he saves them once they are worn out and he says they make good lawn mowing shoes. I guess one pair of lawn-mowing shoes is not enough.
Always makes me laugh!

My brother, then a bachelor, once had 15 pairs of running shoes lined up on the wall in his living room. When I questioned him about them, I was introduced to the dirt running shoes, the mud shoes, the rain shoes, the track shoes, the grass shoes. He had a reason for them all. Then I discovered three more pairs in his closet--those were the worn-out, hacking around the house shoes.

At the time, I owned my work shoes and a pair of sneakers and my winter boots.

[creaker]

I have a Nikon camera I replaced. It has a "hot pixel" which leaves a red line in some (not all) photos - otherwise it works fine, so I haven't wanted to just throw it out, even though it is defective. Still trying to figure what to do with it, though.

[CathyA]

creaker........can you call a photo business and find out if it's repairable? And if not........can they recycle it for you?

[Sagewoman]

My brother, then a bachelor, once had 15 pairs of running shoes lined up on the wall in his living room. When I questioned him about them, I was introduced to the dirt running shoes, the mud shoes, the rain shoes, the track shoes, the grass shoes. He had a reason for them all. Then I discovered three more pairs in his closet--those were the worn-out, hacking around the house shoes.

At the time, I owned my work shoes and a pair of sneakers and my winter boots.

Also funny story! They do say your shoes last longer if you change them off frequently, but that's going overboard.

I'm glad I went to a very simple color scheme with my clothing. That way I just need brown shoes and black shoes (for my job) depending on what color pants I wear. I buy men's running shoes for non-work because I wear a large size and have more selection in the men's section. They don't have all the crazy colors but just nice neutral colors usually. I've had women stop me asking where I got them because they hate all those colors that mismatch with their clothes. The sellers sell more shoes I'm sure because most people don't like orange shoes with a purple shirt, etc. But women end up with too many shoes that way. This forum had great threads on paring down your wardrobe based on color, lengths, etc. to look much better and I followed that advice. It was a classic thread!

[mschrisgo2]

For most of a year recently, I supported myself and my 2 dogs on the income from helping people declutter. The number 1 source of clutter was the boxes the new things came in (When and Why did people start saving the boxes?!) and the second category was the old things themselves. What I discovered after having many conversations regarding the Why? is that the original items were better made and had more features! It seemed that, somehow, by keeping them, maybe those features and that quality would morph into the newly acquired replacement object... really, a better strategy would have been shopping the local Goodwill or Salvation Army or Cancer Society Thrift store before the Best Buy or Costco or WalMart.

We have several businesses here that truly recycle, as in taking parts from several similar items and making one functional item, or assembling piles of parts that go to the local vocational school for students to tinker with. So I would load up my car and deliver them there!

My clients were so happy not to have to pay a dump fee that I usually got that amount as a bonus :) In fact, that became my marketing tagline: I'll declutter your space without incurring a dump fee. In the entire year, I only went to the dump once.

[Sagewoman]

The number 1 source of clutter was the boxes the new things came in (When and Why did people start saving the boxes?!)

People save the boxes because things break so frequently when new and you have to have the box to return it. But you don't want it in your kitchen (or wherever the item is) so you throw in it a storage space. Not that easy to keep track of when you bought the item and when to throw away the box if you are busy with jobs kids school life etc.

[SteveinMN]

(When and Why did people start saving the boxes?!)
For people who buy something (mobile phone, collectible tchochke, etc.) planning to sell it eventually (for a newer mobile phone, different set of collectibles, etc.), having the original packing adds to the resale value of the item. And it's not like they eat bread while they repose in the basement/attic.

[RosieTR]

Thanks for the suggestions. I already have an old pair of hiking boots for gardening (these are snow boots that I replaced) so I think I will pitch them. The gash in the side is pretty big, so wouldn't work that well for a hand-me-down I think.
As for the swimsuit- I could keep it as a backup, though it would be at least a 2nd or third backup since I have previous suits in somewhat better shape (just stretched out). Fixing it takes time which starts to feel like it's not worth it....a $50 swim suit that lasts 3 years, do I really want to fiddle with trying to sew it (not good with the sewing machine so would take me at least 2 hr) and then have it last 6 mo more, *then* get one? That is, if it re-fails OK rather than an embarrassing blowout at the pool. $50/3 yrs=$1.40 per month, so even 2 hrs for 6x$1.40=$8.40 saved, far less than minimum wage with a suit that could catastrophically blow any time. Hmmm, not fixing it. Into the trash it goes with the boots.

[Sagewoman]

Ha! If it was still stretchy, I'd cut it up for tomato (and other plant) ties. I'm always running out of good ones. I used to buy pantyhose at the thrift shop, but not so many of these anymore.