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I usually clean out my closets every few months. But I have not done it in over a year now and the clutter is taking over.

I'm on a mission this weekend to get rid of things I don't need or use, and also to clean my apartment from top to bottom. (literally! last night I was on a step stool cleaning the top of the fridge)

I think a lot of people who rent move around so much their apartments manage to stay clean. I've been in my place over 5.5 years. The dust bunnies have found many places to hide in that time.

This morning I was tackling the many bookshelves lining my living room walls. OMFG why do I own so many books? I never read them. The books are all covered in dust! I have weeded out 2/3 of them already.

I really should stop buying books and start using the library.

Do you have a used bookstore nearby that trades in books?

Yes! And I have 3 grocery bags of books that are going to be sold to the used bookstore.

We do a revolving trade so you can bring in your books and get trade in credit for other books in the store and then when you are done with those you bring them back and get more, etc.

Good way to keep your shelves low but then if you find a keeper you don't have to turn it back in.

Sounds like you are doing a good job. I'm into the minimalism thing now and simplifying. Luckily I just moved into my home, and before I packed, I had a yard sale and got rid of lots of things. Then when I moved I got rid of more. Donated lots of stuff - a whole van full to Mexico. Friends drove it down there and gave it away.

It feels great!

I'm a book person too. Did manage to get rid of a couple hundred books at the garage sale, but still have several hundred that I'm having a hard time selling.

And I don't read them, but love them anyway.

This morning I was tackling the many bookshelves lining my living room walls. OMFG why do I own so many books? I never read them. The books are all covered in dust! I have weeded out 2/3 of them already.

I really should stop buying books and start using the library.

This is why I ended up buying an ebook reader. I was being SWAMPED with books.

I have a few book series that I follow and I have them all in hardcover. Those will be the only books surviving my move at the end of the year. All others will be donated.

Bluelady- I plan on buying a Kindle sometime next year. That's making the book purge a lot easier.

I have the contents of my large storage closet spread all over my living room right now.

OMG it looks like my apartment exploded right now. The plan was to take everything out and sort through it as I put things away.

Why do I have so much stuff? If I ever move out of here it's gonna be such a pain.

library

card

DCK - just say no to the kindle and yes to the library card! Hennepin county has a decent library system, use it!

Boo Kindle, BOO BOO!!!

That said, congrats on the purge. When we started getting the house ready to sell we filled up dumpster after dumpster. And I was absolutely brutal in going through my stuff. It was very liberating.

I really need to do this. I started with my closet last year, so it's not too bad. But the rest of the house and the garage = . It's bad. But still, the books will be the last to go.

It will feel soooo good when you're done.

I just tackled my office and garage and it took me 4 days. There was so much crapola! It was very liberating once completed, however. Felt good.

Any tips for closets? I have a tough time weeding out my clothes. Can't bear to part with stuff. I've tried to abide by the rule of "if you haven't worn it in 6 months, then get rid of it," but then I rationalize well six months ago I was wearing wool sweaters and boots, can't get rid of it now, may need it in another 6 months!

I'm drowning in clothes... those that are too big, too small, just need a tuck if I ever pull out the sewing machine... you get the drift.

I used to be realy good about purging my belongings. I did it every 6 months. But it's now been over a year and it totally shows. The closets were brimming with junk.

I just found out my sister is doing a garage sale next month, too. (with all the proceeds going to a suicide prevention charity) so this is a great time for me to get rid of things.

Gibbons- I go through my wardrobe every 3 months and purge. The closet where I keep my clothes is not very big. And I have no storage locker so everything has to fit in my apartment. I have a large and eclectic wardrobe, too.

When it comes to everyday stuff I am pretty brutal and tend to go by the 6 month rule. If you have held onto a mend item for more than 6 months and have not mended it, toss it. Specialty items like heavy wool sweaters or cocktail dresses are different, though. I hold onto nice dresses for a while. You might only wear a cocktail dress once or twice a year and you're not gonna wear the same one every time. It's nice to have a rotation. You just can't accumulate more sweaters, suits or dresses than you have room for. So if you have ONE box for sweaters then that's all the sweaters you get to have. If you buy a new one, chuck an older one.

My friends and I have frequent clothing swaps, so while the other clutter piles up, the clothes don't really. It forces me to go through my wardrobe often.

I just did this with my kitchen cupboards...there was stuff in there that I hadn't used in years! I put it all in a box, asked my son and his girlfriend who live in a house with a bunch of friends if they would like it...they took 90% of it...always use stuff like that...

I then moved on to my shelf where I had a huge selection of wine glasses and such...pared them down to a managable number (I haven't used a "sherry" glass in years....lol)...took them to the local Salvation Army Store..they were glad to take them to sell (all were in good shape)...

You've gotta do it from time to time...think I'll tackle my drawers next..just bought some new t-shirts (on end of summer sale) and know that there are a bunch that are ready to go....

The piles are starting to slowly disappear. Yay!!!

But there is dust everywhere, now. Can't wait to get stuff put away so I can really get this place clean.

You would be at the part of the process now where I typically give up and evrything looks much worse even though I've been cleaning for hours

Keep at it .. you'll love the results. I was a book fanatic for years, but the new rule is if there is no shelf room then something has to go before anything comes in. It works better that way for me.

I need your motivation! I am trying to convince myself to finish unpacking the new house tonight after work, since the boys are with XH. All I really want to do is veg, though, which I can't. I REALLY NEED to get it all accomplished before work tomorrow. Send some of your mojo my way if you could.

I kinda wanted to give up about 2 hours ago. Now that I have bagged up all the stuff that I am giving away or selling, it's a little better.

So far I've filled 5 trash bags of stuff that's being tossed out, and 8 paper grocery sacks of books and garage sale items. WOW!

Go Kitty Go!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

And I always remove the bags from the house - put them in the car or somewhere that I'm not tempted to change my mind.

I don't have a car, so the stuff is gonna have to sit here until I can take it elsewhere.

I already emailed a friend about a trip to the used bookstore, so hopefully that will happen soon.