r/declutter • u/letmepolltheaudience • 17h ago
Motivation Tips&Tricks Cleaning out my closet with Mom and…
I’ve held onto this ugly pastel pink fleece sweater that is a size too large and has an ugly mock turtleneck for years because 1) cozy and 2) from my mother.
But I rarely wear it and would never want to be caught dead in it. Like, I wouldn’t even wear it to the hospital if I was sick.
Mom is visiting for the holidays and I am working on cleaning out my closet. I held the sweater up as an example of something I’ve had a hard time declutterring.
Mom: “Ew! Get rid of that, it’s so ugly.” Me: “Well, I only held onto it because you gave it to me!”
Just a friendly reminder that even if someone gifted you something and you held onto it for sentimental value… Even the giver might want you to get rid of that crap at this point!!
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u/Katdai2 10h ago
“Would I wear this to the hospital while sick” is going to be my new yard stick to get rid of stuff. I can already think of several things that fail that test that I’ll be getting rid of this weekend.
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u/letmepolltheaudience 9h ago
“Would I want to be found dead in this pair of underwear” is also on my checklist lol
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u/Few_Projects477 17h ago
So true. I remember my mom was cleaning and putting away decorations after Christmas one year and my aunt was over and asked my mom why she kept such ugly ornaments. My mom said "But you gave those to me!"
Aunt responded with: "I'm sure they were nice twenty years ago when I gave them to you. Now they're junk. You don't have to cherish that stuff forever!"
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u/CheckHelpful2665 15h ago
This is going on my whiteboard next to “it’s a great piece, but it’s just not for me”
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u/mygirlwednesday7 16h ago
Oh! I love that sentiment! “You don’t have to cherish that stuff forever.” I think im going to repeat this over and over again when I declutter. Thank you!
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u/More_Bicycle_30 12h ago
See, this is where stuff gets hilarious. We hold onto things thinking we’re doing it out of respect, and then our parents look at it like it deserves to be set on fire. Hey, I get it, we all cling to hideous, oversized flea market finds because of that warm, sentimental glow or whatever. But then you realize even your mom thinks it's junk. It's like finding out your parents actually liked it when you finally moved out. Let's face it, if even the giver is like, "yikes, dude," it's time to toss that hot mess and make room for stuff you actually want to wear outside of a zombie apocalypse.
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u/CantTakeTheIdiocy 17h ago
So true! I gave some cute things this year but mainly to hide money in them and I let the recipients know that they could regift the items and it would be fine with me. I want my friends and family to be happy with what they get from me and if it makes them happiest to regift to not have the clutter, so be it!
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u/rockrobst 12h ago
This memorializing of old clothes is why we need help. Thank you for the reality check.
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u/slippygumband 5h ago
My mom insists on bringing me things from my childhood every time she visits, telling me that she's trying to declutter. I've told her, "if you no longer want it in your house, I also do not want it in mine." Take a picture, text it to me if you think I need to see it one last time, and throw it the hell out. I am way less sentimental and nostalgic than she is, and that reminds me I have a stack of newspaper clippings and high-school art from the 90s she brought me that I have to throw out.
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u/TheSilverNail 16h ago
My litmus test is, "Would I want to run into an ex while wearing this?" If the answer is no (it's usually H*** no!!!), then I donate.