Pretty, isn't it? Like my own personal rainbow in my closet. Well it's making me blue. In my pursuit to live a simpler life I have been slowly ridding our household of unnecessary, unused items. I feel another purge coming on!
Let's face it, I have way more clothes than one human could need. Three closets, in fact. Two for clothes - one for shoes and out of season clothes. Plus, a large nine drawer dresser full.
There was a time when I actually used all of these. Honest! Six years managing a store in the mall, it was a requirement of the job. Tisk, tisk. All that money wrapped up in clothes. Makes me feel foolish now. These days, I would say I wear MAYBE 25% of my current wardrobe. So it has got to go.
But, where?
Reduce, Reuse, Recycle.
Reduce
I am not big on garage sales, but I have quite a stockpile of purged items in the garage waiting for a new home, so it is an option. The Salvation Army and Goodwill have been recipients of my previous purges.
Reuse
Most of it is good quality in good shape. However, the few pieces that are past their prime I'm thinking of re-purposing into something new. A reusable shopping bag perhaps? Maybe some dinner napkins? Tablecloth? I am up for any suggestions you may have. What have you turned your old clothes or scrap fabric into? Found an alternative use for them? Let's hear it.
Recycle
RecycleI have done some digging and textile recycling is few and far between. I know old denim can be recycled into a green insulation, but how do we get the denim there? Patagonia will take back some of there used apparel for recycling. But what if you didn't buy it there? Then what?
U'SAgain is a textile recycling company with a few locations throughout the US. Since none of these are near me I have a few other ideas to pursue first.
Freecycle is a free local forum where members list items they would like to part with - for FREE! You can post items you want to give away, plus items you are looking for. Need a new TV? Get one for free! There is probably one in your area. Type your location in the search box and start riding that Freecycle.
Rehash is another free website where you can trade clothing, accessories, and books with others online. You post what you have to get rid of, peruse the other listings, find something you like and offer to swap.
I don't have any friends, so a swap party is out. Or, is it? Hell, maybe I will host an online swap on my blog. Up for grabs one like new blouse size 4, will trade for??? Books? Homemade jam? Sewing pattern? I'm open. Any takers?
U'SAgain is a textile recycling company with a few locations throughout the US. Since none of these are near me I have a few other ideas to pursue first.
Freecycle is a free local forum where members list items they would like to part with - for FREE! You can post items you want to give away, plus items you are looking for. Need a new TV? Get one for free! There is probably one in your area. Type your location in the search box and start riding that Freecycle.
Rehash is another free website where you can trade clothing, accessories, and books with others online. You post what you have to get rid of, peruse the other listings, find something you like and offer to swap.
I don't have any friends, so a swap party is out. Or, is it? Hell, maybe I will host an online swap on my blog. Up for grabs one like new blouse size 4, will trade for??? Books? Homemade jam? Sewing pattern? I'm open. Any takers?
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