WWYD -- decluttering, organizing clothes and toys

[bluebunny]

I finally have gotten around to going through my closet. I have two big bins of maternity clothes but most are spring/summer. I called the local consignment shop and they are taking fall clothes now.

Would you:
a) put the bins in the attic until they accept spring clothes (Feb?)
b) donate
c) other

Also, I have gone through the toys and have a few boxes that I have stashed in the attic. How long should I keep them before donating? My DD did ask about something that I put up there a few months ago so I brought it back out.

ETA: If it matters, we don't "need" the money from consigning but it sure would be nice!

[SleeplessMommy]

donate! you need the space :-)

[mumkimum]

Ditto on donate.

I mean, you could do craigslist (or similar) or look around for a clothing swap of some kind, but if you don't get to it within the next month or so just let them go (or whatever's left then) - someone who wants them will still find them. Same for the toys.

[Ruthla]

Are you planning to have more kids? If so, you may want those clothes again. Also, if you definitely DON'T want more kids, you might want to hang onto them as birth control. It seems that many women get accidentally pg as soon as they give away the baby stuff!

Do you have enough comfortable attic space to store the clothes until Feb? Is there a good chance you'll forget about it next Feb and find them again next summer? If you can get the clothes out of your "living space" now, and you're organized enough to deal with them properly next winter, then it may be worth the extra hassle to get some cash. But if you think you'll forget to take care of it, or if you really don't have the space or you want the space for something else, then rehome the clothes now.

Superstition aside, if you're sure you want the clothes out of there, then go ahead and donate to a thrift (not consigmnent) store, offer them on Freecycle, or try to sell the whole lot on Craigslist. I'm sure there are women needing summer maternity clothes NOW, especially if they suddenly find themselves needing maternity or if they outgrew their maternity clothes already.

For the toys, I'd keep them a minimum of 3 months, preferably 6, if you have the space to store them (it sounds like you do) and you still have little kids who might ask for them. This is worth it even if you have to "make the space" to store the toys you want to give away, until the kids are all big enough to donate their own toys without much drama.

[Alyantavid]

I'd wait, but in the meantime, I'd list them on craigslist or somewhere to see if you get any takers.

[sunshineafterrain]

I would just donate it all now, while you are in the mode

Then for future reference, keep in mind that the consignment store is a season ahead

Good luck!

[L J]

I think if you have the space to keep the clothes until the consignment store is taking that season, then you should keep them and take them then. If they are in the attic and not bothing you or taking up living space, and you don't think you'll lose steam and keep them around by the time the consignment store will take them, then just let them sit.

As for the toys, I think 3 months is a good rule of thumb for the things you are unsure about. Surely, if your DC don't inquire about something in a 3 month period, they don't really love it. Even if they ask about it after 3 months, it doesn't mean they loved it or would even play with it then - it is probably at that point just a passing thought.

[Om Girl]

I'd donate the maternity wear to a local women's shelter!
Same for the toys that you absolutely know that your kids won't miss...

[echospiritwarrior]

donate, consignment is just not worth it on the sellers part! I passed on all my maternity clothes after my last preg and even though I'm starting to look around for maternity tops again I'm relieved since after wearing the same stuff through two pregnancies I am ready for a couple of new (to me) things...

[bluebunny]

Thanks for the replies. I took all my fall/winter maternity, which ended up being 30 pieces (much more than I thought!), to the consignment store. The store donates them if they don't sell within four months. Then I took three boxes of children's clothes and books/toys that I knew my children wouldn't miss to donation places.

I have one bin of spring/summer maternity and one box of toys that I am going to put in my attic.

Thank you!