I recently went down the street to do my laundry. I had an embarrassingly large amount of dirty clothes but only a little larger than normal. I'm ashamed to say that it took me two trips to take two very large bags of my clothes to wash. I hoped that anyone who saw me would just think that I was doing laundry for a family of six.
So, I chose one of the Mega washers. That's what it says, "Mega." It says it is good for rugs and comforters. But I can get something like four loads in it. And then for the rest, I chose the large, which holds like three normal loads. By the way, I don't sort. I just throw everything in and hope for the best.
I couldn't help but notice three young Mexican men, boys really, come in. They each had a pillowcase with their dirty clothes and their pillowcases weren't bulging at the seams like my laundry bag was. Their "laundry bags" were only about half full. These guys were obviously laborers like most of the immigrants in my neighborhood. So, they proceeded to choose one of the small "1 load" washers and put their clothes in it. I mean the three of them put all of their clothes in one small washer!
If these guys are like most immigrants I've met, they work six days a week. So I'm quite sure they were doing their weekly laundry.
I'm embarrassed and ashamed. I have way too many clothes. I'm reminded of my friend who went to India to preach. They were in a village and a large number of people decided to be baptized in the evening. But it was cold and they couldn't baptize the people that night because the only had one thing to wear. One thing. They only thing they had to wear was what they had on their backs.
Okay, I'm getting rid of stuff. I should have done this before I moved two months ago. Well, I started a little. I threw away 15 pairs of underwear. They weren't ratty or torn. But I realized I can go 50 days without washing underwear. That must be criminal.
Any hints on how to decide what to get rid of are welcome.
16 comments:
I love it Marty! I can't wait to read the book. I would definitely start downsizing and stop shopping so much. You should give your things away to an organization that serves immigrants/refugees and not to Goodwill. If you need any good ideas. I have some contacts.
It's genetic! I have the same problem. I have boxes that I have moved now for 18 years. I start to go through them; the memories flood in my mind; and I stuff the lid back on for another day. When I began teaching, I realized I have clothes hanging in the clost that are older than my students. Momentos of days gone by and many pounds ago. Perhaps I should buy a beautiful, expensive outfit with the future hope of a dashing prince taking me to the ball and let go of the past and all the outfits that go with it. The good news is that I have aged to the point that I can ebay many items as "vintage"...lol Anyone need a 1981 prom dress, size 11? LOL The dress certainly lasted longer than the cinderella experience of the prom, and I never heard from that guy again! Perhaps we should do a "Trading Closets" episode and help each other out!!
That not including the 2 drawers of "your drawers" at your mom's in Indiana!!!!!! LOL
OK, here is a practical plan that I can tell you I have been following pretty well for several years and the end experience is very freeing.
Go through your closet and if it hasn't been on your back in the past 6 months - it goes....no cheating.
Do that at least once a month for a few months because you will cheat.
Once you get down to what you actually wear, live by the rule that if you buy something new, something goes. This part is pretty hard but what I find is that I don't buy so many new things anymore unless I really want it.
Your mom will validate that I really did this because she went through all of the bags before they went to Goodwill.
So happy cleaning and I promise you if you do this you will feel great.
Got to go read that book that I am 20 chapters behind on:)
Mary Jo
OK, here is a plan that I live by and it works. The end result is that you free yourself from clutter and stuff. It feels great.
First, go through your closet and if it hasn't been on your back in 6 months - it goes - NO CHEATING.
Now do this for several months because you will cheat.
Once you have accomplished this, my second rule is if you buy something new, something goes out of your closet. It really does work and it has stopped me from buying so many new things. I really think twice before I make a purchase.
Happy cleaning and I promise you will free great when you are done.
It has taken me a few years to get down to one closet and a couple drawers of clothes and the truth is I wear things that really suit me now.
Ask your Mom as she got to go through all of my bags before they went to Goodwill and there were some treasures in there.
So go at and let me know how you progress.
In Africa there was one instance where some of buddies there (Alphonce's teenage sons) got a glimpse inside our hotel room and saw all the "stuff." It was just what we brought for our two weeks there, but they thought we had brought everything we owned and were floored by all the clothes...I'm sure you've had similar experiences in all your travels, but that moment was a significant one for me.
btw...I'm glad you are blogging!
Marty
Maybe this works!
Marty! Marty! Marty! Sort your laundry! One thing I DOUBT you have too many of is socks. This was a fun read. I laughed out loud! As for getting rid of your clothes, is regifting out of the question? From your Rushville Pal. "Hi" to your sis.
I am with Monica it is definately gentic. My issue now is toys. The hard thing with that is you have to go through them at night, because as difficult as it is for an adult to get rid of stuff... it is more traumatic for a 4 or 5 year old. I will bring stuff out to sale at a garage sale that they had when they were babies and they want to play with it...go figure.
I am sure there is no loss of wonderful charitable places to donate too, but I love Mary Jo's ideas of how to go through things. I will have to share with my husband, he still has and wears his izod sweaters from the early
90's......I know. I know. Were those even in style then? My husband has always marched to his own beat. Got love him!
Love ya! You sis- Jen
Hey Marty, maybe after you figure out what you're getting rid of, you could start putting pairs of stuff in bags (Shirt, pants, socks, underwear) and take one out with you each day and give them to a homeless person or one of the migrant workers.
I sat on a murder trial a few years ago. It is very hard to stay focused, not like on TV with Law and Order, but it is a good experience that makes you glad you are an American Citizen.
Celebrate underwear!
Your obsession has made you a one-man economic stimulus package.
Look at the people you have employed...the cotton growers, the textile workers, the sewing machine operators in a third-world country, the clerks at Wal-Mart…or maybe in your case, Saks Fifth Ave. Even the obscene rate of NY sales tax you have paid has gone to help the unemployed.
And...everyone knows laundering 50 pairs at once is more environmentally friendly than doing smaller loads. You may be saving us all from global warming.
Enough with the guilt. Tear down your closets and build bigger ones.
My sweet Marty
I can get you Kinder-eggs whenever you want:) Aren't they great?
Hey Marty, You could look at it this way - you already have all the clothes you need for the rest of your life, so just keep everything you have until it wears out and don't buy anything else. You'll be in style every 20 years or so. ; )
Marty, I laughed out loud several times while reading your blog. I must agree with Monica. It must be a familial trait as your elder sibling has probably still got "unmetionables" with his name written in them from college days!!
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