Continuing on from last week we are still in the kitchen and it’s time to review all of your coffee and tea cups and drinking glasses (including those for wine and spirits).
So how do we decide what stays and what goes?
If you need a refresher, revisit the criteria you created during Week 1 of our challenge to assist you in making decisions about your cutlery and kitchen utensils and give yourself a limit. If you are new to the challenge, you can see our Week 1 post here.
Consider your lifestyle and ask yourself the following questions:
- How many people live in your home?
- How often do you host groups of people? How many people?
- What sort of drinks do we tend to serve?
- When was the last time I used these items?
- How frequently are they all used? Yes, each individual item or set.
- How many can we fit in the dishwasher? Are they even dishwasher proof if that is something that is important to you?
What do I do with the keepers?
They definitely all need homes, and ones that minimise the chance for damage and enable them to be accessed easily when they are needed.
In the main, we all store our cups and glasses in the kitchen and in the upper cupboards. That’s all well and good, but what about those glasses at the back that you can’t reach, or that are never used because the ones at the front are in constant rotation? This could actually provide you with a hint as to how many you actually use.
It is good practice to store things near to where they are used. This means they are in easy reach but more importantly, we are more likely to return them to their home when we are done.
For items of a sentimental nature that you don’t wish to use regularly, find a spot on a shelf or in a display cabinet, or depending upon what the item is you may be able to frame it.
What do I do with the ones that no longer have a purpose for me?
If they are broken, cracked, irreparably stained, or chipped, they need to go as they are no longer foodsafe.
If they are still in good condition but no longer have a purpose in your home, here are some sell/swap and donation options.
- Sell or Swap:
o Swap with your friends or family.
o Gumtree
o Facebook Marketplace or any of the myriad of Buy/Swap/Sell groups
o Ebay
o Garage Sale
o Some high quality or vintage pieces may be of interest to second hand dealers.
- Donate options:
o Charity shops such as the Salvos or Vinnies
o Green Shed (Mitchell or Mugga Lane)
o Let’s Recycle Canberra (Hume)
o Your local community organisation or church – they may like some for community morning teas and events
How did you go? Feel free to share your successes, challenges and tips on our Facebook page.
Happy decluttering!
Melissa x