You have certainly been hitting the floor running every week with our different challenges, so this week let’s tackle those rugs and floor mats both inside and out.
So how do we decide what stays and what goes?
To help with the decision making, ask yourself the following:
- Do I use it? Has it been in storage for months or years?
- How many do I have, need and use?
- Does it fulfil the function it was purchased for?
- Is it past its useful life?
Put everything aside that no longer has a useful purpose or home in your home.
If you need a refresher to assist you in making the decisions, revisit the criteria you created during Week 1 of our challenge and give yourself a limit (be it a number or a physical space). If you are new to the challenge, you can see our Week 1 post here.
What do I do with the keepers?
The first response to this question, is to use it of course.
If they must go into storage, always roll them or store them flat – never fold them. Also store them off the ground in a cool, dry, dark environment so they are less likely to be impacted by water, sun damage, mildew and bugs that live on the floor. If it is stored for a lengthy period, it is worth unrolling it and checking it every month or two.
Area rugs can be quite heavy and take up a lot of space in your storage area so make sure that you have a definite future purpose for it (in the short term).
For more tips on storage, see this great blog from lifestorage.com.
What do I do with the ones that no longer have a purpose for me?
If rug or mat is threadbare, stained beyond repair or been well-loved and is no longer fit for purpose they are just taking up valuable space in your home and need to go in the bin.
If they are still in good condition but no longer have a purpose in your home, you can also consider some of these sell/swap and donation options.
I know that there is at least one request currently on the fantastic GIVIT website for a floor rug if you can assist with a donation?
- Sell or Swap:
- Swap with your friends or family.
- Gumtree
- Facebook Marketplace or any of the myriad of Buy/Swap/Sell groups
- Garage Sale
- Donate/Gift options:
- GIVIT
- Freecycle
- Ziilch
- Trash Nothing!
- Green Shed (Mitchell or Mugga Lane)
- Let’s Recycle Canberra (Hume)
- Your local “Buy Nothing” group on Facebook.
How did you go? Feel free to share your successes, challenges and tips on our Facebook page.
Happy decluttering!
Melissa x