The Clutter Fairy Weekly Survey #236 Results
How Many Is Too Many, and Why?
Below are the results of our survey released in preparation for episode #236 of The Clutter Fairy Weekly. If you haven’t already done so, please take the survey.
Responses
To view the complete, detailed survey response from any respondent, click on their name (or “Anonymous user”) in the table below. You may also find it easier to read long responses in the detailed view.
| Name (click to view full survey response and comments) | Describe a collection or category of items in your home that you’re worried might have crossed over into “too many” or “too much.” | For the category or collection described above, what factor(s) contribute to your assessment of the stash as excessive? | For the category or collection described previously, what would you consider a reasonable limit? | Describe something that you keep in your space because it reminds you of a better time in your life or a fond memory. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Suzanne | Definitely art supplies. A lot of aspirational extra paint colours and painting gadgets all purchased after I had taken up painting but had already stopped. And drawing supplies as well. And art books on the cheap. And all of these have ended up somewhere in the house. | I’ve stopped practicing all hobbies and taken up half-hearted puttering and decluttering as a sometimes hobby. I sometimes want to start reaching for them or suddenly want to draw and I can’t. | Reasonable should have been to stick with acquiring just basic supplies and to use them while learning and discovering if I actually wanted to continue. Result was as I acquired supplies I, in equal measures, stopped practicing and enjoying art. | Can’t think of anything - whatever I’m aware of having I still love or still believe it has a place in my future. |
| Anita | Socks! I now have four clear plastic shoeboxes of socks, divided by type-low cut for summer so they don’t show when I’m wearing sneakers, ankle socks for every day, knee socks, and very warm socks for winter, so specific to matching particular pairs of slacks (tan, blue, red, wine, etc.) and then there are the holiday socks: Christmas, New Year’s Halloween Valentine’s Day, St. Patrick’s Day pride day, and miscellaneous flamingo socks. Those hide in a larger box under my bed along with seasonal tops. Every time I think I’m going to get rid of them, I feel like I really need a certain amount of each type although I don’t really know what that number is. | There isn’t any more room on my shelves for these plastic shoeboxes. I’ve tried taking the out of season ones like only for summer and warm weather, and whatever holiday is coming up and stashing them elsewhere, but there are still too many socks! | Maybe thinking about it by seasons, e.g., to include black-and-white, exercise, and no show socks to wear with dress flats. No more than two boxes of socks for summer. Winter is a whole other story, and I can’t even.! | I still have VHS tapes and a player because there are family memories, there, and particular movies that make me laugh when I just look at the case, sitting on the shelf. I never play any of these and I have cut way back on the total number, but it does seem rather silly to keep something like the movie “Harvey“ about a man who talks to a large imaginary rabbit. I have to remember that everything is available online now, pretty much. If I really really really want something I could go in and buy it and store it digitally. My digital storage, which is ridiculous is another story. |
| Ginger | I’ve had to think hard about this. FODDER for ART JUNK JOURNALS. ▪️This hobby can be so bad for clutter - everything looks like it has potential. Junk mail, envelopes, cardboard, packaging, labels, paper bags, that brown craft paper stuffing in Amazon boxes, tissue paper especially if it has a design on it, postage stamps, magazines, etc. | ▪️I keep a whole house inventory. Looking it over - I’ve done good to reduce almost everything. And, I have a routine/habit to continue that process. ▪️BUT - I haven’t updated the inventory of CRAFT SUPPLIES. I’ve enjoyed many crafts. I’m not ready to give up on them yet. The supplies are (almost) all stored in one closet. Items are organized with like items together. ▪️PROBLEM: I’ve stuffed the closet with non-craft supplies in a few dash & stash episodes. So, some of MY SUPPLIES IS BURIED. Specifically - FODDER for making art JUNK JOURNALS. | ▪️I was doing good with a container method. But, those containers got buried. ▪️A reasonable limit: I use 2 Project Organizers. Spiral bound letter-size (10” x 12”) project organizers each with 24 pockets and 12 dividers. When I tackled the problem before - I bought these and said - I could only keep it if it fit in these organizers and didn't fall out when I held it by it’s rings. These fit on a shelf and we’re easily accessible until I buried them. | I have a few of these. One item is a pretty blue swirl glass vase. I took a picture of it and wrote a story about it. The photo and story are in a private FB album titled: Memory Book of Bygone Things. ▪️I’ll share the story: See this pretty little vase? My ex-mother-in-law gave it to me in 1979. She bought it on a trip back to her old home place in Tennessee. She had a green vase just like it. I loved my mother-in-law. (And father-in-law.) She was a strong women. Petite. When I divorced her son it pained me to never be able to visit with her again. After the divorce I used to call her home just to hear her voice. I wouldn’t talk. I just wanted to hear her voice then i would hang up. (This was just before caller ID.) I finally got past the need to hear her voice. I moved on. Well... a part of me moved on. I still have the vase. It doesn’t fit in with any of my decor. It’s been on the top of my open kitchen cabinets gathering greasy dust until i took it down, cleaned and moved it to my bedroom windowsill - hidden behind a curtain. Like a secret. I should really let this go. Or, get it out and use it with sweet memories of a beautiful relationship I once had with the giver. |
| Bluenose Brenda | Mid-century modern stainless steel serving dishes | Can'r access the dishes I need easily and the collection is in different containers in different places | I would like the collection to be organized, easily accessible, and preferably in one of two places - one spot for every day use items and another spot for longer term storage. | A collection of handmade throws, bed covers, baby blankets and aged hand quilted bed covers - most now never used. |
| Jean | I seem to have many watches! And I have not worn one nor purchased one in 25 years. | I don’t know what to do with them! None are telling me what time it is. | One. One seems just fine. | Pictures my granddaughter drew and colored. |
| Catherine | Quilting fabric bias tape. I have more than I need for ten projects. | I feel overwhelmed by the quantity of things that I have brought into the house. | There should only be enough for the projects you have started, not aspirational supplies. If it is a dream to use up all the supplies, you need to pair it down to what you will need in the short term. | Saint's statues. I remember my Mom loving to have these around the house when she was alive. I have added to the collection when I think I have enough, but I wanted modern ones. I haven't let go of the traditional ones. |
| Pam | BOOKS | MANY ARE FIRST EDITION AND SIGNED WHICH i DON'T WANT TO DONATE. | I WOULD KEEP THEM ALL BUT FOR SPACE. WOULD LIMIT THE NUMBER TO WHAT CAN BE KEPT IN BOOKSHELVES. PERHAPS A THIRD OF THE CURRENT COLLECTION IF I COULD BEAR TO PART WITH THE OTHERS. | MOTHER'S SEWING BASKET. |
| Anonymous user | Scissors. Bought over 10 pairs without realizing I already have a lot. Books | All the scissors are now in the same place and I can see I have too many in total. For books I think I won’t like some of them | I think 6 pairs of scissors is enough. I should cut down books by half | My dogs clothing |
| Dolce | I just threw out a bunch of knives because I had too many. They were either too dull, heavy, or awkward to use. I kept going back to the same favorites so dumped the rest. Now I think I may have too many socks and fashion boots that I never wear. I may have too many coats as well. | As far as the knives go, I was trying to get quality knives that would last. But each were either too heavy or just not balanced so difficult to use. I felt a bit guilty to toss "good" knives, but they were taking up a whole drawer so I decided it was time to let them go. I also have excess boots, coats and socks that I no longer wear. All are cute and still fit, and it is fun to play dress-up, but with lifestyle changes as well as global warming and some personal summers I just can't take the heat. | I have a walk-in closet and the coats take up half the rack. Boots take all the shelves above the rack and some floor space. Socks take up more than one dresser drawer (that is if I actually put them away). I still need to wear some outerwear to work and if I am outdoors hiking or walking so can't toss everything. Some of the coats and socks feel precious as well. Although coats can be donated, socks can't mostly. I need a better way to sort my socks and I should toss any with holes or recycle as disposable rags. Not sure about the boots. They are mostly all leather higher end brands. Do I resell/consign or price/donate and take a deduction on my tax return? | My dinnerware. My teapots. My glassware. I don't use as many as I have, but I enjoy looking at it or switching it up depending on my mood or meal. Also, I don't buy more so if someone breaks I'll have backup and not be too stressed about it . |
| Charles | Starbucks cups | I’ve run out of room. My wife makes fun of me. | Don’t know | Starbucks cup |
| Mary | Probably too many Christmas ornaments. I have enough for 3 tress and rotate yearly. I have only 1 tree. Got into that buy a special ornament for each child each year for several years. Most are Hallmark. I stopped years ago but can’t part with them. My kids don’t want or need them or have the space to store them. Some don’t fit their color scheme. I have regular older ornaments too. I’m older and wiser now and should have never fallen into that trap., | I have enough space but really tired of storing something used for 1 month a year or even less because I have to rotate them. | 2 Rubbermaid containers not 4. But have I decluttered at least another bins worth over the last few years. | My mother’s Christmas village. She had these when I was a child. I kept 4 got rid of 5. Just enough to fit on 2 end tables. It’s not excessive but probably not really necessary to keep. My grandson seems to like them. Actually he enjoyed more when I had fewer. He loves Santa’s workshop. So for now they will remain. |
| Janice | Tee shirts | Many of my tee shirts are souvenirs and sentimental. One drawer and my closet have many that I never wear | Five or a maximum of ten for variety and various activities | Tee shirts |
| Brienne | Clothing! Especially "dressy clothing" (I usually keep wearing the same couple "dressy" outfits over and over, and even then don't have many opportunities to wear them). | - Run out of hanger space in my closet - Don't have opportunities to wear my fanciest clothes - Have more "dressy" (but not formal) outfits than I use - too much laundry; it's easy to put off doing laundry when I have tons of outfits, but then I have enough dirty laundry in my laundry bag to clothe an entire marching band, and it gets to be an overwhelming task | total volume of clothes should fit comfortably (not tightly) on hangers on the clothes rack in my closet, with one storage box for out-of-season clothing | I can't think of anything, but I do have some things I regret getting rid of because they reminded me of a happier time- plush toys, college acceptance letters, playbills from shows I performed in, etc |
| Ellen in W Michigan | Children's books. I've cut down to one bookcase, but realize that the chances many of them will be read again by children is slim, but I take one down sometimes to read and remember how much I enjoyed reading them together with my kids, and some even with my grandkids as well. | |||
| Katharine | Cleaning Supplies I acquired cleaning supplies at the time I worked for a company who had us clean renovations, Airbnbs, and move outs etc. Now, it’s only Airbnbs & offices, so I’m not needing so much! Yet, it’s hard to remove items since I use things just not as fast. | It’s cluttered with supplies on shelves and on the floor next to the shelves. Hard to walk through and in my mind I try to rethink solutions to fix it. I have work laundry that fills up the floor space at times too. I feel “what’s wrong with me? That I have such difficulty managing items in my home?” | Can it fit with breathing space on the shelves in an orderly manner? What’s the expiration date and can I use it on the surfaces I work on now? Space is finite & I can make decisions.. | Old sewing desk from great grandmother that was in my sister’s house. I have my own collection of sewing machines with cabinets. I’m thankful for the chance to hold it for her until she gets a new place. I remember when it was at her house with our mom’s doll and pictures of family members. So while it’s a pleasant memory, it takes up space that I’m trying to make more of.🤔 |
| Janice | Makeup and skincare | I cover an entire double vanity ( while using clear acrylic stackable containers to organize, and still have loads more. Plus backups in my closet. It's organized, I periodically declutter, but I bring in more. | Only using the vanity (with less stacking), and just a file box or two of backups in the closet. | Vases and objets I've picked up on travel, or been given by friends I once had. |
| Kathy | My pin collection | I have more pins than I can wear thru the Chistmas holiday. Also more pins that can be eorn in a calendar year. | My husband's picture of Garfield. A piece of artwork framed and warms my heart of the life we were able to spend together. | |
| Hila | Office stuff | I see that I am using a little item of the collection | I used 1 basket and need more basket to put the other that I don't use | A long coat from my mother that passed away before 8 years. It,s beautiful but doesn't comfort when I go by bus with heavy bag |
| Diane | I have too many office supplies - miss going school shopping with the kids - had to go cold turkey and stop buying that stuff I have a lot of paperwork too seems be a constant battle | I spend my time shuffling, filing or throwing away paper - it seems never ending | My files of never ending paperwork (including a separate pile and filing of paperwork for my mom) is of the current year. Prior years are organized with disposal date With tax returns and backup in separate boxes. Still overwhelmed by it. Still need to par down | Chocolate |
| Sandra | Wrapping supplies: Back in 2016 I found 141 gift bags on the shelf where I stored our wrapping supplies. Writing instruments: Recently my husband removed over 50 pens and pencils from his home office. And that's not counting all the markers and crayons from our grown children's school I individually checked in order to donate the good ones. | Frustration: The wrapping supplies were stored in one place so they could be qualified as organized, but the sheer amount of stuff was still a mess to go through every time I needed something. Time to spend on things I bought that were no longer needed: As for the writing instruments, I'll speak for myself as the former School Bag Organizer: I knew it was pointless to leave markers to dry and crayons left unused... but I still had to take the time to sort them all out. | Reasonable number: I kept only 7 gift bags after my original purge! I knew I could always go buy more as needed and I'd get the right size and style every time. Space reclaimed: I emptied the entire school supply drawer, not just the writing instrument, so I could repurpose that space that was no longer needed for the children. | Still lots of kids' artwork on display that my young adult children find excessive 🙂 |
| Anonymous user | Pictures on my phone, primarily of my cats, saved in the icloud and then uploaded to google photos. Had to increase my google storage which now costs $15-plus per month. Just haven't had time to clean out the pics. | I don't even have time to look at the saved digital pics, much less categorize and thin them out. | Not sure about the digital size but no more than $5 per month of google photos storage. | a few sentimental gifts or letters from loved ones |
| Jetta | I used to have an excessive number of shot glasses and unicorn items, but decluttered them several years ago. All I have now are three shot glasses, one unicorn figurine, and one small box with a unicorn painting on the lid. It was a relief to let them go. | The shelves they were on were too crowded, never dusted them, couldn't enjoy what I had because there were too many. | I decided to only keep what was really special or I liked or I used. It was the shot glasses with my favorite baseball team, my college alma mater, and the one from my grandfather's house. I kept the one unicorn figurine I thought was the prettiest and then unicorn box my dad gave me that is a place I keep a few sentimental jewelry pieces. | As someone who tries to be intentional with what I have in my home, I'm not sure that I have anything that I consider unnecessary or excessive. If it's something that brings me fond memories that I don't consider that unnecessary. |
| Kathy | Fabric for quilting and clothes sewing | The fabric doesn't fit in the designated shelves and cupboards in my sewing room and has spilled over into boxes in the dining room. | Using Dana K. White's "container concept," my fabric should fit in the designated storage in my sewing room. Instead, two bins are overflowing, I can't close the door on an armoire stuffed with fabric, and I probably have 2-3 extra storage cupboards that I wouldn't need if I didn't have so much fabric. I also can't walk around in the sewing room comfortably, and it's hard to work on a sewing project in there without having to go to another room to cut out patterns, etc. | I'm not very sentimental, so can't think of anything like that. I tend to keep some things because people made them for me and I don't want to hurt their feelings by getting rid of them. |
| Peggy | paperwork! | making decisions about which paperwork needs to be kept is hard for me | paper that easily fits in the allotted space I have for it is okay... but I would like less paper overall | I have an entire hope chest full of letters from my important people, some deceased |
| Jeanne | I am very minimal, but do still love my Christmas china pattern . It is just four place settings and sons like them as well. | I have a feeling of luxury when I set my holiday table. | Does not use more time than my everyday dished. Kept in my sideboard out of the way most of the year. | I love my antique Charleston Rice Bed. Speaks to me of more gracious times. |
| Evelin | shoes hairclips in every colour stickers for crafting/making cards | My husband keeps tripping over my shoes in the entryway. He says only a centipede would need this amount of shoes. My hairclips are everywhere around the house and I can't find the one in the right colour. I keep buying stickers because the ones that I have are just not quite right. | I think it's ok to keep all the shoes that I wear over the course of a year. I just have to put them away so they don't become a tripping hazard. When it comes to stickers: "Use it up, wear it out, make it do or do without", I have to use up what I have before I get new ones. | a small ceramic kitchen container for storing spices from my great-grandmother. It's probably over 100 years old. My Mom used it in her kitchen and I still display it in my kitchen. |
| Lise | Teddy bear collection (I am technically past the stuff animal age - I just love them and they need a good home.), DVD's / CD's and art/craft supplies (I want/like options). | Cluttered space/area - I feel guilty of having items and not using - saving replacements for when the current item(s) being used disintegrates. Sometimes the "backup" ends up disintegrating before I get to use it. Saving for a rainy day mentality. | I have a problem being unsure on a "limit" besides a designated space limitation. I probably still over pack the appointed space and items need room to breathe. | I have some of my great-grandmother's and godmother's Christmas ornaments in a glass apothecary on our t.v. console year round. I love looking at them but they are rather unnecessary. It just brings back memories of when I was little and great-grandma would decorate for the holiday hanging ornaments from the gold loop trim on the swag of her drapes. She made everything feel extra special with the smallest touch. |
| Carrie | None anymore, thanks to The Clutter Fairy | My kayak. If I ever kayak again, I’ll rent one at the Minneapolis lake near my house. | ||
| Faith | Handbags and tote bags. | I can use only one handbag at a time, and some of them I haven't used in years. | One emergency "go-bag." Four small handbags to change with the seasons. One medium bag for unspecified events, like meetings or appointments. | A set of pudding cups and a teapot in the Jewel Tea Autumn Leaves pattern. They remind me of my grandmother, although I bought them myself at a thrift store. |
| Lela | Maybe pets? | Pets are expensive! | For my finances and my energy level, I think one type of pet would be best. Right now I have a dog, cats, and chickens. | Knickknacks and decor from childhood. They serve no purpose other than to make me smile. |
| Susan | Worried? Not at all, but definitely crosses the line! Towels! I got married and bought towels. Then my Mom died and she had nice towels (there were 10 family members), so I kept those but kept my own as well. There are only two of us in this house, and I probably have about 20 bath towels! I just can't let them go! It's crazy! | It's obvious that two people don't need this many bath towels. My husband is smart and keeps his mouth shut. I am sentimental about some of Moms towels. She's gone, but her nice towels are here. | That's hard to say...probably two per person, and two for guests. But sometimes we have more than one guest, and we had three dogs as well. We need and use them, and I guess the volume of space would be accurate. If they merge out of the linen closet, it's time to deal with it. The dogs are deceased, so it's just the two of us now. | I do not think any memory item I have kept is unnecessary or excessive. I have trinkets that remind me of many moments of my personal life through the years. I can't see throwing away something that means a lot to me because "that's not who you are now." I have never liked that advice. Those memories are part of how I got to be who I am. They are treasures, not trash. |
| Gabriella | I own at least 40 sweaters and cardigans, nearly all of them 100% natural fibers. I used to have even more, but I let go of 15 of them in the past year. I wear most of the ones that are left and enjoy doing so. | Even with 3 seasons allowing for at least light knitwear, I'd have a hard time wearing 60 sweaters per year. I don't want to have a lot of things I don't use sitting around in my drawers and shelves. | My containers in my Berlin and Tangier homes can easily hold the sweaters I'm keeping, especially since I gave away a substantial number. I keep on curating though, because I feel that I still own more than enough. Besides, I've begun to add to the collection by using up my yarn stash knitting new ones. Transforming my yarn into sweaters does not increase the net inflow into the overall container that is my home, however. | A growing collection of sea shells, that my partner and I pick up and give to each other on our wonderful walks on the beach. It's one of our precious little rituals that we don't intend to give up. |
| Caren | Clothes and Paper! | I have a full closet but seem to wear thw same things over and over... with many clothes not being worn for years. Paper... keeps piling up and filling my environment. | Half the clothes or less... Paper... 90% gone... | A special shirt from High School (50 years ago) and my prom dress/// |
| Dawn | Scrapbooking paper & supplies | 3. Somebody gave me some of theirs. 2. I buy more at times for specific scrapbooking projects. 1. This is just one area, but the basic problem with it is that I need to both declutter non-related areas and have my photos organized so that I can, bit by bit, start to use it IN ADDITION TO 1. It's easy to not have time for it when I'm involved in other creative ventures: about 10 counted-cross stitch projects at various points. In the coming week six of them should be done. P.S. My DH fell in August, so I've been caretaking him. This has reduced the amount of time I have for creative pursuits, BUT I make sure I do creative things to keep my sanit. | 1. It can't extend beyond the space allocated for it. I have it all in one closet. 2. From what I stated in the previous question, I obviously haven't had enough time to spend in this activity, so it all sits. | I have an oval-framed portion of the photo, "End of Day." My mother had it in her bathroom, along with a rake against the wall. I have it in my office because this is where I work, even though I'm retired. I never really got the impact of the photo until about five years ago I found someone else had the complete photo on their wall, along with the title. It then became more meaningful to me, since my mother grew up on a farm. |
| C | Shoes, craft materials, hardwear(screws, nut, bolts,cables), CDS, | Am ever worrying that I might not have the right shoes, I have for 4 seasons 23 pairs, though I only wear 7 of them, mostly. DH doesn't want to have to decide which hardware to get rid of. We'll keep the CDs, though we hardly play them because they are easy to store. | Shoes: 4 per season incl. snow boots and hiking boots. Hardware: i don't know which to keep CDs: unsure, but no more new ones! | My entire collection, so unnecessery and a slight burden, but it's part of me. |
| Kim | Starbucks mugs collection | Takes up too much space in my cupboard | 20 mugs maximum | 100th Boston Marathon street banner |
| Lori | Clothing and shoes are likely my "too many" item categories. | My clothing rack and shoe racks are full. They aren't overflowing, but there isn't wiggle room, either. | I'm still seeking an answer to the question of what the reasonable limit is. I have difficulty reducing clothing and shoes since I'm a hard-to-fit person. I need tall lengths that many brands don't carry and narrow shoes that are also hard to find. It would be easier for me if I felt like I could truly replace these items if needed easily. Shopping requires hours of online searching, ordering, and inevitably managing returns. | I keep lots of art supplies as an artist and creative, even though much of my work has shifted to digital mediums. |
| Noreen | I have my Mother's collection of Willow Tree figurines. There are about 30 right now. They fit on shelf in a curio cabinet so they are not overwhelming, but I know nobody will want them when I am gone. I am trying to whittle it down slowly. | Recently had new floors put in and had to empty the curio cabinet. That made me realize how many of them I had, as well as countless other tchotchkes and crystal and china from my Mom and Grandma. I am only child and the oldest grandchild, so I ended up with the stuff. | I would think 5 figures, most likely the ones I gifted her. Other items maybe 1 bowl or 1 cup and plate, not 4 cups that are never used. | Pictures |
| Saskatchewan Jane | 100 % Wool blankets and wool coats | I keep a wool coat and blanket in my vehicle and my husbands vehicle in case it's needed. Plus, visitors to our home can not hang their coat n the front closet. Which is small, but I digress. We lay pur guests coats on a bed in the guest room when entertaining instead. | Two wool blankets for each bed. One for each vehicle. Wool coats: 3 for sure, depends on the temperature which goes down to minus 40 celcius. | I've kept and use an old walnut dresser. It was given me when my grandma died. The dresser was in the room I slept in when visiting her. Reminds me of her and our happy visits. |
| HB | Paperwork and clothes. | I have various kinds of paperwork in 5 different places: my desk, dresser, nightstand, under my bed, and in a spare room. There’s memorabilia (like old letters and even old printed emails), accounts, medical records, pet information, insurance, taxes, etc. (My goal is to go 90% digital with the essential information, and toss the rest.) And I’ve gained weight (with the clear intention of losing it again), and have clothes of various sizes in my bedroom closet, and the spare room closet. (My goal is to declutter it all when I reach my comfortable weight.) | I’m hoping to eliminate 90% of the physical paper, digitizing the essential information. I hope that the app I’m trying to use will work well. I also hope that the important physical documents that I keep will fit in a 3-ring binder in my desk. The little bit of memorabilia I might keep will hopefully fit in my nightstand. With clothes, I’d like to have about 10 workout outfits, about 10-20 everyday shirts and pants, and around 7 pairs of pajamas. Plus around 10 winter outfits, for when I visit family in the Midwest in winter. It should all fit comfortably in one closet. | Jewelry. Although I’ve gotten rid of 75% of it, I still have 2 organizer containers that I never wear. I keep a lot of it, just because of memories. And it is also a piece of my former identity (that I sometimes think I’ll want to go back to). |
| Celina | Acrylic paints. I have two tiny sets I've merely begun using, and one huge I bought (because it was on the discount). Recently I bought another medium-sized (yes, another discount). Also, a bead-collection. Gayle could say 'one can never have too many beads', but it's a different matter entirely when I haven't used them in a year now, because no time for crafting and I use them occasionally to embroider dolls clothes. | The speed of buying vs. using them up don't mathematically match... | For beads - one box with tiny compartments should be my limit. Instead, I have several other small extra boxes. It's a little insane. As for acrylics - one, or max two sets, because - yes - they do expire. | n/a |
| Kat | Fabric ( sew much fabric😜) and sewing supplies patterns, zips, wool and craft stuff | I have a large room for sewing but there isn't room to move in there. Impossible to find a clear flat surface to cut fabric on. | I don't know. I'm a hour or so drive away from the closest fabric store which doesn't always have the fabric or item i need. Maybe less fabric or a better system for storing. That doesn't cost money. | Fancy dress Sewing patterns from our comic,-con days. |
| DS | "business in home" office equipment/storage | I'm downsizing, but not fast enough to suit me because I'm aging quicker than the work is getting done! | It would be nice to have everything in one room, but I need room for more than one person to work and also client space. | I keep some family history things in case our child wants them. |
| Lynn | Can't say this is the case with anything other than my mom's cut glass crystal dishware collection I mentioned in a previous survey. Oh, yes, I also have way too many houseplants and they are becoming a pain to keep maintained. | When I spend more time cleaning/maintaining, rearranging things than actually using or enjoying them, that's when it is time to reevaluate their continued existence in my house. | If I have to acquire more storage container/real estate for an item, there are too many and it is time to thin the herd. For the most part I try to use the one in one out strategy. | Family photos and my family's artwork full into this category. I've decluttered quite a bit of it. What remains falls into this category. |
| Yvonne | Purses | I bought a shelf from ikea to store them and display them ( because they are all pretty expensive) but now I have more than will fit on the shelf | To quote Dana K White, the shelf is the “ container” and I should keep them confined to the container that I bought for them | My children’s baby clothes and baby items |
| Name (click to view full survey response and comments) | Describe a collection or category of items in your home that you’re worried might have crossed over into “too many” or “too much.” | For the category or collection described above, what factor(s) contribute to your assessment of the stash as excessive? | For the category or collection described previously, what would you consider a reasonable limit? | Describe something that you keep in your space because it reminds you of a better time in your life or a fond memory. |
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