Why Repurposing Is The New Black

Repurposing

This is my new favorite word, I just love it!!!! 

Recently I was commissioned to clear out an entire house, not just decluttering, but a total clear-out. Everything had to go.

After all the sifting and sorting was done, I had three mountainous piles: things to auction, give to charity or sell online. It was a mammoth task, and I had to start somewhere.

The owner had a love of linen. She had dozens of sheet sets, bedspreads and pillowcases as well as more than 100 linen tablecloths with matching serviettes, all beautifully ironed but many of them were yellowed and spotted with rust.

I had trouble finding a charity that would take used linen and it felt wrong to put it out for the council clean-up, which would have been the easiest option. So, I decided to experiment. I tidied it up (I love to tidy) and put some of it on Gumtree for free to see what would happen…

Almost immediately, I got a call from a lady who said she would come round straight away.  When she arrived, I explained that I actually had a lot more than was in the ad and she was welcome to look through it. She got very excited, and wanted all of it!!! After chatting with her a bit, I learned that she was from Tonga and was planning to send it back to her family as they are poor and have nothing like this.

You can imagine how happy I was; this is exactly what I wanted. I felt so gratified that I could help a stranger and her family as well. Ten bulging garbage bags out the door and we were all better off.

She texted me later to thank me for all the beautiful linen, it was a wonderful moment for me and I wanted more of it.

I know someone would be thrilled with this lot

A week later, Jorge came by to collect a King Single ensemble for $40. Looking at the bed, we noticed it lacked castors. I saw his hesitation and told him he could get some cheaply at a hardware store but his face dropped. He’s a backpacker from Chile, here for just two months. The bed he is sleeping on is terrible but he couldn’t afford both a new bed and castors for it. I thought for a second, and said, “Just take the bed; you can have it.” He was overjoyed. For him, $40 is a lot of money. It felt so good to help him out and he was so grateful for the unexpected gift.

I did suggest that he give the bed away again when he leaves, but that’s his choice. In the meantime, it’s a win, win, win situation! No landfill, happy tourist and I was beaming.

One last surprise was the two boxes full of National Geographic Magazines.  Of course, these can be recycled, but it seemed such a waste to throw them out. Again, I put them on Gumtree and got a call straight away. The fellow was so excited as he usually buys them for $1 in Newtown.  He told me how he devours them and can't get enough, now isn't that better than recycling, I think it is. My message to you all is to think twice, you'd be surprised at what other people will delight in and again it gives you the opportunity to make someone's day. One person’s trash truly is another’s treasure but the joy in connecting those in need with those who have too much is even more precious.

Contact me so we can be Ruthless in repurposing your clutter to help others.

These were snapped up very quickly by someone moving house that day.