Fall cleaning?

[jo-jo]

sooooo many brand new toothbrushes from the dentist's office still in the wrapping. a visual history of the cartoons my kids like via odds and ends of bandaids, old expired teen era facial stuff usable stuff i kept and it's visable in a small box so noone repurchaces.

few nooks and crannies makes me think of a friend who had his custom home built with the fewest closets and storage areas known to man-has family members with hoarder tendencies and is not entirely convinced it's not a genetic trait so he wanted to put up barriers for himself.




we were 10 months in a rental between houses and i purposely put all the odds and ends in boxes marked 'misc/not important'. those same boxes were left in our new home's garage for 6 months after we moved-if the box went unopened it got tossed, whatever was left in the ones that someone had pulled something from got taped back up and went as well. if we had not needed/wanted/missed something in 16 months it was not needed or wanted.

We had a bunch of old bandaids, ones that may or may not stick. Gave them to DGD, who needs a bandaid every time she breathes or takes a step. And of course her dolls need just as many.


You know that cleaning bug everyone had during covid? I missed it, I spent the time hitting online stores for cleaning stuff, toilet paper, walmart pick up slots, etc for us, family, church members. Now it seems to be setting in. That item that I was saving for my sister until she has space.....well 8 years have gone by, its now or never. That 1950's sewing machine that my mother gave me, that I never used or asked for.....same sister doesn't want it either. My issue is , is it good enough for a thrift store?

 

[PollyannaMom]

That 1950's sewing machine that my mother gave me, that I never used or asked for.....same sister doesn't want it either. My issue is , is it good enough for a thrift store?

If the thrift store doesn't want it, you could offer it to a high school, college, or community theater (whatever is nearest for you) as a prop. Vintage stuff like that can really set a scene!

If they don't want it either, you've tried your best. - Take a photo and then don't feel guilty about throwing it out.

 

[leebee]

Cleaning? Deep cleaning? Seasonal cleaning? Hmmm...

 

[Travel60]

I usually clean up before company comes ..... But I do occasionally get in a cleaning frenzy. DH knows to stay out of the way.

 

[Imzadi]

That 1950's sewing machine that my mother gave me, that I never used or asked for.....same sister doesn't want it either. My issue is , is it good enough for a thrift store?

Those old sewing machines from the 1950s to the 1970s are in high demand and for a lot of money nowadays. Those machines are made of ALL Metal and do not break down as the newer plastic and worse: plastic with computerized components do. The ALL Metal machines are true work horses. They sew through thick fabric and dense fabrics like 6 layers of denim at the same time, like a hot knife slicing through a frozen stick of butter. Whereas the computerized or electronic machines will jam up on many fabrics. So if one lives in the snow belt and wears thick winter clothes, a new "light duty" or "starter" sewing machine will be nothing but frustration.

A new computerized sewing machine that is capable of going through thick or many layers of fabric are called "professional level" machines and they can run $500 - $1200. Whereas, if one finds a 1950's machine in working condition (that basically only needs oiling and a tune up,) at Goodwill or eBay for $150 - $200, that is a STEAL! They may not do all the fancy stitches a computerized machine is created for. But, for altering, repairing or sewing heavy, thick clothes, they are the bomb!

Here is an old DIS thread where I talked about how I threw out my old machine when the motor caught fire, got one of the new, fancy stitch machines, hated it so much that I ended up searching eBay until I was able to buy my exact same model again, so I wouldn't have any more unpleasant surprises. That post was 12 years ago, and I still stand by it!

https://www.disboards.com/threads/j...kenmore-sewing-machine.3032436/#post-46911756

 

[jo-jo]

Those old sewing machines from the 1950s to the 1970s are in high demand and for a lot of money nowadays. Those machines are made of ALL Metal and do not break down as the newer plastic and worse: plastic with computerized components do. The ALL Metal machines are true work horses. They sew through thick fabric and dense fabrics like 6 layers of denim at the same time, like a hot knife slicing through a frozen stick of butter. Whereas the computerized or electronic machines will jam up on many fabrics. So if one lives in the snow belt and wears thick winter clothes, a new "light duty" or "starter" sewing machine will be nothing but frustration.

A new computerized sewing machine that is capable of going through thick or many layers of fabric are called "professional level" machines and they can run $500 - $1200. Whereas, if one finds a 1950's machine in working condition (that basically only needs oiling and a tune up,) at Goodwill or eBay for $150 - $200, that is a STEAL! They may not do all the fancy stitches a computerized machine is created for. But, for altering, repairing or sewing heavy, thick clothes, they are the bomb!

Here is an old DIS thread where I talked about how I threw out my old machine when the motor caught fire, got one of the new, fancy stitch machines, hated it so much that I ended up searching eBay until I was able to buy my exact same model again, so I wouldn't have any more unpleasant surprises. That post was 12 years ago, and I still stand by it!

https://www.disboards.com/threads/j...kenmore-sewing-machine.3032436/#post-46911756

Soooo I go to take the sewing machine out to car. Yes, does weigh a ton. I'd said at least 25 lbs, just machine. I see a black thing in box. Thinking it's presser foot. Noooooo, it's a power brick for a dell. What? Look at machine there is no face plate??? You know where you would take it off to get to bobbin? I've had this thing in a closet for almost 20 years.

My machine is a kenmore from mid 70's . Does nothing much , but for my sewing, I need not much. I do need a part for the bobbin winder. Looks like a donut made out of rubber. It's all cracked. I tried to order a "universal "part, but that didn't fit.

 

[Imzadi]

My machine is a kenmore from mid 70's . Does nothing much , but for my sewing, I need not much. I do need a part for the bobbin winder. Looks like a donut made out of rubber. It's all cracked. I tried to order a "universal "part, but that didn't fit.

Try eBay. Mine is an old Kenmore too. Look on the back of the machine. There may be a plate on the back with the model number. You can try to look it up just for bobbin winder parts on eBay that way, or by just Kenmore. Also it could be a rubber washer that is old and fell apart. Probably any old Kenmore from the late 60s -70s uses that type of washer and will fit.

Here are some listings:

https://www.ebay.com/sch/i.html?_fr...e+1970s+sewing+machine+bobbin+winder&_sacat=0

 

[barkley]

My issue is , is it good enough for a thrift store?

i just take the stuff and if they decline it it gets tossed. for the most part though the places around us will take stuff and w/some (like electronics/solid metal) they have contracts and when they get so much per pound. i think the only stuff they still won't accept at this point are china hutches (too many donated during covid).

If the thrift store doesn't want it, you could offer it to a high school, college, or community theater (whatever is nearest for you) as a prop. Vintage stuff like that can really set a scene!

i did theater for years and had so many boxes of costumes and small hand props accumulated so a couple of years ago i contacted a local theater group and asked if they wanted them-they said they gladly take donations of both costumes AND era specific clothing (so the old leisure suits, parachute pants, disco skirts, june cleaver'ish ruffled aprons...).

 

[barkley]

not realy fall cleaning BUT i decided today to empty out my kitchen cabinets of all the old stoneware plates/bowls/platters and such, rid myself of it and start using my 30 odd year old china for everyday dishes. neither of my kids have any desire for it now or in the future, i don't host big holiday things anymore and the sight of all the boxes of beautiful china plates and saucers being sold for pennies as shooting targets at our local thrift shops finaly got to me. it's lovely, it's dishwasher and microwave safe so it is going to be used! (and boy howdy did it clear out allot of space in the buffet portion of my china hutch!).

 

[cookies44]

I do some things seasonally, like clean my windows. I usually just clean as I see the need. I really need to clean out my basement this month!

 

[disykat]

Pretty much the only thing I do seasonally is evaluate food looking for things close to expiration so I can utilize them. I did a whole house review during the height of the pandemic. Now DH and I try to do a monthly declutter date and pick one thing to go through. Nothing huge, just an hour or two at most, but it was keeping us under control and we were making headway on some long overdue paperwork declutter. We were pretty good for a while but have fallen off the wagon again. We need to get back on because that paperwork isn't gone yet!