Hubby and I live in, what is to me, an obscenely large house. It is a bear to clean, and frankly with Sonny-boy gone we do not use half the space on a regular basis. BUT one thing this house has going for it – in spades – is tons and tons and tons of closet and storage space. It is a pack-rat’s dream house!
It also makes for stockpiler’s dream too… as long as you do not let the organization get too far behind, and as long as you remember where you put everything. There are 10 closets on the second floor alone!
Now, as I mentioned a few times over the last couple of months, I’ve let a few folks shop (for free) in the linen closet where I keep the majority of my H&BA products. If you ever want to clean out your stockpile, invite 3-4 friends over and let them have at it! You will be making some people very, very, VERY happy.
However, my advice to you would be to either monitor the giveaway or hide what you do not want taken beforehand. This is excellent advice based on my recent experience – neither or which I personally did, and I somewhat regret.
Today I went looking for a toothbrush in the hall linen closet. It was such a jumble in there, I could not find a thing. I was going to take a pic, figured you would not be able to see anything, then regretted it when I was finished reorganizing as the contrast was startling. What I really should have taken a picture of was the foot-high dump of H&BA products I swept off the shelves and onto the floor. That was how I organized this linen closest – I just arm swept everything to the ground and started picking up items, looking at expiration dates, sorting items for donations and other items for my grandfather before I put things back on the shelves.
This was the result:
Before I let people take what they wanted, you could not see daylight on this shelf. Shampoo, conditioner and body wash were among the most frequently taken products. On the other hand, now that I see what I have I know I need to look for some gender neutral body wash deals.
This shelf was originally so bad, that items were piled on top of items and items would fall on the floor when the linen closet door was opened. I thought I was out of band-aids, but I found 12 boxes. I thought I was out of Benadryl, but I found 10 boxes! I clearly do not need lip balm, medicines, deodorant or toothpaste!
And obviously there is no need for razors. Apparently few of them were taken.
No more mouthwash! Even for free. Those two rows go all the way to the back of the closet… and no more saline solution either. I may donate some of the saline. I sincerely doubt Sonny-boy will be able to use all that before it expires.
Now as far as the toothbrush-search that inspired this clean-up: I found … TWO. And I’m not sure how they managed to miss those. Toothbrushes were the one item everyone must have taken. I know I had a minimum of 30 in there, so having only two left was a shock. I may have to crack open those power toothbrushes that were still in my office and had not yet made it to the linen closet.
And that is what I did this morning – reorganized the H&BA linen closet. I still need to shovel out my office this week so I can get the games in there over to Toys For Tots, but I am quite pleased with the organizational progress I have made this fall.
{ 12 comments… read them below or add one }
I find this so funny. I have many of the same items, and this is what I did two days ago while all I was looking for was children’s cough medicine! I couldn’t believe that I had 26 men’s deodorants! And some will expire in February, so I really need to a give-a-way myself.
haha, I didn’t realize deodorant expired!
I soooo understand what you are saying. I use paper case boxes w/lids for storing my items. I “try” to label the outside but doesn’t always work. This summer I did a garage sale and for the first time added a lot of my over flow. Before I started I had 37-razors, 32-bottles men’s body wash, 26-deodorants(various), 50-plus bottles of shampoo and conditioner, 12-gift boxes of razors/body washes etc, 12-meters(diabetic), 40 or so nivea lip care(really) and who can remember the rest. I sold about 3/4 of it at the sale. This is after donated a lot to the local food bank(they take toiletries too). Looking just this weekend, I still have 20 razors and 6 gift sets. Guess what is going into the stocking. Time for another trip to the food bank.
What do you price body wash, shampoo and deodorant at when selling at a garage sale? I was thinking I would have to sell them for at least $1.00 because I had to pay sales tax and .50 cents would be like a break even. I don’t know if people would pay $1.00 for “garage sale” products when there are so many dollar stores around.
While it might depend on where you live, I often sell my extras at my garage sales. Don’t sell your stuff too cheap because people WILL pay! Mostly, it’s about presentation. If you set your garage sale up like a store (meaning organized and professional), then people are willing to pay more. I also list retail price ranges, or prices on my sale tags but to avoid having to make tons of these, it’s one tag taped to the table in front of the item(s) being sold. For a $10 razor, which I may have gotten free, I price it at $4 ea or 3/$10. Nivea body washes, $3 ea or 2/$5. Pharmacy items, generally $3 ea or 2/$5. Shampoos $3 ea, 2/$5 or 5/$10. This works. And don’t be afraid to tell people what these items sell for at the stores…and they’re not paying sales tax by buying thru you! I make a lot of money selling my extras and still have tons to give away to our local homeless and animal shelters (the latter for pet food deals). Try this. You can always come down. You can’t go up.
WOW!! How long have you guys been doing this? i have a chest in my living room that i got for chrismas that i have been putting my stuff in thats about half full. my top item i think is shampoo and conditioner i have maybe 9. and i have been couponing since around last week of aug i think…how long does it take you guys to aquire the stock pile that you have now? thats insane! LOL i want that but have absoultly no room to put that much stuff grrr
Hi Melly,
Here is my about page. I’ve been doing “this” for over 25 years now. It is a way of life.
Ann
I typically bring home $100-$150 in free or nearly free stuff per week. Every week. I’ve already got over 4,000 wellness points at Rite Aid and brought home $94 worth of stuff at our local Kroger store’s mega event last weekend for $.60! If you know about an advanced sale and you know you’re going to want a lot of something, take a trip to eBay and purchase a “lot” of coupons for $2. If you end up with 10-15 of something you can use, and it saves you $80, then the $2 investment was worth it! Just a tip.
Ann, your linen closet and house sounds like mine (9 closets upstairs alone). We never use the living & dining rooms, but we still have 3 at home. Oh how me & hubby would love to downsize. I’ve been trying to give away, fix care bags and organize stuff to donate. I’ve got 2 cases of ladies products alone, not including what’s in my bathrm closet for our daughter. Razors,mouthwash, dental floss, hair color, shampoo, conditioners toothpaste,toothbrushes, cold medicine (i gathered a small case), body washes, aspirin, pain relievers are only some of the stash. I’ve got a case of glucose momitors to donate to the American Diabetic Assn. It’s slow going trying to get and stay organized. But I’m thankful I can help family, friends, the kid’s friends and strangers save a bit on their budgets.
I don’t have nearly as much as you all do but I did reorganize a couple weeks ago. I have 55 deodorant, mens and womens, 35 tubes of toothpaste, and almost 40 shampoos/conditioners!
Time to check on exp dates.
Our church has “adopted” the troops overseas for Christmas. They listed their needs in our church bulletin. Four huge bags were donated last weekend with more to donate the remaining weeks of Advent. Those who don’t buy products will provide shipping fees.
Fun fun!!
I’ve been working on straightening up some of my stockpile mess too
It also started with letting 2 different people “go shopping”.
However I am always right there with them.. “would you like this? would you like this.. Oh no.. you cant have that..I’d have to kill you if you took that one..” hehehe You think I jest.. 3:-)
I still have a ways to go…but Im making inroads..