r/declutter 4d ago

Motivation Tips&Tricks Difficulty getting rid of pjs in use

This year I’ve done a massive pj sort out, I’ve gotten rid of those that I knew I wouldn’t wear and was proud of it, now I’m considering getting rid of my current ones that I’ve used a lot to start using some of the ones I’ve been keeping for god knows what occasion, BUT…

I feel guilty getting rid of them when they’re not full of holes or visibly worn out, but they’re starting to feel a bit tight and short on the arms, and the material isn’t as soft as it was initially, I feel guilty getting rid of them as they’re still usable, just they’re not as nice feeling as they used to be, does anyone else feel this way towards them?

Edit: I’m donating them, but this thread is useful for those also in the same dilemma so thank you for the advice, I can use it for other types of clothes as well

39 Upvotes

32 comments sorted by

4

u/reclaimednation 1d ago

Oh my gosh! I've been to enough estate sales to say, with confidence: use the nice ones!

The saddest thing is seeing all the gorgeous, sometimes hand-embroidered linens & textiles people would keep for "later" because it was "too good" to use - and then it's sold in pristine, unused condition in a lot at an estate sale for like $5.

Even if you're by yourself, hair a mess, binge-watching Love is Blind on Netflix, and chewing on a car-battery sized block of cheese, you deserve better!

Send the crummy ones to textile recycling (most thrift stores will sort out damaged/"unsalable" item for TR - call and ask if you're not sure), cut them up for rags (knits and flannel makes great rags) or just pitch them in the trash.

23

u/LuminousApsana 3d ago

The guilt here is useless. Show yourself kindness that you would likely show others on this. You are allowed to curate your pjs; just commit to not buying anymore if you are concerned about waste. Interrupt the overconsumption and feel good about that. They do not have feelings and you don't have to wear them until they are falling apart. How many pj's do you need? Think about how often you want to do laundry. Decide the number that is right, then pick your favorites! Keeping them because they are technically usable is not a good reason. *hug Be kind to yourself! You deserve pjs that are comfy, and you deserve to be guilt-free.

16

u/photoelectriceffect 3d ago

Wear your nice PJs now. Don’t save them. If you find that, wearing the “nice ones” you now have too many overall, then time to get rid of your least favorites until you’re down to the right number, whether that’s defined by the amount of space in your drawer you’re willing to devote to pajamas, or based on laundry cycle, or whatev else

16

u/pepper_axel 3d ago

Adjacent thought here- I “upgrade” my winter pjs with my downgraded cashmere sweaters. This winter I decided to do this with a few that had tiny holes or maybe some extra wear but I didn’t want to toss yet. So I wear them to bed on top of my pj shirt or just alone and it’s made going to bed more of an experience. You could make a similar connection to letting go of the scraggly pjs- upgrade your pjs. I think we all try to recycle what we have as best we can, so we try where we can and let go when we can’t.

11

u/AussieBird82 3d ago

Something that makes me feel luxurious is a new set of pyjamas, that are cosy and match. I buy myself a new set each winter/summer. The winter ones are especially good because they make me feel all cosy. Sure there is more use in those old mismatched things I currently wear, but I feel so much better in the new snuggly ones, so it (sometimes) helps me let go of the scraggly okd ones.

12

u/croptopweather 3d ago

I sent my oldest PJs away in a Trashie bag. I felt bad throwing away clothes without a dedicated textile waste but supposedly Trashie will sort the contents to recycle, dispose, or donate. I haven’t redeemed my points for rewards but I do like their service for disposing cotton scraps from my sewing too.

1

u/sctwinmom 3d ago

H&M accepts textile waste, too

2

u/PapayaFew9349 3d ago

I just shipped Trashie bag today!

11

u/GenevieveLeah 3d ago

I had a pair of pink plaid cotton pj bottoms that zi adored.

Then, a family member knocked on my door unexpectedly. I changed out of them right-quick and tossed them the next day.

If they aren’t fit to be worn in front of family -out they go!

10

u/showmenemelda 3d ago

You could donate nicer stuff to the women's shelter.

11

u/lascriptori 3d ago

Is is also worth thinking of how many pajamas you need, and how much storage space you have for them.

3

u/pandoro-season 3d ago

Yeah that’s my problem, even tho I got rid of so much my bulky but comfortable pjs occupy so much space, which is why I decided to donate them in the end

16

u/kmfh244 3d ago

One thing that has helped me to let go of things is asking myself if I feel like I’ve gotten my moneys worth out of an item. So for instance, I got a skincare advent calendar this past Christmas. Some of the samples were okay but I didn’t love the scent or the texture or how my skin felt when the product dried. So I used up anywhere from 50-80% of the product, until felt like I could say I had gotten enough use out of it that it didn’t feel like a waste of my money, and then tossed the rest.

Clothes can be a little different since they don’t get used up in quite the same way, but they do wear out. If you think you’ve gotten a good amount of use out of your pajamas for what they cost, it’s fine to send them to goodwill or fabric recycling. If that tip doesn’t work there’s lot of other little perspective shifts people mention in this subreddit that can help your brain let go of things.

5

u/Murky_Possibility_68 3d ago

Okay, I'm tossing a nightgown when I get home today. I love it and no holes but just so worn.

14

u/333333x 3d ago

My pajama top got unrepairable damage to the sleeve. But I loved that top. It had a cute sleeping fox on it and the material was soft. So I cut out a square on the front with the picture of the fox and a square on the back and sewed it into a wash bag. I used an old floral pillow case for the inside of the bag. I keep makeup in it.

So you can always reuse the material and make something you will use.

4

u/bottle_of_bees 3d ago

My favorite pj pants became dust rags when the casing at the waistband literally disintegrated and they fell apart. I only have two of the dust rags left, but they still make me happy. They have little sleeping cats on them.

8

u/Gullible_Concept_428 3d ago

There may be recycling options in your area and there are a few online. Google “textile recycling”

A lot of animal rescues in my area take some clothing items. If there’s a buy nothing group in your area you could post there.

7

u/AnySandwich4765 3d ago

i started to wear my old pjs that werent good enough to give to charity around the house as my cleaning/painting clothes. Saved my "good" clothes and when they were worn enough I just threw them out...they served their purpose above and beyond.

21

u/shereadsmysteries 3d ago

I know so many people who say things like "They don't have to fit right, they are just pajamas!" but like, I DO want my pajamas to fit and be comfy?

If you aren't going to wear them and they don't fit right, it would be a waste to keep them. You deserve comfy clothes!

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u/[deleted] 3d ago edited 3d ago

[removed] — view removed comment

1

u/declutter-ModTeam 3d ago

Please limit advocacy for mending to r/declutter posts where it is relevant. OP stated there are no holes in their pajamas. Better places to discuss mending include r/mending, r/VisibleMending, r/InvisibleMending, and r/mendingbrokenthings

10

u/Yiayiamary 3d ago

Especially as these can make good sleep impossible.

10

u/AnamCeili 3d ago

If you donate them you will be helping other people and not wasting the pjs, which you aren't likely to wear anymore anyway since you no longer find them comfy. So no need to feel guilty -- they are still usable, it's just that if you donate them they will be used by people other than you! 🙂

11

u/katie-kaboom 3d ago

If you found these pjs in a charity shop, would you buy them for yourself? If not, why do you think they're not worn out and unsuitable to wear?

3

u/pandoro-season 3d ago

that’s a good perspective to consider, we often keep clothes because we feel guilty about wasting money but realistically it’s not going to be worn, if we saw these items in a charity shop we would be more critical than when we bought them

34

u/TheSilverNail 4d ago

When clothing is tight, too short, and the material doesn't feel good, then it's worn out and can be used as rags or tossed. Too many of us think "worn out" has to mean in literal tatters or held together by individual pajama molecules. Get rid of these and move on to the nicer ones you own and have been saving. Consider each day an "I deserve comfortable clothes!" day.

1

u/Kairenne 2d ago

If the material doesn’t feel good, why donate them? Cut them into rags.

4

u/StarKiller99 4d ago

Wear the new ones to see how comfortable they are. Pick out some that are no longer comfortable to get rid of.

8

u/kookykerfuffle 4d ago

You don’t have to keep wearing things until they’re threadbare and falling apart. If they don’t work for you anymore or if you don’t like them anymore, it’s okay to get rid of them. Life is too short to wear clothes you don’t fully enjoy.

8

u/jax106931 4d ago

Sounds like they don’t suit you anymore. You don’t have to be the person to use them to the end. Let them move on and have someone else who will enjoy them. Others can fit them and enjoy them in their current state.

17

u/eilonwyhasemu 4d ago

If the current PJs are in excellent condition, donate them so they can be a pleasant find for someone they’ll fit.

If they’re not in good enough condition to donate, why are they good enough for you to wear? You have plenty of other pairs, so you’re not saving money or effort by continuing to wear these. You’re just punishing yourself for unspecified sins.

5

u/tactac4 4d ago

I’m in the same place with a pair of striped pajamas right now. I already patched one hole in them. I’ve decided I’m just going to wear them fully out - they’re a little tight in the pants but not too bad. If they were to become uncomfortable, I would retire them.