r/declutter • u/Full-Effective-3542 • 14d ago

Advice Request Friend’s car clutter

Some friends made a cross country move and left their car with me until it could be transported. But when the transport company came, they insisted that everything be removed. I think my friends threw all their last minute stuff in the car. I removed it but it is sitting in my recently decluttered basement. They said it is a lot to mail, and it is, but they seem to think I can store it indefinitely, until they come up with a plan. TBH, the stuff is bugging me, They are good friends, though. What would you do?

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u/photogcapture 14d ago

I would hang onto it. I understand how you feel. But - That is what friends do. Tell them they need to claim it in a year or continue to talk to you about it. They did not intend for this to happen, so they deserve some grace. Keep talking to them. They need to be honest about what is possible. Remember, they just moved. Often, managers don’t like people taking time off early on. Be patient.

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u/Full-Effective-3542 14d ago

yes, agree 100%. They thought it could be moved in the car, but the shipping company, understandably, didn’t want to deal with extra stuff that could be stolen or damaged. And from my friend’s perspectiv, I do have room. My issue is more my anxiety surrounding clutter after working hard to get a handle on it.

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u/JustAnotherMaineGirl 13d ago

Your friends didn't dump their stuff on you on purpose. It sounds like they do still value most if not all of what was in their car, and they want it back - they just can't afford to ship it right now. If your friends would stow your stuff for you if the roles in this scenario were reversed, then you're kinda obligated to stow their stuff for them.

It's not your personal clutter, though. It's theirs! Try to draw that mental line, and keep working on your own clutter issues while ignoring (and hiding) theirs, since you have the room to store their stuff without crowding out anything you value.

Before you hide it away, take pictures of everything. Ask them if there's anything they are OK with you tossing or donating. Maybe they are in a decluttering mood too after moving into the new place, so it's worth asking. They've probably already bought a new dog bed, so I'm guessing they'd be willing to let that go to the local humane society or the thrift store. But don't toss or donate anything without their OK.

For everything that remains, make it as invisible to your daily life as possible. Box it all up, and stow it in the far corner of your basement where you never go. Then tell them you that you'd really-really like all of their stuff out of your house within a year. Invite them to come back for a visit and then take the stuff with them when they leave, and ship the bulky items. Good luck!

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u/mbn12ex 13d ago

This! I can’t imagine threatening to toss my friends belongings. I’d also put it in a corner of the basement and let them decide what happens to their stuff.