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When discussing food, the term “best-before date” refers to the period during which food is most enjoyable to eat. But what do we call the appropriate time to let go of non-food items? If we were to refer to these as their “best-before dates,” ceramics and glass products might seem as though they don’t have one, leading us to lose sight of the timing for disposal. These items are often filled with memories and value, making it hard to part with them. In this article, one of our employees shares their experience with such dilemmas, intertwined with their own home renovation story.

Contents
1.　The Decision and Preparation for Renovation
2.　The Challenge of Moving and Decluttering
3.　The Issue of Disposing of Ceramics and Glassware
4.　Conclusion

The Decision and Preparation for Renovation

Last year, we renovated the apartment we had lived in for 25 years. The trigger was the appearance of noticeable black mold on the ceiling, likely caused by using a steam humidifier for half of the year due to dry skin. Just as we began researching renovation options, the COVID-19 pandemic struck, forcing us to postpone the project for about four years. During this period, renovation costs increased by roughly 20%.

Living with elderly parents, who both expressed a desire for barrier-free modifications, further motivated us to go through with the renovation. We visited contractors and showrooms of housing equipment manufacturers to convey our preferences, held meetings with moving companies, and decided on a temporary apartment for living during the renovation. However, moving into a temporary apartment meant we couldn’t avoid sorting through the belongings accumulated over 25 years.

The Challenge of Moving and Decluttering

It was time to move to a temporary residence. There was a trend of decluttering during the COVID-19 pandemic, and the time had finally come for us to sort out the unnecessary items that had accumulated in our home over the past 25 years. Clothes were relatively simple to sort through—outgrown or faded items were easy to let go of. However, golf tournament prizes and wedding gifts from the past were much harder to address.

In contrast to modern weddings, where catalog gifts are common and items can be selected later, it used to be customary to receive ceramics and glassware as presents. Such items, often too luxurious for everyday use and mismatched in size or design, had been untouched for 25 years. I found it relatively easy to make the decision to dispose of these items, but my parents hesitated, often saying, “It’s a waste,” which slowed down the decluttering process. In the end, we temporarily packed everything up and brought it to the temporary apartment, deferring the decision to keep or discard.

The Issue of Disposing of Ceramics and Glassware

When we received the call that the renovation was complete, we returned to find our home transformed with new wallpaper, flooring, and barrier-free modifications, including handrails and step-free access. We were extremely satisfied. With the addition of new furniture, we felt refreshed, but the problem of the dormant wedding gifts remained.

There were over 50 items, such as ceramic sets and glass vases, which didn’t fit in our compact home. Amazed at how these had gone unnoticed for so long, we finally decided to dispose of them, packing them into non-burnable garbage bags. Since these items held no personal connection to me, the task of packing proceeded smoothly. Non-burnable garbage collection only happens once a month, so we temporarily stored the bags on the balcony.

However, as the monthly garbage collection day approached, I noticed the number of bags mysteriously decreasing. It turned out that my parents’ “waste-not” mentality had kicked in, and they secretly retrieved seemingly valuable items from the bags and tucked them back into the kitchen cabinets.

Conclusion

Because ceramics and glass products lack a clear “best-before date,” deciding when to part with them can be a challenging dilemma. How do you decide when to let go of these items? I hope this article resonates with you, even a little.

Imoto Sangyo Ltd. handle a wide variety of kitchenware, tableware, and daily necessities.
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