What about that stash of must have items you must have at a show but never used and put away somewhere, they go first.
Stash just fold and stroke then keep.

I just cleaned up my knitting machine(it was a project for an everything went wrong sewing day ;-) ). It has been packed away for over 20 years. Wow it's a beauty. I had often thought that I should get rid of it but now I am so glad that I didn't. Where would I find one now in such perfect condition? So nope, not 5 years.

I just used fabric in my stash that I have had for over 10 years. It was one of the first good quality fabric I ever bought. I love working with my old pieces it brings back such wonderful memories for me.

My sewing room also has my clothes closet in there. Lately, I've been cleaning out clothes on a very frequent basis in order to make room for fabric. That being said, anything I no longer like, be it clothing or fabric, is likely to make it into the donation box - no matter how old it is. I will confess that I have a length of a silk woven fabric that I bought probably 20 or more years ago that is still hanging in there. Maybe I'll do something with that soon:)

Toss scraps. No one wants them, and I won't use them. I don't like scrappy quilts. If I can make Candies using a Sizzix die, and it's a fabric I really like, I will, but if the scraps don't fit there, or don't look like something I'd want in the future, bye-bye.

Periodically, I do go through my stash. Sometimes I put fabric I no longer plan to keep on the free table at Guild and sometimes I either keep it for charity projects or donate it to Guild for charity projects.

Clothes, yes. Things in my sewing room, never, unless it is broken and can't be fixed. I use fabric of all ages. Many rulers I haven't used in years but one day I may want to make a pattern that will require one and they are too expensive to replace.

I throw nubs and pens that are dried up. I just don't need to waste time on that. I'm going through some boxes now and getting rid of some things. Already have 2 large bags going to Salvation Army.

Well, I didn't really mean my stash, but more like gadgets that didn't work, sewing notions that belonged to others that I probably won't use! I'm bad about rescuing supplies at EstAte Sales because I can't stand them being tossed. My mother did a different type of sewing so I have all her stuff .. I don't have room for my fabric for all the junk. The plastic boxes for fabric is a great idea, but really takes up room.

I share sewing space with a home office and I have a Pfaff, embroidery machine, a Tiara, rolling cutting table and office furniture that now stores quilting supplies and one large metal storage rack for my boxes and stash that is not in boxes. Then theres the Go and all its dies, a computer, two monitors a printer with stand. I'm so busy moving stuff around so I can sew that I can't sew !

Maybe you could contact the local quilt guild and see if anyone there would e interested in them. Also your local school may be able to sure some of the things in a sewing class. Budgets are tight in schools and it is worth asking about.