Back to the boxes. I think the goal with the boxes will determine the fate. If the OP does want to sell them someday, then I would break the boxes down so they are flat and store them under a bed or something. Re-evaluate if they are really going to be sold every year or so. With a collectible item, I think it's important to remember that it take a looonnnngggg time for most things to be of much value or for people to collect them. That means the boxes may have to be saved for 50 years or more. And if everyone saved the boxes and the figurines, then the value would still be low because there would be too many of them floating around. Unless I wanted the boxes for moving purposes, they would not get space in my house. My last move was my 23rd move. I may have wished for a couple of boxes at one time or another, because I've always carried something in my lap that I was afraid would get broken. Not enough to keep boxes, though. I think most of us understand that a hard and fast rule on when to get rid of items doesn't generalize very well for how we live. I prefer to go back to my mantra of "I need a place to live my life, not store it." Items either help me achieve that goal or they interfere with the goal. Talley's example of the unicorn box illustrates how it makes her life easier to know a valued item can be safely packed away. I bought some old Hazel Atlas Christmas glasses which were still in the original box. Someone hung onto that for 50 years and I put it in the recycling bin. But if they hadn't chosen to keep thoses glasses in that box, I probably wouldn't have been able to buy them since they would have gotten broken. Gloria

That's a black swallowtail. They eat dill, parsley, and carrot tops. Plant all three of them. They'll be happy!

It happened to me. I was observing a big one with a magnifying glass then it fell on her head. I don't know if she's alive.

I have a GE w/agitator ( GTW845CSNWS ) It's 5 cu ft and yes, it's on Bulky/Comforter setting. And yes I have an Auto Soak setting and used it. This didn't just start with this washer, it's always been a problem with "puffy" items. I was just hoping someone had a technique that worked. If it was a smaller item, I would have put it on the bottom.