20 Items to Get Rid of
Right Now Without a Second Thought
If you're anything like me, de-cluttering is downright
exhilarating. But knowing where to start can be a major mental roadblock. If
you've got the urge to get some stuff out of the house, start with this list of
items you can say goodbye to right now with little thought and no impunity.
1. Expired coupons. A good app to use might be Evernote, with a "delete" tag and
deadline reminder so you can eliminate this paper clutter altogether. Read more here.
2. Old magazines. If you're keeping them to
look back at later, you won't. If you're keeping them for your kids to use for
collages, keep three, max.
3. Expired pantry items (canned goods, spices, etc.). Check your local food bank
for donation guidelines.
5. Old/extra/excessive wrapping paper and supplies. If your stash tends to
grow and sit, paring it down leaves you with less decision fatigue when it's time
to wrap.
6. Excessive plastic and paper bags. They'll multiply again,
trust me.
7. Broken things you've been meaning to repair. Take that pressure off
yourself and breathe easier.
8. Old/extra/stained/torn linens. Chances are you never
reach for those anyway.
9. Chipped dishes and mugs. They're fung shui energy stealers.
10. DVDs you know you'll never watch again. You won't waste your time on them; don't
waste space on them either.
11. Duplicate kitchen tools. Keep only the ones you
reach for when you have a choice.
12. Accessories you haven't worn in a year or more. It means you don't actually like them.
13. Take-out menus. They're all online. Free up
that junk drawer real estate.
14. Extra boxes and empty storage containers. Professional organizers say you should
buy containers specifically for what you know you need to store, not the other
way around
15. Refills for items you no longer use. Examples include regular
light bulbs after you've switched to LEDs, coffee filters for a pot you no
longer own or use, or toothbrush head replacements for an electric toothbrush
that kicked the bucket a long time ago.
16. Expired or compromised bike helmets. The American
Academy of Pediatrics states
that helmets should be replaced every five years or if they have been involved
in any impact.
18. Expired cosmetics. Components separate,
ingredients lose their effectiveness, and fragrances can turn rancid. Don't put
them on your body.
19. Old cell phones. Check out HopeLine, Cell Phones for Soldiers,
and the FTC's guidelines for
making sure your personal information is wiped clean.
20. Books that don't move you or that you haven't used for
reference in three or more years. Editing your collection
leaves you with an autobiographical shelf that's a distilled literary portrait
of you — and makes room for new favorites.
