Ready to declutter your house? Start here with these items you’re sure not to miss.
Cardboard Food Boxes
Ditch the cardboard boxes and plastic bags that go with your cereal, snacks and dry goods. They’re ugly, take up lots of space and don’t keep your food fresh. Instead, opt for glass jars
Wire Hangers
Mommie Dearest said it best: No more wire hangers! Ditch those dry cleaner hangers for matching plastic or wooden versions.
Your Dish Sponge
When was the last time you replaced the sponge in your kitchen sink? If it’s been more than a month, toss it. In between, sanitize it with a spin in the dishwasher.
Dirty Air Filters
It’s important to schedule a maintenance checkup for your HVAC system every spring and fall, but in the meantime, filters need to be checked once a month. When they’re dirty, change them; dirty filters shorten the lifespan of your system.
Socks Without a Mate
We all have that bag of socks without their, ahem, sole mate. If you’ve done a full round of laundry without finding their partner, it’s time to let them go.
Expired Makeup
How long have those cosmetics been lurking in your makeup bag? Mascara should be replaced every three months. Foundation and concealer are good for about a year, while lipstick, eye shadow and blush should be replaced every two years.
Makeup Samples
Give away anything you know you won’t use. That perfume you didn’t like would go great in a DIY spa gift for your loved one.
Old Spices
Most ground spices should be replaced after 12 months. A simple test? Give each one a wiff. If there’s no scent, there will be no flavor. Go ahead and toss it!
Your Toothbrush
The American Dental Association recommends replacing your toothbrush once every three months for maximum brushing power.
Last Year’s Gift Wrap
You probably refresh your wrapping paper supply while Christmas shopping, anyway, so go ahead and recycle the old stuff. If you can’t bear to part with it, try keeping it organized in a rolling mesh laundry basket.
Unidentified Frozen Objects
Toss any unidentifiable objects in the refrigerator or freezer.
Old Chargers and Cables
A friend or relative might be able to use a spare USB cable or an old charger. Anything you can’t give away can usually be recycled in electronic stores or online. Keep unruly cords organized by using media boxes that are divided into “cubbies” with scraps of cardboard. Label each section, so you’ll never confuse the camera cord for the phone charger again, and give the boxes a bit of color by decorating the cardboard with scrapbook paper.
Remote Controls
Between digital video recorders, DVD players and cable boxes, most homeowners have more remote controls than they know what to do with. Get rid of extras you don’t recognize anymore.
Curtains From Your Old Place
You brought them thinking surely they’d fit a window in your new place — your new set of windows say otherwise. If you’re handy with a sewing machine, old window treatments can be altered to fit your new space
Stale Potpourri
Once the scent fades, potpourri quickly turns into a dust magnet.
Plastic Storage Containers
If it’s got a spaghetti stain that just won’t come out, let it go.
Unidentifiable Keys
Most recycling centers have mixed metal bins you can toss old keys in. Make sure to remove any rubber coverings before you recycle.
Expired Food
Throw away any canned goods past their expiration date. If you discover still-good packaged food you didn’t like or won’t eat, donate to a local food pantry.
Old Paint
Properly sealed (read: air-tight) paint can last for up to 10 years if kept at an even temperature and prevented from freezing. However if, like most of us, you store leftover paint in the garage or shed, the temperature swings will cause it to break down much quicker. If you have old paint cans with bulging lids, leaky seams or, once opened, a thick layer of dried paint on top, it’s time to give that can the toss. But, before tossing, research safe disposal steps by contacting your local household hazardous waste center. If the paint is still usable, you may even be able to donate it to a local charity, like Habitat for Humanity or even a local scout troop or school that could use the paint for crafts.
