/* Hayden: Hide banner images on blog items */ .collection-type-blog.view-item .banner-thumbnail-wrapper { display: none; }

75 Things to Purge Right Now

FullSizeRender.jpg

Life gets messy.  

IMG_0286.JPG

We all have different reasons for wanting to get organized.  Are you trying to make room for something new?  Moving or downsizing?  Repurposing a room?  Do you just want more space for what you already have?  Or are you on a path to live simply?   

Whatever your reason, I have compiled a list of 75 things to let go of right now.  These will ideally be the things you do not have a lot of emotion tied to and can part with easily,  in turn getting you closer to achieving your goal of organization.  If you find yourself struggling to let go of something on this list, refer to my past blog for decluttering tips on how to decision-make.

As always, when letting go of things, be sure to recycle or donate what you can before tossing it in the trash!   

 

In the Kitchen:

1. Plastic Grocery Bags (recycle them at your local grocery store.  And keep a stash of your reusable bags in your car so you always have them with you!)

2. Expired Coupons (These may be in multiple areas of your home, purge every time you come across and if you don't already have one, I suggest getting an envelope file for storage.) 

3. Freebie/Promotional Magnets

4. Stained or Missing Top/Bottom of Reusable Food Storage Containers  

5. Discolored or Poor Condition Cutting Boards

6. Duplicate Kitchen Utensils (Keep your best condition/favorite one and let go of the rest!) 

7. Take Out Menus (You can find just about any menu you need online! Go Paper Free!) 

8. Warped or Discolored Baking Sheets (You can first try to salvage your baking sheets by trying this trick from Tiphero.  If it doesn't work, consider them past the point of repair and let go of them!) 

9. Nonstick Pots & Pans that have Lost Their Stick

10. Unused Coffee Mugs (Keep your favorites and enough to have on hand for guests and let go of the rest!) 

11. Unlabeled Food in the Freezer

12. Expired Food in Pantry/Fridge/Freezer

13. Seasonings & Sauces You Will Never Use (If still in date and unopened, you have lots of options available to you for donation of these particular goods!)

14. Excess Condiments (Consolidate what you can and plan meals around what you have to use up odds and ends.) 

 

In the Bedrooms: 

15. Discolored or Misshaped Pillows (You can try this cleaning hack from Clean My Space to get them clean, but if it doesn't work then it is time to let go and get some new ones.  You deserve a good pillow to rest your head.)

16. Sheets that are No Longer Part of a Set

17. Retired Bedding Sets  

18. Old Prom and/or Bridesmaid Dresses

19. Swimwear That Has Lost its Stretch

20. Worn out Sneakers

21. Uncomfortable Shoes

22. Dry cleaning Hangers (Check with your local dry cleaner, they often accept your old hangers.)

23. Clothing with Damage (If you want to get it fixed, then make arrangements to get it fixed, otherwise let it go and stop allowing it to take up space.) 

24. Free/Promotional Clothing Items You Never Wear

25. Tired Bras and Underwear

26. Extra Buttons (These can often be donated to elementary schools for use in art projects.)

27. Broken Jewelry

28. Old Purses With Wear or You Will Never Use Again

29. Worn Out Wallets

 

In the Bathroom & Linen Closet: 

30. Expired Medication (Please dispose of properly.  To find out more about the correct and safe way, the FDA has everything you need to know on their site.  You can also contact your local waste management authorities to learn about specific guidelines in your area.)

31. Ratty or Discolored Towels

32. Old Toothbrushes

33. Old Make-up

34. Old Nail Polish

35. Hair Accessories or Tools You Don't Use

36. Containers of Toiletries You Tried but Did Not Like (This is a tricky one, because often this means it is an almost full container.  You can first reach out to friends and family to see if it is something that will work for them before disposing of the entire contents.)

37. Old Eye Glasses (Your local Lions Clubs and Libraries often have collection spots for your unwanted/outdated eyeware.)

 

In the Family Room:

38. DVDS/BluRays that no longer work or you will never watch again

39. Books you or your family will never reread and are not being used as decor (Old textbooks, outgrown children's books, fiction/nonfiction that aren't your taste are all categories your local library accepts for donation.  What they can't use, they will sell during their book drives.)

40. Board Games/Card Games with Missing Pieces or that you No Longer Play

41. Puzzles with missing pieces

42. Old Magazines 

43. Toys the Children Have Outgrown or are Broken 

 

Decor: 

Surround yourself with what you love.  Declutter and remove the distractions.  

Surround yourself with what you love.  Declutter and remove the distractions.  

44. Old Picture Frames (Either no longer in a style you like and/or broken.)

45. Dried Flowers

46. Freebie Vases (You know the kind that came with florist arrangements.) 

47. Candles That No Longer Burn

48. Decor That is No Longer Your Style

 

In the Home Office & Family Command Center:

49. Old Cards & Invitations (St. Jude's Ranch has a recycled card program that will take your old cards and not only bring new life to them, but give the children at St. Jude's Ranch projects which teach them about basic job skills.)

50. Excess Pens, Pencils & Markers (Ones that are dried out, broken or you just don't like how they write are definite must gos.  Then, really assess how many you have left and donate 25-50% of what remains.)

51. Phone Books

52. Old Batteries (Be sure to dispose of properly.  Check with your local library, they often have battery recycling kiosks set up for collection.) 

53. Old/Outdated Software

54. Old Electronics

55. Old Cell Phones (There are a number of spots around your town that will collect old cell phones - libraries, Staples and Verizon/AT&T/Sprint retail stores are a few options for recycling).  Just be sure to remove the SIM Card before donating.  

56. Cell Phone Accessories You Do Not Use (old cases, holders, chargers, earbuds, etc.) 

57. Old Calendars

58. Manuals to Things You No Longer Own

IMG_0294.JPG

59. Unsubscribe From Email Lists

60. Delete Emails You No Longer Need. Delete Unwanted Music From Your Music Library

61. Unused or Worn Laptop Bags & Book Bags

62. Old Kid's School Projects and Artwork (Take pictures of your favorites and compile in a photo book from a site like Shutterfly to retain the image and memory of the items without taking up a lot of space.)

 

In Storage: 

63. Boxes/Packing Materials (Recycle or pass on to someone you know who has an upcoming move.) 

64. Unused or Worn Luggage (Check with your local homeless and domestic violence shelters - they are often a great resource for passing along pieces you no longer use.)

65. Scrap Wood

66. Duplicate or Broken Yard Tools

67. Old Paint (Your local community should have a recycling center for all hazardous waste materials.  New Hanover County now has the HazWagon that makes disposing of these materials convenient.)

68. Duplicate Photos (Whether hard copies or on your devices, we often take multiples of the same scene.  Choose the best, up to two, and delete/dispose of the rest.) 

69. Random jars and containers

70. Scraps of Wrapping Paper

71. Scraps of Fabric (If you have a lot of fabric that you no longer want, check with your local theaters - the costume and set departments often have a need for this!) 

 

Miscellaneous: 

72. Party Favors You Do Not Use

73. Old Pet Collars, Leashes & Dog Beds

74. Toys Your Pets Don't Play With

75. One of a Lost Pair

 

Now that you have been through this list, remember to ask yourself the next time you are holding something from this list.  Do you need to allow it space in your home?  Treat your home as your haven and be purposeful about what you choose to keep.  

 

For even more information on where to donate specific items in your area, check out this comprehensive list from Where To Donate.

 

Up Next on the Blog: 5 Ways to be Organized Today

FullSizeRender.jpg