Life gets messy.
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.
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
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
