If you’re getting ready to declutter, you need a plan. Staying on task and decluttering by category can keep the process simple and easy. Start with these six types of items, and your house will thank you!
#1: Books
Don’t pressure yourself to get rid of them all. Having more than 30 books is a-okay! However, if you have tons of children’s books and your kids have moved out, now is the time to box them up and donate them to a local school or book drive. Many neighborhoods have small libraries in parks and on corners where you can disperse your collection and allow others to enjoy them! As for adult books, get rid of all those outdated how-tos. You’ve read them, and now that you know how to, they’re just taking up space.
#2: Magazines and Newspapers
Unless you’re hoarding cooking magazines for the recipes, most of these items are full of information that isn’t any use to you anymore. Keep only six months’ worth of magazines and make sure to display them nicely. If the newspapers have sentimental value, try cutting the specific article out and framing it instead of keeping the newspapers in a stack. You can repurpose both of these items for art projects or donate them to senior homes! Dementia patients love reading or listening to articles that remind them of yesteryear.
#3: Toys
If you have kids, you know how quickly they outgrow toys. Many children will cherish that teddy bear or game your child isn’t using anymore. Ask local churches and daycares if they’d like some of your items or donate them to thrift stores. Your pre-teen doesn’t need anything in that old pack n play!
#4: Toiletries
I see you with your travel packs of shampoo and conditioner. It can be so hard to resist throwing them in your bag when you’re at a hotel, but honestly, once you’re home, you use your favorite large-sized bottles. If you have drawers full of travel-sized toiletries, consider donating them to a local women’s shelter. They’re often in need of these things, and they’ll get used.
#5: Makeup
Makeup is another item that seems to accumulate rapidly. Makeup expires, so check the dates and toss those that should have been thrown out long ago! If you subscribe to a makeup trial company and have unopened items you won’t use, consider donating both the bags and items to the women’s shelter as well. It can brighten someone’s day and give them a fresh start.
#6: Clothes
We all love to pretend that our high school jeans will one day be back in style and look just as good as they used to back in the day. Let’s take a moment and just admit this isn’t true, and sitting around waiting for it to happen doesn’t make sense. Throw out the clothes you no longer fit or have gone out of style. Same for your kids. Yes, you can save a few sentimental items, and if you plan on having more children, you can fill up a box to keep, but kids outgrow clothing rapidly, and the wear and tear on their outfits make most of them unusable again. If you have some nice items, take them to a kid’s consignment shop and get credit towards a new wardrobe!
Now that you have a plan, it’s time to get started. You’ve got this! We believe in you!
