We’ve all got the itch for Spring weather, which means it’s time to start Spring cleaning! The number 1 reason why we avoid it, or stop in the middle is because of the unknown and overwhelming nature of the process. Before you go out and buy organizers, bins, and baskets, you need to declutter to allow the necessary items to speak to you in terms of where they should live! Today, I’m sharing 20 items to toss during your Spring cleaning to make a happy, functional home!
Bedroom
1. Worn out or ill-fitting clothing
Anything that is stained, has holes, ripped, etc. that has made you not wear it frequently, just toss it! The same thing goes for clothing that no longer fits. You will never grab for it, so donate it! This goes beyond shirts and pants – go through your socks, shoes, underwear, bras, jackets, and bags.
2. Extra Hangers
So many of us are guilty of hanging onto mis-matched or wire hangers from the dry cleaners. These not only look unorganized and cluttered, but allow you to subconsciously think you need to buy more to fill your closet. Recycle the wire hangers to the cleaners and everyone wins!
3. Purge your Nightstand
Nightstands tend to be a drop zone for the most random items from receipts to loose change. Go through them with a trash bag in hand and if you haven’t used or thought about it in months, get rid of it! If you have used it, think about whether or not it’s the best place for it to live.
4. Toss the College Jewelry
I did this recently and it felt so good. Any old, cheap costume jewelry, broken pieces that never got fixed, mismatched earrings…just toss them and give clear space to the pieces you do love.
Bathroom
5. Clean out the Linen Closet
Many of us have a collection of old, stained towels and sheets that simply just clutter our home. Anything that falls into this, get rid of!
6. Expired Toiletries & Medications
This is an easy one as all of these have expiration dates. However, we’re all guilty of letting them pile up. Trash everything, then organize by type of medicine or toiletry. Same thing goes as above, if you haven’t used it in months, just trash it.
7. Purge Your Makeup Collection
We all have our own cabinet or drawer of makeup and skincare products. Besides purging things we don’t use, it’s not safe to use products on our face/eyes/lips that is old and even expired. I also did this recently with nail polish and saved so much room!
In the Kitchen
8. Extra Glassware & Mugs
Whether it’s mugs, shot glasses, or beer glasses, these tend to be a collectible that build up and create clutter. If you aren’t displaying it and your kitchen is overflowing, think about which pieces can go.
9. Expired & Extra Pantry Goods
Same thing, we often have 3 chopped parsley jars for no reason. Go through your spices, sauces, herbs, powders and other pantry goods that build up and waste space.
10. Duplicative Utensils
We all have that one thing that causes us to say, “why do we need 3 of these??”. Toss em’.
Around the Home
11. Magazines & Books
It’s easy to hoard books but often never pick them up again. Go through and select your favorites or ones you may want to use as shelf decor. Donate the rest to a local library, friends, or a little box library in the neighborhood!
Magazines are also something that randomly pile up, trash em’.
12. Receipts
It is in fact smart to keep a box or drawer of purchase receipts for items you may change your mind on. However, they can easily build up! Take a minute to sit down and go through them all, you’ll be surprised how old some are!
13. Old Electronics
Still holding onto your iPod mini? Try to trade in the technology for a gift card and take a W by purging and getting some cash towards something you need.
14. Dried Up Pens & Markers
These easily build up in cups, drawers, and handbags. Test and toss!
15. Craft Supplies
We recently found old ribbon, stickers, envelopes, etc. all over our home. We had them as an “in case” item, but will likely never use. If you must hang onto these items, organize them so that you actually do!
16. Extra Gift Wrap
It’s so easy to hoard gift wrap, bags, tissue paper, and ribbons. Often times though, its wrinkled and smashed in a box and we can’t use it anyway. If you find yourself with extras after packing/wrapping, see how you may be able to further dress up the gift. If not, recycle vs. shoving into storage.
17. DVDs & CDs
Some may be sentimental, but since everything has moved to streaming, think about whether or not you really want to keep them in the space they are taking up.
18. Pet Accessories
Like children, somehow the # of toys and accessories build up and is definitely not necessary. Purge the toys when the pup isn’t looking!
19. Extra Home Decor
This sounds funny coming from me, but if you haven’t swapped it in another space or season for a while, it is time to sell it on FB Marketplace or donate. From furniture to pillows and vases, it all builds up and can be sold to someone that loves while putting money towards new decor for yourself!
20. Boxes
Whether you love the way a shoe box looks, or are saving your headphone box in case you change your mind – these are wasteful and add up. If it can’t be returned and you won’t resell it for at least half of the purchase price, don’t hold onto the box!