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If you’ve gotten over the hurdle of starting your decluttering journey, the next big hurdle is deciding on what to throw away.
It’s understandable that we develop a certain attachment to all of this stuff we call our possessions. But then it seems wasteful just to give something away you barely used. So this the point where I usually just get overwhelmed and walk away.
But if you really stop and think about it, there are some things that aren’t that hard to part with.
One way of starting this list is to tackle one item per day. That way you’re building a tiny habit into your routine each day and you’ll feel a sense of accomplishment. You’ll be feeling like Marie Kondo in no time!
- Junk mail
- Duplicates of anything
- Old makeup
- Nearly empty perfume bottles
- Old receipts you don’t need
- Old paint cans
- Outgrown toys or games
- Old trophies or memorabilia you no longer value
- Broken or ugly jewelry
- Boxes from electronics or small appliances you no longer use
- Old or unused spices
- Kids’ clothes that no longer fit
- Expired food items in the pantry
- Extra shopping bags (if they’re plastic, take them to Walmart for recycling)
- Old holiday ornaments
- Old Calendars
- Broken laptops or devices (here’s a link to local electronics recycling)
- Unused blankets
- Socks with holes
- Buttons you never sewed back on
- Last year’s calendar
- Old undergarments
- Handbags that are out-of-style
- Expired frozen foods
- Craft supplies for projects never begun or completed
- Vacation souvenirs you never look at
- Accessories for hobbies you no longer pursue
- Old instruction manuals for things you no longer own
- Dried up pens
- Scraps of wrapping paper
- Papers and clutter in your purse
- Pantyhose or tights with runs
- Beauty products you don’t use
- Stuff that’s been in your junk drawer forever
- Chargers for cell phones you don’t own anymore
- Toys from fast-food children’s meals
- Gifts you never liked or used
- Anything you forgot you even had
- Pet supplies for animals that have died
- Chipped dishware or cookware
- Outdated home decor
- Missing part of an earring
- Games with missing pieces
- Old magazines
- Unfinished books that you probably won’t finish
- Expired medicines
- Videos you no longer watch
- Excess or mismatched glassware
- Kitchen gadgets you don’t use (ice cream maker, blender, etc.)
- Old swimwear
Just taking it one-day-at-a-time and discarding each day adds up to less stuff and less stress. Before you know it, you’ll be making a dent in all that clutter in no time!
