This is not necessary one of those “you should live with less” posts, but it is a “I’d like to clutter-free my material life, help me” post. If you catch my drift. You know the idea of spring cleaning, I’m in the mood to do a Fall de-cluttering. Here’s my list of things to throw away today.
- Old nail polish
- Broken phone cases
- Unsubscribe from email subscriptions you don’t absolutely like
- Months-old pantry closet items
- Old shoes
- Empty bottles of Starbucks Frappucino drinks (this one is a bit specific for me, haha)
- The other half of that missing earring
- CDs or DVDs that are badly scratched
- Old invitations (I’m a poster child for not throwing any paper away.)
- Piles of plastic grocery bags (I’ve discovered some grocery stores have recycling bins for them!)
- Super old sports bras
- Socks with holes
- Loyalty cards you don’t use
- Wall art you don’t display
- Old candles
- Pencils with no more eraser
- Keychains you don’t use
- Hats you never wear
- Old washcloths or towels (into the garage they go)
- Art supplies you bought but haven’t used
- Old makeup that you never touch
- Well worn t-shirts that sit in the drawer (my friend’s mom made her a quilt of all her old high school t-shirts)
- Those Tupperware pieces with no tops (this is one of those, Chelsea, just close your eyes and do it things.)
- Empty cardboard boxes you don’t intend on using
- Old mail that has no value
- Manuals to appliances you don’t have anymore
- Old planners
- Old store coupons
- Take out menus you never look at
- Empty perfume bottles
- Stretched out hairties
- Trinkets that don’t make you smile every time you look at them (I have a couple)
- Old wedding favors
- Empty product boxes (Ziploc, trash bags, etc)
- Expired coupons
- Organizers that you bought to help organize but didn’t work
- Boxes – shoe boxes (unless they’re being used for random stuff like I do), cereal boxes. Recycle!
- Cookie cutters unless you’ve used them in the past year
- Candy that you’re not sure where it came from or how long it’s been in the pantry
- Recipe books you never even glance at
- Random batteries
- Old catalogs
- Spare change lying around (I put it in a Ziploc and then take it to Coinstar.)
- Junk mail
- Damaged clothing
Would you add anything to the list?
YES! I love all these ideas!! It’s funny how so much of this stuff just collects over time, and how easy it is to toss it when we train our minds to believe that we really don’t need it anymore. I have such a hard time throwing away the other half of a pair (earrings, socks, etc.) because I’m convinced that someday I will find the other half! I never do. :)
Haha, Brittany I am the exact same way. I’m also a paper hoarder. I always think I’m going to need that receipt or invitation. :)