Whether you tackle it as part of downsizing effort or simply to simplify your life, de-cluttering an entire home is a big job. The best way to tackle it is in stages—to focus on one room, one space, or even one zone within a room (like your kitchen cabinets), completing the job fully before moving on to the next space. This will also build confidence as you experience visible success at each step.
Here are 19 things to get you started off in the right direction:
1. Cardboard Boxes
We know – getting rid of cardboard and other stuff from your Amazon orders can be a pain. But recycling old cardboard boxes and packaging materials will free up a ton of space in your attic or basement quickly.
2. Multiple Suitcases
If you have got a lot of baggage, it’s time to take a load off. Ideally, you should only have one large suitcase for long trips and one carry-on-sized suitcase or duffel bag for weekend trips – that’s it. Once you have gotten rid of the stuff that’s excessive, make sure to store your smaller bag inside the larger one to optimize your valuable storage space.
3. Leftover Paint Cans
Leftover paint can last between 10 – 15 years when stored in the right conditions. But if you find that your leftovers have dried up due to temperature swings in your garage, or you know that you’ll never use that color in your home ever again, it’s best to dispose of the paint properly. You might also want to get rid of stuff like paint-caked brushes and rollers while you’re at it.
4. Old Coolers
Coolers and other camping supplies have a way of accumulating in the garage, but unless your home is party central in the summertime, there is no need to hang onto more than two – a large one and a portable one. You can donate clean, functional coolers to a local Boys & Girls Club or a nearby Boy or Girl Scout troop who might be able to use it for parties, camping trips and other events. If your coolers are busted, they typically cannot be recycled, so you’ll have to throw them away. Before putting it on the curb, take the lid and handles off to make the disposal easier.
5. Unused Chemicals and Pesticides
If you have a can of diesel fuel sitting around but you traded in your big truck last year, it’s safe to say that you can get rid of it. Do not attempt to burn or incinerate fuel, motor oil or pesticides, and do not pour these chemicals down the drain or into your grass. Instead, find a hazardous waste center near you to dispose of these chemicals responsibly.
6. Unused Building Supplies
If you are hanging onto old pavers, bricks or concrete blocks in the hopes that you may eventually find a use for them someday, stop hoping, because that day will likely never come. Since most curbside services cannot take heavy debris, these materials can be difficult to get rid of, but there are other ways to handle this type of garage clutter. You can get rid of bricks by putting a flyer out in the neighborhood.
7. Duplicate Grooming Supplies
This includes toothbrushes, razors, tweezers, hairbrushes, eyelash curlers, hair dryers, straightening irons, beard trimmers and really anything else that you only use one of daily. You can keep up to two of each of these items – one for home and one for travel – but any more than two is excessive. Most of these items should not be passed along to others for hygienic reasons, but you may be able to sell or donate an old hairdryer. The rest of your hair appliances should be recycled or disposed of responsibly.
8. Expired Prescriptions
Toss old medications and medical supplies that you do not need anymore. You can take prescription pills to a pharmacy or dedicated disposal location, or you can simply throw them away. Extra medicine cups, the kind that come with your bottle of NyQuil, can take a hike too. While you’re at it, if there’s other medical stuff you can get rid of around the house, such as old crutches or wheelchairs from your knee surgery, you can do so by donating them to a local charity or hospital.
9. Old Makeup
Did you know that most makeup has an expiration date? If you have been hanging onto the same blush for the last three years, your makeup bag might need a quick look-over. Toss any duplicates or makeup items, including nail polish that you tried and will never use again. But save your mascara wands to help save wildlife – The Appalachian Wildlife Refuge’s Wands for Wildlife programs accepts clean, dry wands to help them remove bugs from the fur of baby animals.
10. Unused Tanners and Lotions
Like makeup, sometimes you buy a product that doesn’t work the way you’d hoped it would. That doesn’t mean you have to stare at it in your medicine cabinet every morning for all eternity. If you hated the perfume-y smell of that old moisturizer, or the way that bronzing lotion turned your hands orange, pitch it now, because you will never use it up.
11. Worn-Out Towels
The general rule of thumb is to have three sets of towels per person in your home. If you have way more than needed, you can donate towels in good condition (clean, washed, with no stains or mildew smell) to a local charity. If your towels are beyond saving, donate them to an animal shelter, let your own pet use them in her kennel or go ahead and pitch them.
12. Old Pillows
You might be thinking, “Is there such a thing as too many pillows?” The answer is yes. Often times, a bedroom can wind up with a sea of old, deflated pillows that now need to be stacked four high in order to create a proper cushion. Throw out these old ones and buy two sturdy, new pillows for each person to replace them. The same goes for excessive throw pillows – sell, donate or toss any that you find annoying to remove every day.
13. Extra or Worn-Out Bedding
You really only need two to three sets of sheets per bed, so if your linen closet is overflowing, it may be time to revisit your bedding inventory. Some local charities may be able to take donated bedding, but always call ahead to double-check. If they can’t take it, or if your bedding is too worn-out, throw it out or donate it to an animal shelter to free up some space.
14. Ancient Cords and Chargers
Similar to your living room, the home office can be a graveyard for old technology. Downsize your stuff by clearing out any monitors, computer mouse’s, chargers and cords that have no place in the 21st century.
15. Old Board Games
What is a card deck without an ace? Or a chess set without a queen? Not fun. Get rid of games with missing pieces and donate or sell games you don’t use anymore to downsize your stuff.
16. Kids’ Toys
If your children are grown, it’s time to either donate or dispose of their old playthings. If your little ones are still little, but you’re tired of tripping over toys, designate and organize a playroom area that makes it easy for your children to put away their toys each day. Just make sure to get rid of stuff that’s broken and all those McDonald's toys.
17. Kiddie Cups and Utensils
If your children are grown, it’s time to let go of their ‘90s Disney plates and cups. If they are in good condition, you can downsize your kitchen stuff by donating them to Goodwill for other children to enjoy. If they have been microwaved one too many times, it’s probably best to throw them out.
18. Old Birthday Candles and Party Supplies
Most of the time, birthday candles end up mashed and forgotten at the bottom of the kitchen junk drawer. If that’s happened to yours, pitch them. If you have holiday or party-themed napkins and plates from more than a year ago, either use them up or throw them out.
19. Fast Food Napkins and Condiments
Getting rid of stuff doesn’t always mean throwing it away. If you feel wasteful throwing out fast food napkins, put them into your napkin holder and use them all up over the next week or two. For condiments, start using them up at dinner or packing them into lunches over the next few weeks until they’re gone.
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