Have you ever looked around your home and thought why the hell am I keeping this but then at the same time done absolutely nothing about it!
I know I have.
I'm very good at decluttering clothes for example and I positively embrace clearing out my wardrobe. But I'm not so good at throwing away old newspapers and magazines - I kid myself I will read them and neatly stash in scrapbooks (another thing I like to buy!).
Below I've outlined the things that you should get rid of and why starting with magazines. I hope some resonate with you.
Old Magazines
How far back does your magazine collection go? I used to store old Vogues and I do sometimes wish I'd kept the iconic one with the four supermodels on the cover actually. Many people (and you might be one of them) save years and years worth, not realizing that the internet often lets you view archives of old content. So for that reason don't let the print versions take over and clutter your home. Give newspapers a time limit of a strict one week.
Expired Makeup
Most people hate tossing out old makeup especially if it is expensive and has a flashy case (that Chanel shadow is just so pretty!), but old products are no longer usable: Expired makeup has often dried up, doesn't work as well, and isn't as good for your skin. Be ruthless and throw away. Especially mascaras.
Hole-Ridden Clothing
Your toes really don't like poking out of your cashmere socks, especially if you live in a chilly climate. Do your feet a big favour and discard any socks with holes, the same goes for other clothing that's worn and shabby. Some issues are fixable, such as a split seam or minor tear, but a good rule of thumb is to ask yourself whether you actually will pull out a needle and thread and repair the item. No? Then into the rubbish bin it must go.
Dated Spices
Dried herbs and ground spices lose their flavour and aroma with time. Here's a decluttering tip: Get rid of any herb or spice that you've had for six months or longer. If the spice is whole, it will last for years, so you can prevent expiration by purchasing whole and grinding at home.
Kitchenware
Declutter your kitchen cabinets. Within lurks plastic storage containers without lids, unused mismatched coffee mugs, appliances you've never touched, and so on. If you haven't made use of a kitchen item, or you no longer have all the components, then get rid of it. The space these things take up is valuable and stops you seeing and using other more worthy items.
Dead Bulbs and Batteries
Batteries and light bulbs that have lost their juice have no place in your home. It happens: You replace the batteries on your remote and quickly get back to watching your programme, only to forget to toss the old ones. Now's the time to find those dead items and put them where they belong: in the rubbish bin or for recycling preferably.
Electronics You Don't Use
An old mobile phone a tablet you don't touch, and more all take up space and collect dust in your home, but they could earn you some money. Wipe the memory from your gadgets and lookup sites online where you can sell them. If this doesn't work, look for a recycling centre near you that takes electronics.
That's it...now grab a bin liner and see what you can do in 15 minutes!
