Two times a year I do a total house cleaning, out with the old, and make room for the new. It’s just amazing how much junk I find every time, and I ask myself “Where is it all coming from“And probably like every Mom’s out here, most of the stuff isn’t even yours. LOL
Let me know if your house is the same, I’m curious to hear.
So here is a list of things you just need to toss. I know it’s hard ladies but do it.
In the Kitchen
- Extra cups and mugs (how many can your household realistically use?)
- Expired food
- Unused plastic containers, especially if they don’t have a lid
- Travel mugs that are ugly/missing lids/don’t keep things hot or cold well
- Cookie cutters you don’t use
- Cake pans you don’t use
- Extra mason jars
In the Bathroom
- Makeup that has expired
- Outdated drugs or vitamins
- Excess bobby pins
- Dried-up nail polishes
- Unused perfume or colognes
- The makeup you’ve never used
- Extra travel-size shampoo bottles
- Curling irons or straighteners you don’t use
- Half-used lip balm containers
- Expired sunscreen
In the Bedrooms
- Extra plastic hangers
- Socks with holes or without mates
- Old sneakers
- Jewelry you don’t wear
- Clothes that are more than two sizes too big or small
- Underwear
Paper Clutter
- Old bills
- Paychecks older than 2 years
- Old newspapers
- Ticket stubs
- Extra notebooks
- Old Christmas cards
- Old calendars
- Boxes
- Expired coupons
- Old day planners
- Take out menus (you can easily find this information online)
Linens & Decor
- Rugs or decor you don’t use
- Extra pillows
- Extra bed linens (you should have two sets per bed)
- Extra cleaning rags
- Tea light candles (use them or lose them)
- Knick knacks you don’t like or don’t display
- Candles you don’t use
Technology & Entertainment
- Magazines (you can read hundreds of them online, some of them for free)
- Books you will never read again
- Old technology such as CDs, VHS tapes (especially if you don’t own a player), etc.
- Movies you won’t watch again
- More earbuds than you have family members
- Toys that never get played with
- Games with missing pieces
- Video games or board games you never play
- Cords that don’t belong to anything you currently own
- Duplicate power cords that never get used
- Travel alarm clock (use your phone)
- Old phone covers or screen protectors
- Stuffed animals your kids don’t love anymore
Everything Else
- Projects that are half-finished
- Old paint
- Old product boxes
- Matches you’ll never use
- Things you bought and still haven’t returned (take them back!)
- Loose screws, nuts, bolts, etc.
- Holiday decor you don’t use
- Old party supplies
- Old wedding favors
- Cleaning supplies you don’t use
- Flower pots (either plant a flower or toss the pot)
- Watering cans, if you don’t have plants or flowers, or if you have more than one
- Extra buttons
- Extra highlighters
- Samples of any kind that you aren’t using
- Tape measures (keep one and toss the rest)
- Miscellaneous ribbons or string
- Organizers that aren’t in use
- Keychains you don’t use