A big part of any renovation, move or home refresh is just getting rid of the extra stuff. Just saying the words “I have to clean” may bring about anxiety, whining and the need to take a procrastination nap, but it’s worth dedicating 30 minutes (or however long it takes you to fill up a few garbage bags) this weekend to decluttering your space. Start with your kitchen or your bathroom, set your timer and know you’ll be able to relax on the couch in half an hour!
Your short checklist of things to toss:
- Old kitchen sponges or sanitize wet sponges in the microwave for 2 minutes, (no steel/metal scrubbers, of course).
- Pantry/fridge/freezer sweep: look for expired canned goods, peanut butter, meat you never cooked, leftovers you never reheated, take-out condiments, etc.
- That worn out plastic container is talking to you. Say “goodbye.”
- Magazines, catalogs, junk mail, old receipts, coupons, empty boxes. If you haven’t read or used them, it’s time to let go.
- Old makeup (they have expiration dates for a reason), sunscreen, face/body cleansers, lotions you stopped using, hair products you never touch.
- That dead plant is so sad.
- How old are your pillows? Either wash them or buy new ones.
You don’t need to tackle every room in one try. Take small steps toward getting rid of excess and you’ll end up spending more time enjoying every inch of your hard-earned space.
