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Spring is here! Which means it is time for some serious spring cleaning! I’ve already begun turning my house upside down for some intense cleaning, but it is taking me a bit longer than expected due to wedding prep and planning!
However, throughout my cleaning endeavors I’ve realized that there is so much in my house that I really just don’t need. Grant it, we just moved in a year ago this month, so during the whole moving process I got rid of A LOT, but I still feel like there is a lot of things that I don’t need that are just sitting around my house.
As I thoroughly clean my house, I wanted to share with you all things that you may come across during your cleaning endeavors that you could probably do without, or at the very least be able to organize and sort through.
Clothes
This first one probably seems so obvious, but for some it can be easily overlooked. I am forever sorting through my clothes and getting rid of what no longer fits me or things that I simply just don’t wear. What’s the point of having clothes just take up room in your closet or drawers that you know you’ll never wear?
Whenever I sort through my clothes I make sure to either donate clothes to those in need, there’s likely clothing donation bins throughout your town, so be sure to look them up! Or I sell them on Poshmark! Poshmark has been so great and easy to use. All you have to do is take photos of your items, and list them to your “closet” for others on the app to shop. It’s a great way to make a couple extra bucks! Lastly, of course, you could always take your unwanted clothes to your local thrift shop! Second-hand shopping is huge right now in the age of Marie Kondo.
Books
I know a lot of people read books on their iPads or Kindles nowadays, but for me, there is just something about having a physical copy of a book in my hands to read. In any case, these books can add up, and if you’re like me without much bookshelf room or closet space in your house these books can take up quite a bit of room.
It’s always a good idea to go through books that you’ve finished reading and can’t see yourself reading again. You can always take these books and donate them to your local library, hold a yard sale, or even pass them along to someone else in your life that may be interested in reading them!
Old Paperwork
Cleaning out your filing cabinet can be such a pain. Old paperwork such as bills, receipts, etc. can really pile up. It’ll be like a weight off your shoulders to get rid of papers that you no longer need!
Old school papers, old bills that have been long since paid, receipts for things such as grocery shopping or that pair of pants you bought three years ago — these are all things that you can for sure get rid of.
If you don’t own a paper shredder, many towns and counties will hold a shredding event that allows everyone to bring their unwanted papers to dispose of!
Old, Expired Food
This may sound obvious and, quite frankly, ridiculous. However, it’s easy to forget about that pancake mix sitting in the very back of your pantry that has been there since you were a child.
Spring cleaning time is a perfect time to completely empty out your refrigerator, pantry and cabinets. Wipe them all down and go through each item to make sure you’re not keeping anything that may be stale or expired. You’ll be very surprised with how much room you end up saving!
(Bonus Tip: I recently got the OXO Good Grips pop containersfor my bridal shower to organize my pantry, and let me tell you they are AMAZING! They’ve saved me so much room, and have made it so much easier to find and access things in my pantry)
Things That No Longer Work
We’ve all been guilty at some point or another of holding onto that old vacuum cleaner that we swear we’re going to get fixed… but will we?
Spring cleaning is the perfect time to get rid of that toaster that has seen better days, or that broken hairdryer that hasn’t come out of the bathroom drawer in ages. What’s the point of holding onto all these things? They just take up room that can be used for so many other things!
Old Makeup & Beauty Products
Believe it or not, makeup does in fact expire. It is also something that can easily be forgotten about if you don’t use it on a daily basis. Not only does expired or old makeup not look as great or apply as easily, but it can also lead to infections or can be harmful to your skin if you have sensitive skin.
Check your mascara, if it is clumpy and hardening — get rid of it! If your lipstick is dried out and doesn’t go on as easily as it once did — get rid of it! If you go to apply foundation that hasn’t been touched in a while and it leaves streaks or has changed in color — get rid of it!
Some ways to help with keeping track of how good your makeup is, always check the expiration dates, mark it with a label of when you purchased it (because not all makeup will be labeled with an expiration date), and store it all in a cool, dry place… such as your bathroom cabinet!
Wires That You Have No Idea What They Go To
With all of the technology and electronic products that everyone owns nowadays, it’s easy to end up with a drawer full of wires and chargers that ultimately you forget what they go to.
Untangle this terrifying wad of wires and find out what they go to! If you come across any wires to products that you have since gotten rid of, get rid of the wire too! You’ll be surprised by the amount of hoarded wires you have without even realizing it!
Hangers From The Dry Cleaners That Always Add Up
Do you ever just end up with an obscene amount of hangers with not enough clothes to hang on them, and you can’t help but wonder at what point you ended up with so many hangers? Because same!
The amount of hangers in my closet from the dry cleaners is insane. Why do I need all of them? Truth is… I don’t! So why keep them?
It’s a good idea to keep a handful for any new clothing purchases in your future, but there’s no need to keep hundreds of them for no reason. Hangers are surely another item that you don’t realize they pile up until you’re like… wow.
Old Towels & Sheets
Spring time is also a good time to get rid of any old towels or sheets that do nothing but take up room in your linen closet. Anything that seems ratty or old or perhaps even stained, get rid of it! If you’re in need of some new sheets or towels, my personal favorites come from Bed, Bath & Beyond or Target!
Old Office Supplies
Your office is one place that should be clean and clutter free. A clear workspace helps you to be more productive! The best way to clear out your workspace is to get rid of any and all old office supplies that you no longer need.
This consists of old filing folders that no longer have anything in them, notebooks that may be filled with information you no longer need, pens that have run out of ink, tape dispensers with no more tape, memo pads that are never used — all of it!
This is just a handful of things that can be sorted through and thrown away during your spring cleaning endeavors! What are some things you make sure to get rid of during spring cleaning season?