Struggling to Declutter? Here are 10 Things to Get Rid of First​

Decluttering your house can be a stressful and time-consuming process. There are so many things to sort through in each room that it’s hard to know where to start. If you find yourself in this predicament, begin by getting rid of these 10 items.  

1. Old Clothes

Old clothes should be the first items to go during a decluttering project. Getting rid of things that no longer fit or have gone out of style will clear out significant closet and dresser space. Some of your outfits might have sentimental value, but you need to let them move on and find another home.

Separate your clothes into three piles — keep, trash and donate. If the clothes are tattered and unwearable, you can throw them away. Other items in good condition can be taken to a donation bin or given to a local thrift store.

2. Duplicate Tools

It’s easy for duplicate items to accumulate over the years. Go through each room and see if you have too many of these tools:

Cooking: pots and pans, spatulas, tongs, baking sheets

Cleaning: brooms, vacuums, mops, spray bottles
Grooming: hairbrushes, razors, hair dryers, curling irons
Landscaping: rakes, shovels, pruners, saws

Having backup tools is understandable, but you don’t need three or four of the same item. Sell or donate any spares you don’t need. Pay extra close attention to bathrooms, which accumulate a lot of things, sustain lots of wear and tear, and require frequent upgrades.

3. Expired Products

This one might be obvious, but expired products have to go. While food is the most obvious place to start, there are many things that may have expiration dates that you haven’t noticed. Go through makeup and toiletries to get rid of any old bottles that are taking up space in your bathroom.

Chemical products have expiration dates just like food, but it’s easy to forget about them. Bleach, degreasers, pesticides, drain cleaners and other items sit in storage for most of their life spans.

4. Excess Dishware 

Look through your kitchen cabinets and be honest — do you have too many dishes? How many does your family really need? Is it necessary to have dozens of cups, plates and bowls for a handful of people? If your dishwasher is packed every day, you probably have an excessive amount of dishware.

5. Holiday Decorations

Every year, millions of people get excited about the holiday season and buy new decorations — completely forgetting about what they purchased the year before. If you unknowingly fell into this cycle, you may have an excessive amount of Christmas, Thanksgiving and Halloween decor. If you’ve thrown a Fourth of July party in the past, see if you have any leftover sparklers or fireworks hiding in the garage, as they sometimes have expiration dates. Downsize your decorations and try not to go overboard next year.

6. Obsolete Technology

Technology is advancing at a rapid pace. Many homes are full of obsolete items — landlines, old cellphones, gaming devices, bulky TVs and ancient computer monitors, to name a few. Ditch these outdated appliances and make room to introduce new household tech that can improve your quality of life.

7. Old Office Supplies

Office supplies are quickly becoming outdated as well. Everything used to happen on paper, but now you can document all of your information online. It’s finally time to get rid of your old fax machines, carbon paper, mysterious cords and cables, and other office supplies. Decluttering your workspace will make you more productive.

8. Magazines and Newspapers

Everyone used to have magazine and newspaper subscriptions, but now you can get all of your news and entertainment online. There’s no good reason to have these items delivered to your house anymore. Cancel your subscriptions and get rid of your old magazine and newspaper collections. 

9. Sports Equipment

If your family plays sports, your garage and basement are likely full of miscellaneous sporting equipment. Items that are still functional and don’t smell too bad can be donated to local youth sports teams. New equipment is notoriously expensive, so you’re guaranteed to find someone who needs it. 

10. Cardboard Boxes

Cardboard boxes are more common than ever these days due to the high number of package deliveries from Amazon and similar sites. Many people burn them, but this is a bad idea because cardboard contains chemicals, glue and ink that contaminate the atmosphere. It’s more responsible and eco-friendly to take them to a recycling center.

Start Your Decluttering Project Off Strong

These 10 items are just the tip of the iceberg in the decluttering process, but they will help you start your project off strong. Taking care of these things first will help you get a feel for your house’s downsizing needs and build momentum for the rest of the day. Take one step at a time, and you’ll eventually get there