Back in January, I shared some decluttering ideas inspired by this list. Apparently,
in the move of February, I failed to return to that list, but here we are in
March, and I am desperate for spring to show up to STAY. If committing to spring
cleaning will lure it here, I’ll commit!
So as we head
into a weekend, I thought I’d throw out some more decluttering ideas. If
you have some time, maybe you can make
things a little less chaotic around your home or in your life.
1.
Cords/chargers that don’t work or you aren’t sure what they fit.
Anyone else have a technology graveyard in their home? We
actually eliminated this from our house a few years ago when I found a travel
charger bag online and gave it to Ryan for some occasion. (Birthday? Christmas?
Easter? I don’t remember.) It’s true that we really do have a bag for
everything. This bag was a game-changer for us. I am pretty sure this is the link to
the bag I purchased. If it wasn’t this one, it was very similar. There are
compartments and holders inside, and you can organize all your device chargers
and even add external portable chargers for when you aren’t near a plug. If you
need something, you know just where to find it, and if you are getting ready to
travel, you can throw this bag in your luggage and know you’ll have all the
chargers you need while you’re on your trip! But even if you don’t make a bag
for it, it’s always a good idea to throw out chargers and cords that don’t work
or don’t fit!
2.
Supplies for hobbies you no longer do. Some of
you who have read here for many years remember that shortly after college, I
was a consultant for a rubber stamp company and had a huge collection of
stamps. I used them in card making and scrapbooking. After my breakup in 2010,
I didn’t have the stamina for hobbies. I barely had the stamina for life. And
then I started commuting and working in radio, and free time in general was a
thing of the past. Eventually, after Ryan and I got married, I determined this
hobby was a has-been for me. It served me well for the years I did it, and I
would not change a thing about it. But when I realized I wasn’t going back to
it, I sold all my supplies to crafters who loved new-to-them treasures. If you
have half-used hobby supplies, maybe spring is a good time to let them go to a
new home!
3.
Manuals for items you no longer own. Ryan
and I keep all our appliance (etc.) manuals in a tub, which I’m sure shocks you
to your very core, and periodically we pilfer through to toss anything we don’t
have anymore. If we sell something, we include the manual, but if something
breaks or dies and we have to throw it away, we don’t usually think to purge
the manual, too. It’s good to make sure everything you have matches everything you
have!
4.
Mail purge! Junk mail, catalogs, coupons…they pile up. This is one area
where we always resolve to do well and then usually fail. We have a mail basket,
and we say we won’t put anything in it unless it matters, but the day always
comes when we check the mail in a hurry and throw everything in the basket, and
so the pile begins again. Go through and toss (being careful to shred anything
with identifying information on it) anything that you don’t need or that is
outdated. Maybe you’ll find a gift card or another fun treasure hiding in all
the BLAH.
5.
Any winter wear you don’t wear. Bring
spring!! If you have coats/hats/gloves/scarves/boots/winter clothing that didn’t
get worn this past year – or that doesn’t fit anymore – now’s the time to let
it go. It may be past the prime for this window, but it IS possible that if you
have something you need to replace, like a winter coat, you might find
something on a great clearance right now.
Happy spring cleaning!
2 comments:
I did a massive purge of these things when I moved this summer! Feels so freeing.
Tamar - Doesn't it?? I love it so much.
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