WHAT TO DECLUTTER—AND NOT DECLUTTER—IN YOUR HOME
| If you let things pile up, decluttering can be a very tedious task. But don’t try to get rid of it all. There are things you should hold onto, as well as things you don’t really need. Here’s what the organizing pros say you should toss out, and what to keep. |
| Papers. Always declutter user manuals for electronics and appliances. They’re available online. Never declutter important documents, such as birth and marriage certificates, social security cards, immunization records, and important financial and legal documents. Keep these in a bank safe deposit or a small fireproof document box. Clothing. Always declutter clothes that no longer fit and anything you haven’t worn in a year. Donate clothes with stains, holes, or rips to a textile recycling organization or company. Never declutter well-made, classic pieces, such as quality dresses, pants, shirts, sweaters, jackets, and shoes that can continue to be useful. |
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| Kitchen Items. Always declutter odd glassware and dishes that don’t belong to a set, unless you like eclectic table settings. Also, throw out duplicate ice cream scoops, pizza cutters, and other special items. Unless you’re using them simultaneously, keep your favorite one and toss the rest. And, of course, ditch countertop appliances that don’t work properly, or that you no longer use. Never declutter kitchen items you regularly use, or necessary seasonal kitchen tools, such as a turkey baster. |
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| Stashes of Household Paper Products. Never declutter all those paper towels and toilet paper rolls you stock up on at the warehouse club store. You will eventually use them! Store them as best you can, but in the future, think about where you’ll put that volume purchase before springing for it. Toiletries. Always declutter tiny hotel toiletries and samples you won’t use before they’re past their expiration dates. Check if a local shelter accepts donations of unopened toiletries you’re not likely to use. Never declutter products you use regularly. It’s smart to have backups on hand if your local store runs out. |
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| Sentimental Items. Always declutter all those things you plan to scrapbook or organize in boxes for safekeeping, but never do. Those include event programs, ticket stubs, and other items you’re saving for their sentimental value. Never declutter what you truly cherish, such as things you look at often, and irreplaceable family heirlooms you plan to pass down to others. If you have a lot of photos you want to keep but don’t have the space for, check out services such as ScanMyPhotos.com that digitize images. Duplicates of Useful Household Items. Never declutter duplicates of things that are nice to have throughout the house, so they’re at hand when you need them, such as adhesive tape, scissors, notepads, tape measures, pens, pencils, etc. |
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