6 Items To Declutter Before the New Year

Make room because, ready or not, the new year is upon us! Everyone wants to enter a new year with less burden and overwhelm, right? What if I told you that feeling starts within your home? Studies have shown us that the more stuff we have, the more stress we experience, and I can relate to that statement. As soon as I begin decluttering any room and get rid of things I don’t use anymore or haven’t used in a long time, I immediately feel a sense of relief, like a burden is being lifted from my shoulders. I want to set the tone for a lighter, more organized year ahead by decluttering these ten items in your home!

Clothes

Take a look at that closet. If you’re anything like my husband, you might stare at your clothes for several minutes before slowly and hesitantly taking them off the shelf to sort through them. On the other hand, if you’re more like me, you dive right in, pulling everything out and starting the purging process.

Regardless of which personality you relate to more, we all face the challenge of parting with items like our favorite blue shirt that we bought five years ago but haven’t worn since. Or perhaps it’s the dress we purchased for a special occasion that still has the tag on as we hold onto the hope that we might wear it someday. When you go through your closet, here is a list of things you can ask yourself to help you with the elimination process of those harder to part with pieces:

1. Is this item worth the space it takes up?
2. Am I keeping this item just in case, and how realistic is that “case.”
3. Would I miss this item if I didn’t have it anymore?
4. Could someone else benefit more from this item than I do?

Bathroom Products

Bathroom products are often neglected because we tend to use them once and then forget about them until we decide to declutter and organize our drawers and cabinets. When we rediscover these forgotten items, it can be challenging to part with them, as it feels like Christmas morning all over again! An easy way to overcome this excitement over lost products is to keep them in plain sight. After a week of seeing them out, evaluate whether they are worth keeping around.

Decorations

After Christmas is the perfect time to go through your home decorations. Many people replace their everyday decor with Christmas decorations, so while you’re making the switcharoo, take the opportunity to evaluate items that you no longer want to display in your home. In this case, some things to ask yourself are: Does this represent my current style? Do I really take pleasure in looking at this piece? Is it time to switch this out with something more modern? Do I have space for this item?

Kitchenware

My wooden kitchen spoon had been broken for a long time, but I never found the time to replace it or throw it away. When I’m in the kitchen, I’m usually focused on cooking rather than sorting through my utensil drawer. It is important to set time aside to go through your kitchen items when you aren’t busy making dinner so that you can focus on what you actually need and use. A simple process to decluttering your kitchenware could look something like this:

1. Pull everything out of one drawer or cabinet.
2. Go through each piece one by one, deciding if you need it or use it.
3. If you don’t need the item, donate it or trash it, depending on its condition.
4. If you need the item but it is damaged, add it to your Amazon cart for repurchasing and throw it away.
5. Clean area with a rag before putting items away.
6. Repeat until you’ve gone through all the drawers and cabinets in the kitchen.

Expired Pantry Items

Spices, canned goods, sauces, and other pantry items last a long time, but that doesn’t mean they last forever! The pantry is a forgotten space in the house that rarely gets the attention it deserves. I don’t know how many times I have helped other people declutter their pantries, and they have products that are years past expiration. Clearly, we don’t need the Chick-fil-A sauce like we thought we did. If the label is rubbed off and you know it wasn’t a recent purchase, discard it. You don’t need to feel guilty about getting rid of expired food; the waste is already done, and your health is more important than keeping something you know can’t be eaten anymore.

Kids’ Toys and Playroom Items

Get your kids involved in donating toys they no longer play with or have grown out of. This will help build confidence in your child’s decision-making abilities. Children need to learn that it is okay to let things go when they are no longer of healthy use. When working with your kids in this area, remind them that other little kids would love the chance to enjoy a kitchen playset like they did when they were younger or that someone else will benefit from a stuffed animal they’ve grown out of playing with. If the items are broken, torn, or damaged, throw them away. It is never a pleasant feeling to purchase something used only to get home and find out it is broken.