The holidays can run us all ragged! Not only do we need to keep our homes clean for visitors, but some of us are selling our houses as well. Fortunately, there’s a way to make things a bit easier: decluttering. If you’re a bit hesitant—or don’t know where to start—check out this list of household items to get rid of before 2020.
Old Toys
Does your child have toys he or she doesn’t play with—ones that his or her siblings ignore too? Donate them or give them away to a friend or family member! Some happy kid would love to receive them this season.
Gift Cards
Gift cards: they’re hit or miss. They can also be one of the many household items to get rid of before 2020. If you have gift cards you haven’t used in the past year, you might be able to trade them for money at a gift card exchange kiosk. You could also potentially use them to buy presents this season! Or, if you want to be generous, you could give them to a loved one, just because!
Expired Goods
The holidays mean a ton of cooking and cleaning. Check under your sink, in your cupboards and pantries, and in the fridge for expired goods and cleaning supplies. Then, safely dispose of them! This also has the added benefit of giving you more room for festivity-related foods!
Old Clothes
We have some clothes that we just don’t wear. Instead, they take up too much space in our closets. If they’re in decent shape, you could always donate them. Make sure you get a donation receipt afterwards—that way, you can save on your taxes too.
Junk Drawer Materials
It’s tempting to toss things we don’t have a place for into the junk drawer. Unfortunately, that means we all have a drawer—or two—or three—that’s rendered completely unusable. Go through your junk drawers—and don’t be afraid to toss things. After all, it’s unlikely you’ve been using—or missing—anything you store there.
Towels and Linens
We all have a raggedy towel hidden away—one we only use if nothing else is clean. The same goes for sheets and linens. Consider getting rid of yours that you no longer use!
Papers
Sometimes, we keep around old papers, coupons, and documents we don’t need. Go through yours and throw out—or recycle—the ones you don’t need. You’d be surprised how many people keep old coupons around—and how out-of-date they can be too!
Nearly-Empty Personal Items
If you go into any home, you’ll find a deodorant with a thin film left on it or a tube of toothpaste with a few drops remaining. It’s totally normal! Still, these items tend to be more trouble than they’re worth, since they take up so much space. Take this as an excuse to go ahead and dispose of all your nearly empty personal items.
Summary
The holidays mean we all have a lot on our plates. With this guide, you won’t have a lot of unnecessary things left in your house, at least! Make sure you run through this list of household items to get rid of before 2020 arrives.
Another thing to do before 2020? Contact Ryan Roberts! He can help you buy, sell, or both in the Auburn, Opelika, and Lake Martin area. Fill out his contact form to begin. As for learning more about home care and real estate, check out his blog!