When someone says you need to do a major cleanup, you immediately think of doing it in spring. It may be because of the tradition that the great declutter happens in spring that homeowners think it's the best and only time to do it. Many home organization consultants agree, though, that winter may be an even better season for decluttering. If you do decide to do some winter organizing, here are some of the things you might want to get rid off:
WHAT TO GET RID OF DURING YOUR WINTER CLEAN-OUT
If you are wondering what you should say goodbye to when you declutter, here's a list of the items you might want to consider getting rid of:
SEASONAL DECOR
If you have decorations that you only use for a few months of the year, you might want to get rid of them or at least sort through them to see which ones you can toss. There is no point in buying and keeping things for your home that you only use for a month out of the year or keeping three boxes of decor. If you must keep some, make sure that they're organized in containers where they won't collect dust.
WINTER CLOTHES AND ACCESSORIES THAT YOU DON’T USE
You know where this is going, right? It's cold outside, and most of us put on our winter wear. Some of us even wear them all the time. If that's the case, then you probably have more winter wear and accessories than you need. Consider giving some of them away to people who need them, and let them know that they're not, in fact, brand new. As for those winter clothes that you do use, make sure you store them properly once the cold months are over.
TOYS AND OTHER ITEMS THAT THE KIDS HAVE OUTGROWN
This may give you serious Toy Story moments, but really, it's necessary if you want to leave space in your home and your kids' bedroom for new stuff. When the kids outgrow toys and other items, you might think that you should keep them because someday, they'll be able to use them again. But think about it: By the time they reach an age where they might be able to use those things again, they'll have outgrown them yet again. You can donate those old toys, or you can sell them to other parents who have to buy those things anyway.
EXCESS OR EXPIRED FOOD
If you've been storing food in your freezer for a long time, the chances are that some of it has gone bad. You don't want to eat spoiled food, and you don't want to take a chance on your health. If any of those cans have expired for a year or more, you should dump them. If you don't know how to dispose of them, you can always put them in an outdoor garbage can. If you have food in your pantry that you don't want, make sure to check the dates before you decide to throw them out.
GET RID OF OLD PAPERS AND OTHER DOCUMENTS
If you're a paper person, you probably have a ton of documents that you no longer need. You can dispose of those papers in a number of ways. If they're a bit torn up, you can put them in the recycle bin. If they're damp or moldy, you can toss them in the trash.
If you're going to do a major decluttering this winter, make sure that you check everything before deciding to dispose of it. You don't want to throw out things that you'll need in the near future. Also, make sure that you schedule a day to do this. An extensive home organization session can take a couple of days, so you don't want to do it in a couple of hours. If you find the task too overwhelming, you can always get professional decluttering services, too. Rescue My Space is a team of home organization consultants from Texas that can get your home organized so that you can do your tasks efficiently and still keep your home clutter-free. Contact us to find out more about our services!