A Midsummer Declutter: 10 Things to Give Away

Coming home to a clean house after a summer trip is so fresh and rewarding. Your bed feels welcoming, and you sleep well knowing you won’t be waking up to a sink full of dishes or a closet full of clothes on the floor. It’s the same feeling of sitting down in your office chair and powering up your laptop on a clean and tidy desk.

Most experts agree that one of the secrets to a sparkling space is having fewer things to dust and put away. I’ve compiled a list of ten things which may be contributing to unnecessary clutter in your daily surroundings. In honor of Give Something Away Day, keep reading for ten suggestions on what you may want to consider donating or tossing this month.

Outdated Home Accessories

Remember the design rule of three; keep knick-knacks to a minimum and display special mementos or items you can use. Just because you love something doesn’t mean you have room to store it forever. If it’s been taking up space and you are tripping over it daily, move it to another room of your home or give it to someone who will enjoy it and has ample living accommodations.

Worn Out Bedding and Towels

Take out everything from your linen closet(s) and go through your sheet sets, comforters and towels. There’s a good chance you have collected multiple comforters and duvets throughout the years. There are probably plenty of old towels to replace with new ones sitting in your cabinet or closet. Go through your linens and separate what you still enjoy using from what you no longer want taking up valuable space.

Kitchen Appliances and Gadgets

Although you may have created a Pinterest board chock full of freezer to crockpot recipes, if you aren’t using an appliance regularly, or haven’t used the multiple gadgets taking up real estate in your drawers, don’t feel guilty for saying good-bye. How many holiday spatulas or wine openers can you really use? Do you need three different hand mixers with missing blades? This might be the time to purchase a much-needed peeler and discard 4 of your candy thermometers.

Scents

Over time, you outgrow favorite smells as the essential oils in your cabinet run their course. You may have several oil diffusers someone else may enjoy more. Gather half-burned candles and old bottles of oils. Start fresh with a few specially curated choices which you will reach for without an overstock.

Holiday Decorations

If you have a closet or area of the attic dedicated to the holidays, inspect your favorites and let go of anything that has been damaged by heat or wear and tear.

Clothing and Shoes

Do an audit of your closet seasonally and get rid of fashion trends that will never come back or you no longer wear. Take a hard look at your shoes and toss or donate shoes that sit in your closet and collect dust. If you have shoes with tags still on them, but every time you put them on, you get a blister in the first few seconds of wear, haul them to your local consignment store.

Books and Magazines

We all have favorite books with sentimental value, but there are likely many more we will never re-read. One idea is to take unwanted books to a second-hand bookstore for credit. You can use the cash to pick up something new and exciting in exchange for the five or 10 books you no longer need. Other options are to take advantage of neighborhood exchange programs or donate good books to organizations or local nursing facilities.

Handbags and Luggage

After you upgrade your luggage, donate your older versions to a nonprofit or local charity. The room you’ll gain in your closet is worth the hassle.

Duplicates of Office Supplies

How many staplers does one person really need? A quick look at your desk drawers may reveal a plethora of multiple items taking up corners of your desk. It’s better to have peace of mind when conducting your work day than a lifetime supply of sticky notes. Don’t buy anymore supplies until you use up what you have.

Cards and Pictures

If you have a large collection of photos, there may be duplicates. While there is sentimental value in keeping old cards, you may find quite a few that you have no problem recycling. Go through them with a fine tooth comb and distribute the extra pics to family members who may want to start their own collection. Keep yours on the computer and eliminate shelves of clutter.

You may also like Tips for Organizing Your Files. For more of Diane’s etiquette tips, “like” The Protocol School of Texas on Facebook, and follow Diane on Pinterest, Instagram and Twitter. Buy her new book, Modern Etiquette for a Better Life.