20 Items You Need to Get Rid of Now

There’s nothing like decluttering to help you feel better about your life. It makes your house cleaner, virtually enlarges your storage space, and helps you stay organized. If you need a little help deciding what to get rid of, here is a list of 20 things you can ditch — or pitch — right away. We’ve broken them into 5 different categories, room by room.

In the Kids’ Rooms

1. If you have kids, you probably have toys lying around that they never play with or wouldn’t miss. It’s time to unload them!
2. What about those baby clothes? I know they’re cute, but if you’re done having kids…
3. Worn out bedding — how many years are you planning to keep those sheets that have holes in them?
4. Old art supplies — broken crayons, dried out paints, and crusty paintbrushes
   

In the Kitchen

1. Old tupperware — tomato stains or old cottage cheese containers. If it’s crappy, get rid of it.
2. Redundant utensils — How many large slotted spoons do you need, anyway?
3. Stained dish towels — they’re just taking up space at the bottom of the drawer
4. Empty detergent bottles — check under the sink — you’ve got ’em
   

In Your Bedroom

1. Clothes you don’t wear — too small, too big, out of style, or just not “you”
2. Jewelry — anything you never put on can be donated to someone who will use it
3. Shoes — do you really wear all 28 pair?
4. Anything that doesn’t belong there — my room turns into a catch-all. Put stuff back in its appropriate space and save yourself some room.

In the Bathroom

1. Old medications — it’s not just decluttering, it’s a safety issue
2. Old razors — you’ve probably got at least one in your shower or a drawer
3. Expired makeup — you know it’s past its prime
4. Empty bottles — shampoo, pain relievers, disinfectant…go through your vanity and you’ll find things to pitch
   

In the Garage

1. Broken tools — if it’s been sitting for 3 months and you haven’t fixed it yet, you probably won’t
2. Old chemicals — that insecticide will expire after a while, and could even be dangerous
3. Scraps — sometimes these are useful, but usually they just take up space. Pipe, wood, metal, etc.
4. Empty containers — paint cans, gas cans, bottles. Just be sure you dispose of them properly