Getting Rid of Clutter: 11 Things That Only Increase Clutter

If the drawer for forks, spoons and knives is full, it’s time to sort them – most likely their number exceeds the norm. Each family member needs two of each type of cutlery: one can be used while the other is in the dishwasher. Everything else is superfluous: you can throw them away or give them to someone.

This fate hits avid readers sooner than those who buy the occasional book, but sooner or later almost all of us find our shelves overflowing. Spend half an hour going through their contents, leaving only your favorite volumes that you will definitely re-read, and donate the rest to the nearest library.

When it’s time to put the leftovers from dinner in the refrigerator, can’t you immediately find the right lid for the plastic container? This means you have accumulated too many containers. Go through everything – discard the warped, damaged, and those left without the “top”.

Champagne flutes, wide-bottomed glasses for red wine, thick glasses for whiskey, cognac glasses, highballs for sodas, mugs for beer… Bartenders believe that each drink needs its own type of glassware. However, the space’s organizers are confident that glassware you haven’t touched in years is safe to sell or give away – it’s just cluttering your home.

Make no mistake: If you know you’ll be making leftover capellini for dinner tomorrow or in a few days, you shouldn’t throw it away. But if you’ve had a package of lentil pasta on your shelf for six months that no one liked, then there’s no point waiting for it to expire. The same rule applies, for example, to a shampoo or exfoliating cream that “does not suit you”.

Each of us has things of the moment that will come “one day”: when we lose weight, when we go to the opera, when we start a vegetable garden or when we take up show jumping lessons that we gave up eight years ago. Such clothes usually clutter your wardrobe – go through them and get rid of what you don’t wear. Estimate the number of duplicates: Do you really need ten pairs of tall socks if you prefer shoes that pair better with short socks?

Each of us sooner or later has a strong intention to become the best version of ourselves – that’s usually when we order fitness bands, sliders, dumbbells and leg weights. Think about how often you use these acquisitions: if they sit still for more than six months, it is better to sell them. And don’t worry about needing it: there are plenty of online training options for all muscle groups with your own weight.

Even the strongest among us have fallen for it: when you see a friend’s post on social media about how their air fryer changed their life, it’s hard to resist the urge to read about it. buy one for yourself. However, very often we treat household appliances like children with toys: we have a little fun and then forget about them. Think about what you haven’t used for a long time and sell those gadgets: there’s no point in keeping them in the kitchen, which is usually the smallest room in the house.

If old electronics are taking up space in your closet, it’s time to act. There is no point in keeping an old phone – most likely, its battery has deteriorated for a long time and you will no longer be able to use it when the gadget you are currently carrying breaks down. Go through chargers, cables and devices and get rid of broken or unnecessary ones: the best way to do this is to recycle them.

Even if this thing was given to you by the person you love, that doesn’t mean you are obligated to keep it. It will not be a betrayal – if an ugly faience horse disappears from the shelf, this will not change your attitude towards a friend who brought a travel souvenir.

Read also: 9 Simple Steps to Declutter Your Home in a Weekend

Everyone who takes up a new hobby falls into this trap: Newbie embroiderers can’t pass by a sewing store without buying another set, and knitting enthusiasts fill huge containers with skeins. But over time, we realize that Chinese threads are unpleasant to work with, and embroidery on sale with fairies is not at all to our taste. There is no need to keep them, it is better to give them to another beginner who simply decides what she likes and what she does not like.

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