For some, the return of spring marks a time of rebirth and renewal, and with that, the desire to spring-clean our spaces and to make way for the new and clear out the old. While it's easy to clean, clear, and purge most items, there are some piles and belongings that we tend to push aside or move around in an attempt to clear the space, rather than dealing with them in the moment. If you're ready to put the brakes on the spring-cleaning shuffle, here are a few things around your home you should throw away right now.
Spring-cleaning the garage? Toss that old paint
Spring cleaning tips for getting rid of makeup
Makeup, much like the items in your refrigerator, has an expiration date, but the clock starts ticking on the first day you use them, not the date of purchase.
"If you’re ever stuck wondering, all products have a small symbol that looks like a jar with a number/letter on the inside, ex: 12M. This means, usually, that a product has a 12-month shelf life upon opening," celebrity makeup artist Britty Whitfield told Byrdie. "For makeup, I always follow what the timeframe is in the symbol. The worst possible thing would be to use an old, oxidized foundation."
Items you never or seldom use should be the first to go, followed by those you've had for a while. For instance, replace mascara every three months and foundation between six months to a year. Blush and face powder may last up to two years, and don't forget to replace your beauty tools, too.
Pare down or go digital: Spring-clean your magazines and paper clutter
It's easy to let magazines stack up. Maybe you haven't read this one yet or that one has a great recipe or party idea. If you can't remember whether you've read it or not, or if you can't recall what recipe you wanted, it's time to pare down and recycle.
Rashelle Isip is a New York City–based productivity consultant who helps entrepreneurs organize their lives. Isip suggests paring down magazine subscriptions by going digital and creating systems for magazines you may already have in your posession.
"Keep information out of sight, and comfortably out of mind, by storing your articles and other information in file folders," Isip wrote on her site, The Order Expert. "You could organize items by month, publications, recipes, short stories, new products to try out, items you’d like to read in depth…the sky’s the limit!"
Another option is to make a temporary bulletin board collage, or create a magazine article binder to highlight any information you want to save for a future date. "Use a 2-inch or larger three-ring binder and clear-sleeve storage pockets to store articles from magazines," Isip advised. "Should you desire, you could create different tabbed sections for different magazines, or use individual binders for separate publications altogether."
You can treat additional paper clutter the same way. Newspapers, junk mail, schoolwork the kids bring home, it all contributes to a cluttered space. Get rid of items as they come in, be selective about keeping children's artwork — snap a photo or create a private Instagram page to showcase it — and watch that paper clutter decrease.
Release clothes that no longer fit
Cleaning out a clothes closet can be daunting, so start small by getting rid of clothing that no longer fits. Hanging onto clothing as motivation to lose weight isn't serving your mental health or your spring-cleaning decluttering process well.
Pick a shelter that could benefit from your donations before you get started, so that your motivation to give back outweighs the desire to hold onto anything unnecessarily.
If you could use some extra cash, or the items are particularly valuable, don't even think twice about offering them up on Poshmark or Mercari. Moms all over are raking in the cash selling their own used or thrifted items online. Items that are threadbare and worn, can be donated to nonprofits like Fabscrap.com.
Get rid of long-forgotten toys and games
The playroom is an area where you'll probably always find something you think your kids could part with — though they might not agree if they're reminded of it. Similar to your clothes, pick a shelter or an organization like Second Chance Toys, which gives donated toys to children in need. It will make it easier to honestly evaluate which toys aren't being used when you know they're headed to children who will be thrilled to have them.
Spring-cleaning safety tip: Replace worn or unsafe cookware
Partially melted spatulas and chipped mugs aren't just an eyesore, they might be a health hazard. Recycle or throw away items that are clearly broken, especially any worn-down plastics or cracked glass.
It's also wise to do an inventory of pots and pans while you're at it. If any nonstick or enamel coating is flaking off, or if you are starting to see the pot or pan's copper core, it's definitely time to replace.
Purge those books and DVDs
When's the last time you reread a book you own? And do you really watch every single one of your DVDs on a regular basis? Less-cluttered bookshelves will bring about instant gratification and give you momentum to keep going.
Books can be resold or donated to local thrift stores; children's books and kid-friendly DVDs can go to local children's hospitals or shelters. Otherwise, keep all of these items out of landfills by simply bringing them to a local recycling center.
