5 things you should declutter right now – get rid of these items now, say experts

One of my favorite things is grabbing a trash bag or box and gathering items I no longer need or want. This quick task is a great way to maintain order in your home and clear your physical clutter, which will help clear your mental clutter.

It pays to have a well-established arsenal of decluttering tips when trying to stay on top of clutter and prevent it from building up. If you have successfully worked your way through the things to declutter in June , you will already be well on your way to your most relaxed summer yet.

So if you're feeling like you need a refresh in your home? Grab a bag and see what you can get rid of right now!

1. Paper

The bulk of this clutter may be in your home office , but little pieces of paper you can declutter will be all over your home. Paper trash tends to collect in coat pockets, drop zones, kitchen drawers, laundry rooms, kids’ rooms , and sofa end tables.

• Receipts, bills, statements, and other financial documents you do not need to save for taxes or returns.
• Junk mail, catalogs, invitations, notecards, and magazines.
• Paper recipes you don’t use.
• Ink pens that don’t write well.
• Excess paper clips, rubber bands, and office supplies.

2. Books

Many people struggle to declutter books . They often represent books we 'should' read, like the classics, or they contain knowledge for those aspirational goals we set but don’t really care about. Organizing bookshelves can often feel like a burden, so evaluate your books with clear eyes.

• Books you’ve read and don’t plan to read again.
• Books you purchased but know you won’t read, and books you started and won’t finish.
• Reference books with information that is readily available online.

3. Clothes

How we feel in our clothes is often how we feel during the day and how we show up at work and in life. Following our closet decluttering tips is essential to avoid chaos come fall. Ensure your closet contains only the items that make you feel amazing!

• Clothes that don’t fit.
• Clothes with stains, holes, or wear and tear.
• Clothes you haven’t worn in a year.

4. Food

If you are feeling uninspired to cook, try decluttering and organizing a kitchen . When you get rid of ineffective cookware and toss expired food, you’ll see things you enjoy using and eating, and it will feel fresh and new!

• Expired food.
• Food you don’t like.
• Ingredients you used once and will likely not use again.
• Small appliances you never use.
• One-use gadgets.

5. Self-care

We’re told that the 'right' product will be the game-changer for whatever ails us.  We know this isn’t true, but we buy the products anyway, which leads to the accumulation of more than we need. Set a rule for yourself that you can’t buy a new beauty product until you’ve used what you have, or happily part with the items listed below.

• Anything expired, including beauty products, medications, and supplements.
• Self-care gadgets that you don’t use.
• Beauty products you don’t like.

How you get rid of these items will vary by location. We want to do the right thing with our discards, but I don’t want you to overcomplicate the process. It may be unrealistic to think you will take your items to many places, so keep it simple. Donate items that are in great shape and could be re-sold. Try to find one nonprofit that will take all of your discarded items. Recycle items that aren’t fit for a resale market. (I love that fabric recycling is becoming more accessible.)  Toss everything else.

One last note about getting rid of your discarded items. Avoid giving items to friends and family. I know it may feel nice to give an item to someone you know, but sometimes your friends aren’t going to be honest with you and say they don’t want it. They’ll end up taking the item, so it becomes their burden.

If you want to refresh your space and buy something new, try decluttering instead. Getting rid of things I no longer need or want always gives me a more attractive home and a refreshed feeling!