TikToker Names 5 Items to Toss When Decluttering for the New Year
TikTok influencer Caroline Solomon (@neat.caroline), who posts household cleaning tips and cooking hacks, has named a few essential ways to declutter before the New Year. Solomon says that, by trashing five simple items, you can begin 2024 on calm footing. Plus, it’s nothing you're likely to miss.
The five items Solomon recommends getting rid of for a decluttered New Year are:
Unused or expired toiletries
Bathrooms are a sanctuary for expired and forgotten items. Solomon recommends trashing anything spoiled. In the case of products you may have tried and disliked, you can pass those along to a close friend or family member.
Sweaters you no longer need
Just about everyone's closet contains at least three to five sweaters that have gone unworn for years, whether due to size or comfort. These can easily be donated to thrift stores or food banks, where they’ll be available for those who may have a harder time procuring new clothes.
"We hold onto items like extra sweaters 'just in case,'" Solomon tells Men's Journal, "but generally speaking, that moment never arrives, and instead, we’re stuck with a heap of clutter."
Random cables and cords
"The mere sight of a tangled mess can be overwhelming and unpleasant," Solomon admits. "We’d rather toss them in a box and shove them in the garage than have to sort through them. The good news is that places like Best Buy will happily take your cables, cords, and old laptops, so there’s no need to hold onto them."
Solomon says you can fill that freed-up drawer or storage box with items you use semi-regularly. "However, the other solution is to keep it completely empty," she offers. "We’re always set on using up all spaces in our home, but sometimes it’s totally okay to keep a drawer empty or even a corner of a room free."
Jackets and coats you’ve outgrown
Much like sweaters, unworn jackets and coats in good condition can be donated. Solomon recommends One Warm Coat, a San Francisco-based organization that provides winter wear to those in need.
"I like to adhere to and strongly recommend the 'one in, one out' rule," Solomon advises of the method which sees one older item donated for every new item bought. "This is never easy at first, but once you strengthen this muscle or habit, you won’t go back!"
“Nobody needs extra mail,” Solomon asserts. “If it’s been piling up, now’s the time to go through it.” Sensitive items should be completely shredded before being disposed of, while reusable items such as magazines can be left out for neighbors.
Solomon passed along to Men's Journal readers one final decluttering tip not found in the video. "The truth is that your money is gone exactly when you buy an item, not when you let the item go," she said of making that final decision to part with something. "Decluttering your space declutters your mind, but it also makes the items you actually care about sparkle and shine more."
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♬ original sound - Neat Caroline