We may dream of living in a decluttered sanctuary, but in reality are weighed down by useless household junk. Here are some common problem areas:
Old magazines and books
As much as we might love to hold onto our favourite magazines for years to come, more often than not they just take up space on your coffee table. Aside from the odd collectors item (e.g special editions or a magazine with an iconic cover), recycle any old mags and make room for your favourite title's latest offerings.
Similarly, books in a bookshelf make a room feel welcoming but books in disorganised piles do not. Keep your absolute favourites on display and recycle the rest.
Novelty appliances
Remember that time you were given a cupcake maker for your birthday or purchased a chocolate fountain for a party? You probably haven't used it since. If an appliance only has one use and hasn't seen the light of day in the last three months, it's time to rid yourself of the cupboard clutter.
Old clothes
Is your wardrobe bursting at the seams? Make some room for new (and existing) clothes by setting aside an afternoon to do a clothing cull.
If you haven't worn an article of clothing in over a year then either bag it up for donation or throw it away (sentimental items such as wedding dresses are the exception to the one-year-rule).
"Remember that we only wear 20 per cent of our wardrobe 80 per cent of the time," Professional organiser Natalie Jane told Stuff. "The less you have the easier it will be to make decisions, which means that you will be in control rather than out of control. Only keep the clothes that you love, that fit you now and that you feel great in."
Out of date technology and cords
Nearly every household has that one random drawer, cupboard or box filled with out of date technology or cords that you've held onto on the off chance you might need to use them in the future.
However, chances are you'll only ever touch that box when you're on a mad hunt for a spare phone charger that will inevitably be found in an entirely different area of your home. So, do your future self a favour and get rid of all of your old pieces of tech and tangles of cords.
Takeaway menus
Many of us have a drawer that's filled to the brim with takeaway menus from the local Chinese restaurant and that one fish and chip shop you ordered from five years ago. But in 2018, if their menu can't be found online, they're probably not worth ordering from.
Broken things you've been meaning to fix
How long has that broken frame or wobbly deck chair been sitting in your spare room or garden shed? If you've been telling yourself that tomorrow is the day you'll fix it for over a year and the item itself looks to be on it's last legs anyway it's better to cut your losses and give it a final ride to your local dump.
- Stuff