New Year Cleaning Challenge: Declutter Your Home for a Fresh Start

The new year is here, a clean slate beckoning us to embrace fresh starts and renewed energy. Now that the holiday dust has settled, it’s the perfect time to evaluate our living spaces and maintain the positive momentum we’ve established. That means embracing a mindset of letting go, much like Elsa in Frozen. It’s time to purge! Shedding unnecessary items after the consumerism-heavy holidays is incredibly liberating. This January, take on this empowering cleaning challenge and eliminate clutter from your home. Don’t overthink it; just act! Below are thirteen common items you can easily toss without a second thought or feeling guilty:

1. Chipped Vases and Dishes

Confess: you’re also holding onto chipped cups, aren’t you? It feels wasteful to discard something partially broken, but the reality is that cracked or chipped dishes are less appealing and less likely to be used. Why let them take up valuable space in your kitchen cabinets? Free up your storage and toss those flawed ceramics. Consider researching ceramic recycling options in your area to minimize environmental impact. Lighten your kitchen cabinet’s load and toss chipped ceramics (P.S. check here if you want to learn about recycling ceramics).

2. Books You’re Never Going to Read Again

I admit, I’m a bit old-fashioned in this regard. While I enjoy reading digitally, physical books provide a unique and intimate experience. However, I also strongly believe in decluttering books that no longer bring joy or serve a purpose in your life. If you have books that you’ve read and enjoyed but are unlikely to revisit, it’s time to set them free. Donate them to a book donation program (like Better World Books or Big Hearted Books), drop them off at a local thrift store, or see if your local library has a Friends of the Libraries program that accepts donations. Give your beloved books a chance to spark joy in someone else’s life.

3. Socks with Holes in Them

Unless you’re incredibly skilled at darning, those holes are only going to get bigger. It’s time to say goodbye to holey socks. This is the perfect time to do so, especially after potentially receiving new socks as Christmas gifts! Embrace the new, and let go of the old and worn. As an addendum to this cleaning challenge: the same principle applies to underwear in similar condition and single socks without a match.

4. Dead and Dying Houseplants

As a millennial who can’t afford to buy a house and compensates by filling my rental with houseplants, I admit this one stings a little. I love my plant babies, even those clinging to life. However, sometimes, the most compassionate thing is to let go. Plus, if they’re dying, they’re likely not improving your home’s aroma. It’s time to compost or discard those lifeless greens.

5. Expired Medicine

Take a few minutes to thoroughly inspect your medicine cabinet and dispose of any expired medications. Make a list of any necessary replacements, such as pain relievers or antiseptic ointments. It’s important to dispose of medication safely (note: Read this article on how to safely dispose of expired medicine).

6. Magazines

Let’s be honest: you don’t need all those magazines cluttering your home. Unless a magazine consistently provides inspiration or valuable information, it’s time to toss it into the recycling bin.

7. That Pile of Documents That Needs Shredding

Located near your front door, often close to your mail drop-off point, is a secondary pile of papers. This collection likely consists of old tax documents, expired credit cards, and credit card offers containing sensitive personal information. This is the pile you keep forgetting to address, so here’s your reminder! Schedule a shredding date and completely eliminate that pile of sensitive documents. If you don’t own a paper shredder, consider using services offered by businesses like The UPS Store, Office Depot, and Staples.

8. Empty Bottles and Jars

During my sophomore year of college, my roommate saved every single alcohol bottle we consumed and used them to “decorate” our apartment. He lined the tops of our kitchen cabinets with them, and I initially found it somewhat appealing. Looking back, it was definitely not cool. “Trash-chic” is never a good aesthetic (nor is using excessive alcohol consumption as a decorating theme). However, the urge to save glass recyclables is a real thing, even if those Bacardi days are long gone. This cleaning challenge encourages you to recycle any glass jar or bottle that is not regularly used.

9. Old Corks

Again, decorating with the byproducts of alcohol isn’t always cute. Ditch that cork collection. Recycling notes: Natural corks are biodegradable and will decompose in landfills. Synthetic corks are made of #7 plastic, so check with your local recycling service for proper disposal guidelines.

10. Expired Makeup

It’s a sad truth, but makeup does expire. While you might get away with using expired face powder, blush, or bronzer, you really should ditch out-of-date eyeliners and mascaras (I won’t go into the nasty details here, but bacteria around your eyes just isn’t worth it).

11. Free Tote Bags

I love that plastic bags are out, and reusable totes are in. LOVE IT! However, I don’t love how many free ones I accumulate. Companies give branded tote bags away like candy (hello, free advertising!), and unintentional bag hoarding is a real phenomenon. You can A.) refuse these free tote bags and B.) get rid of the ones you dislike using. Narrow your tote bag collection to a few favorites you always carry to the store and donate or recycle the rest.

12. Greeting Cards

It might feel wrong to discard this year’s Christmas card from a distant relative, but you probably should. Unless it holds significant sentimental value, recycle it.

13. Refrigerator Magnets

If it displays a company logo, toss it immediately.

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In her book, The Life-Changing Magic of Tidying Up, Marie Kondo famously advises us to “Discard everything that does not spark joy.” As you progress through this cleaning challenge, embrace this principle. As you move through your home ridding yourself of clutter, ask “Does it spark joy?” Keep only items you love, items you need, and items that bring you happiness. This new year, create a more organized, joyful, and clutter-free living space.

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