The Pandemic Downsize
The more time we spent at home this year, the more we realized how badly we wanted our spaces to both inspire and calm us. The first step toward this goal was often to rifle through our belongings and get rid of anything that was just taking up space. In the end, getting organized became a mindfulness practice, a type ofself-care we desperately needed throughout 2020。在这里,我们搜集了10人用他们的方式pandemic time to cut the clutter and create a healthier home and mind. Maybe these ideas will inspire you to simplify your life in the coming year.
Unused Kitchen Supplies
Whether it’s that additional slow cooker you thought you might need for a big party, a bulky waffle maker you’ve never used, or mismatched utensils, unused kitchen items take up space and get in the way of organization and functionality. With all the time spent this year cooking for ourselves and our families, many of us ditched the useless clutter and learned that a cleaner, leaner kitchen makes everything easier.
Office Clothing
This year, blazers, slacks, pencil skirts, heels, blouses, and button-downs collected dust in our closets as the pandemic caused us to rethink office attire. With the work-from-home surge, people opted for more comfortable clothing. In the process, they pared down their workwear, simplified their wardrobe, andregained control of their closet space。
Forgotten Hobbies
Remember the beginning of the pandemic, when everyone bought instruments, sports equipment, gel nail kits, and knitting supplies? By summer, much of that new-hobby paraphernalia was gathering dust in closets and drawers. While many of us have since passed these things along to others, some of us may be holding on to them in the hopes that we’ll pick them up again someday. Be honest with yourself: Sort through any unused hobby supplies, think realistically about how you truly enjoy spending your free time, and get rid of anything you’re unlikely to use again.
Old Cosmetics
不可否认,我们大多数人处在那边y from glam this year. As more women sported the au naturel look, they started tossing their dried-out or expired cosmetics. If you haven’t already, take advantage of the new year to sift through your medicine cabinets and drawers, and get rid of your old cosmetics. Ditch those bright eyeshadows and full-coverage foundations, and make room for glowing creams, fresh routines, and new possibilities.
Excess Canned and Frozen Food
If you spent the spring waiting in long lines to fill your shopping cart with frozen foods and canned goods you had never purchased before, or at leastnot in such bulk, you’re certainly not alone. The beginning of the pandemic triggered panic buying, but now that the year is coming to an end, some of that stockpile is merely taking up space in our pantries and freezers. Eliminate the clutter by pulling together your excess stores and donating them to a local food bank.
Related:The Best Freezers for Extra Food Storage
Old Linens
For some reason, no other spot in the house gets cluttered as quickly as the linen closet. Every time you pull out a towel or a pillowcase, you seem to mess up the whole system. The pandemic lockdowns offered many of us the chance to get the linen closet under control, but if yours could still use some taming, tackle it now: Go through your linens and pull out those you don’t use, especially ones that are tattered, worn, or dated, and donate any that are gently used.
Related:Weekend Projects: 5 Easy Ways to Build an Outdoor Movie Screen
Junk Drawers
In our busy lives, it’s too easy to throw things in a drawer just to get them out of the way. This is why every house has at least one junk drawer, a catchall for items you simply don’t know what to do with. Endless hours spent at home forced us to confront this disorganization, and many of us have since learned that most of what’s in that junk drawer can just be thrown out! Takeout menus, spare screws, broken pencils, and scribbled thoughts on loose scraps of paper take up drawer space that could be used for items that you actually need.
Related:9 Things Always to Keep in Your Junk Drawer
Old Technology
You thought you might use that old VCR again. You kept that iPhone 5 around, just in case. But have you touched them recently? Many people used their pandemic downtime to finallysay goodbye to old technologythat was stealing valuable storage space. If you still have old phones, TVs, or other unused electronics lying around, get rid of them. If they work, donate them; if not, drop them off at an e-waste collection point near you.
Leftover Paint
The pandemic inspired many homeowners to clean out their garage, including leftover paints and other remnants from home improvement projects. Although properly stored leftover paint can last several years, it’s likely that some of those cans languishing in your garage or workshop have not experienced ideal conditions. If that’s the case, take some time to go through your old cans of paint, and toss any that are more than two years old, dried up, or no longer usable as a result of faulty storage and temperature shifts. While you’re at it, get rid of any brushes and rollers that are caked with paint.
Broken Furniture
The more time we’ve spent at home, the more we’ve realized just how annoying that broken chair or that wobbly table really is. Why hold on to damaged items that are uncomfortable to use and that you don’t intend to fix? Take a serious look at any broken furniture in your house and either fix it or get rid of it. And if you have a stash ofbroken furnituresitting in the garage waiting to be repaired, painted, or otherwise rehabbed, either fix it, sell it as is, or simply say goodbye!
Don't Miss!
Want a cleaner, tidier, more organized home?Sign up for the Clean Sweep newsletterto receive weekly tips, tools, and bright ideas that will help you maximize your next cleaning session.
