5 Things to throw during Spring-Cleaning

Storing sweaters and coats and scrubbing down the bathtub are just the beginnings of a really clean spring-clean. You need to go a step further to really clean up the mess that has accumulated over the past year. This means getting rid of all those forgotten little things that are lying around, taking up space, and probably collecting dust.

Without any real emotional attachment, these five items can be thrown away while cleaning up for spring!

1. Cards, Invites, and Old Stationery - Unless you plan to display the cards or they have really unique sentimental value, it’s time to part with them. The same goes for piles of invitations for events passed and items like personalized stationery with an outdated address. For those special cards which have emotional attachment, invest in a great-looking box to store them.
2. Duplicate Kitchen Utensils - This spring pay a little extra attention to your kitchen drawers and cabinets, as they have always been the most packed storage areas of the house. Remove everything from one drawer or cabinet at a time, then make note of what’s hiding away in the back of the cabinet. Make a pile for smaller kitchen items you’d like to toss and one for the big cooking items you can donate.
3. Old Bath Towels and Kitchen Rags - The average expiration date for any bath towel is about two years—this is when they start to lose absorbency due to use and washing that weakens fibers over time. Kitchen rags should be replaced several times per year. Even if this seems a bit too often for your taste, there are most likely some towels and kitchen rags that are much older and could use a refresh.
4. Power Cords and Cables - Each season along with the home décor we upgrade the technology as well. As a result, we have a pile of stuff which has outlasted its need. The leftover useless phone cords and cable wires can be hazardous to the environment if thrown away with regular trash. Instead of tossing them in the garbage bin, find a local store that will take your unwanted cables and cords. Example -Best Buy offers e-waste recycling.
5. Wire Hangers - After cleaning out your closet for spring gather every single wire hanger left over from the dry cleaning together and get rid of them. An organized closet starts with matching hangers that are as aesthetically pleasing as they are practical.