Spring Cleaning: Things You Should Throw Away Now

Cleaning up after a paint project usually means trashing the used drop cloths and painter's tape, cleaning and storing paint brushes and rollers, and storing any remaining paint. That leftover paint, however, often gets set on a shelf in the garage, never to be used again. If you're sitting on jars of paint, it's time to let them go.

Determine first if any of the paint is salvageable and whether or not it needs to be used outdoors. Our Homeowners Association (HOA) has strict guidelines on the particular paint we use for our mailboxes, so we keep one small can on hand for periodic touch-ups throughout the year. Apart from that, if you can't reuse it in a timely manner, consult your local recycling sites or visit PaintCare.com for a drop-off site near you.

When people replace their cell phones, cameras, laptops, or other electronics, they normally tuck the old ones away on a shelf, but those obsolete items can really pile up. Trade in your old devices before purchasing new ones; stores like Target and Best Buy often offer cash for trade-ins. Otherwise, you can try to sell your items on Ebay or Facebook Marketplace.

If you'd rather just get everything out of your house once and for all rather than waiting on just the right buyer, donate your devices to an organization like Devices for Students, who work hard to get used electronics into the hands of students who need them.

Makeup, much like the items in your refrigerator, has an expiration date, but the clock starts ticking on the first day you use them, not the date of purchase.

"If you’re ever stuck wondering, all products have a small symbol that looks like a jar with a number/letter on the inside, ex: 12M. This means, usually, that a product has a 12-month shelf life upon opening," celebrity makeup artist Britty Whitfield told Byrdie. "For makeup, I always follow what the timeframe is in the symbol. The worst possible thing would be to use an old, oxidized foundation."

Items you never or seldom use should be the first to go, followed by those you've had for a while. For instance, replace mascara every three months and foundation between six months to a year. Blush and face powder may last up to two years, and don't forget to replace your beauty tools, too.

It's easy to let magazines stack up. Maybe you haven't read this one yet or that one has a great recipe or party idea. If you can't remember whether you've read it or not, or if you can't recall what recipe you wanted, it's time to pare down and recycle.

Rashelle Isip is a New York City–based productivity consultant who helps entrepreneurs organize their lives. Isip suggests paring down magazine subscriptions by going digital and creating systems for magazines you may already have in your posession.

"Keep information out of sight, and comfortably out of mind, by storing your articles and other information in file folders," Isip wrote on her site, The Order Expert. "You could organize items by month, publications, recipes, short stories, new products to try out, items you’d like to read in depth…the sky’s the limit!"

Another option is to make a temporary bulletin board collage, or create a magazine article binder to highlight any information you want to save for a future date. "Use a 2-inch or larger three-ring binder and clear-sleeve storage pockets to store articles from magazines," Isip advised. "Should you desire, you could create different tabbed sections for different magazines, or use individual binders for separate publications altogether."

You can treat additional paper clutter the same way. Newspapers, junk mail, schoolwork the kids bring home, it all contributes to a cluttered space. Get rid of items as they come in, be selective about keeping children's artwork — snap a photo or create a private Instagram page to showcase it — and watch that paper clutter decrease.

Cleaning out a clothes closet can be daunting, so start small by getting rid of clothing that no longer fits. Hanging onto clothing as motivation to lose weight isn't serving your mental health or your spring-cleaning decluttering process well.

Pick a shelter that could benefit from your donations before you get started, so that your motivation to give back outweighs the desire to hold onto anything unnecessarily.

If you could use some extra cash, or the items are particularly valuable, don't even think twice about offering them up on Poshmark or Mercari. Moms all over are raking in the cash selling their own used or thrifted items online. Items that are threadbare and worn, can be donated to nonprofits like Fabscrap.com.

The playroom is an area where you'll probably always find something you think your kids could part with — though they might not agree if they're reminded of it. Similar to your clothes, pick a shelter or an organization like Second Chance Toys, which gives donated toys to children in need. It will make it easier to honestly evaluate which toys aren't being used when you know they're headed to children who will be thrilled to have them.

Partially melted spatulas and chipped mugs aren't just an eyesore, they might be a health hazard. Recycle or throw away items that are clearly broken, especially any worn-down plastics or cracked glass.

It's also wise to do an inventory of pots and pans while you're at it. If any nonstick or enamel coating is flaking off, or if you are starting to see the pot or pan's copper core, it's definitely time to replace.

When's the last time you reread a book you own? And do you really watch every single one of your DVDs on a regular basis? Less-cluttered bookshelves will bring about instant gratification and give you momentum to keep going.

Books can be resold or donated to local thrift stores; children's books and kid-friendly DVDs can go to local children's hospitals or shelters. Otherwise, keep all of these items out of landfills by simply bringing them to a local recycling center.

How many boxes or drawers do you have packed with tax-related papers and bills because you're unsure when it's OK to pitch them? The Federal Trade Commission recommends shredding paid bills, paid credit card statements, and any receipts right away.

Pay stubs, bank statements, and paid medical bills can be shredded after a year, and tax-related receipts, canceled checks, W-2s and tax-deduction records can be shredded after seven years.

However, hang onto tax returns indefinitely or if there's a chance a divorce is in your near future, as it's best to keep as much documentation as possible.

"To best negotiate and prepare for a divorce or breakup, get all of these documents in order. You will need all of these documents to be able to appropriately settle your divorce," Emma Johnson, mom of two and the founder of Wealthy Single Mommy, advised. "It's a lot, but the sooner you collect them all in one place, the easier this process will be."

The pandemic has changed so much about our lives. We've experienced loss, of course, but with it, many of us have gained new hobbies and interests. Months of lockdown will do that.

Whether you found yourself baking more often, buying binoculars and nature journals for birdwatching, or kayaks and paddleboards, craft supplies, and cake decorating tools, chances are you're sitting on a surplus of unused gear that is just taking up space. If that's the case, add those items to your spring-cleaning checklist and either donate them or sell them to put more money in your pocket.