Things You’ll Probably Find In Your Home If You’re Interested in a Decluttering Service in Columbus, Ohio
Here’s Your (Friendly, Guilt-Free!) Nudge to Let These Things Go
Looking for a decluttering service in Columbus, Ohio? You’re not alone! We all save things we don’t really need. If you’ve got a cabinet full of mismatched mugs or a stack of papers you haven’t looked at in five years. Holding onto things for longer than we need to is usually for reasons that are more emotional than practical.
Some stuff comes with guidelines. For example, tax and bank statements should hang around for seven years. But that logic doesn’t have to apply to every junk drawer or tote bin in your house. You don’t need to keep everything “just in case.” Often. that case rarely comes.
As someone who’s spent a lot of time in a lot of homes, I find it fascinating that many of us are holding onto the same types of things. No shame or judgment! Just a shared human tendency to keep what we don’t really need.
So if you’re ready for a little release, here’s your unofficial permission slip to finally let go of the stuff that’s been quietly hanging around.
7 Common Items in Your Home That You Can Declutter
[WARNING from the Hanna that just finished writing this piece: This advice gets more unhinged as the list goes on. I am writing this late, after my wild children finally decided they couldn’t stay awake any longer, and I am tired. Not so tired that I don’t want to write, but like, tired enough that the writing got a little spazzy. And I’m too tired to fix it. Enjoy!]
1. Manuals
Yes- the instruction manual graveyard. 😬 Somewhere in your home there’s probably a drawer or folder full of paper manuals for appliances, gadgets, and electronics! Once upon a time (looking at you, 1980s and ’90s), saving those little booklets made sense. But now if you need to know how to use or fix something, you can easily find the info online. And if not a written manual, there’s definitely someone on YouTube who’s already made a whole video walking you through it. So feel free to recycle those paper relics. Your toaster will (probably) forgive you.
2. Apple Product Boxes
This one really applies to any sort of technology box. Apple really knows what they’re doing here because these things have a chokehold on the general population! You can feel ok adding all your Apple or Samsung boxes to recycling, especially after you’ve owned a product for a few months and can be sure it doesn’t have any defects. If you’d like to keep the box for a sentimental reason, keep them with your sentimental mementos, not your general electronics storage.
3. Random cords and chargers
More technology! No lie, in every home I organize there ends up being copious amounts of these. Life just goes and outdated technology creeps up on us quickly! I recommend grouping all of the cords and plugs you can find, and then painstakingly go through them to identify which ones you actually use. Set aside outdated items as well as duplicates of current cords you just don’t need. I promise you do not need 17 USBs! Then, keep all your current cords and plugs in an easy-to-find container like this one. (Pro tip: I like to use brightly colored bins for cords and such so your brain easily remembers where they go!)
Unsure what to do with electronics you no longer need? We are so lucky to have many great electronic recycling options here in Columbus, Ohio. Here’s a hefty resource list of where to take different types of electronics for recycling in the area. Read through and find your best fit!
4. Freebies and swag
Omg you guys I’m so sorry about this one but I just hateee corporate swag!! Like WHY? One or two t-shirts like sure but the mugs, the tumblers, the sweatshirts and fleeces, the bags, the unnecessary cord tacos, and the list goes on and on. This stuff is rampant in most people’s homes, even if they’ve left the company or school or whatever it is. I get it- these items are a marker in time. I challenge you to let go of all but one or two things. (Even though thrift stores are full of these and no one wants them. 😭) Any more, and they need to get stored wherever your sentimental mementos go!
5. Greeting cards from the beginning of time
I’m so sorry to be pushing these buttons. And listen, I love a good card. A well-written card is such a love language for me, instilled in me by my mama! HOWEVER, not everyone writes good cards. If you are holding onto every single card, including the ones that are simply signed (Love, Aunt Carol) and nothing else, please know it’s okay to let these go. If you absolutely feel like you must keep these “boring” cards, please take a photo to remember them and then show them their new home- the recycling bin.
6. Receipts
That word is so weird to spell it seems fake. Do you have any words that make you feel like that? Anyways! These little pieces of paper like to hypnotize people or something. When I met my husband in college, he kept SUPER tall piles of receipts in his bedroom (insert Cardi B). I’m pretty sure the thought of throwing them out and missing something (?) gave him anxiety. But seriously, all transactions now are digital. If you are worried about needed a receipt from four years ago, you should probably just look online. Go ahead and toss all of those old receipts!
7. Random screws and things from home projects
Ikea. They usually pack the screws and washers and alan wrenches in with the furniture you’re building- along with EXTRA of those things. Over time, home improvement kits like these build up in the home and often end up all over the place! Many people hang onto these kits for years after building something, often because they just forget about them. Here’s your permission slip to throw those suckers in the trash.
Did this list strike a chord with you?! You’re honestly not alone. Feel free to tackle these items head on to feel more at peace in your home. Looking for a little help? Wrangle Your Space offers a decluttering service in Columbus, Ohio. We would love to come help your get organized! Now go ahead and get rid of those boxes. 🤠
