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I am going to take a step back from food for a minute. Mostly because I have barely had time to cook these past few weeks.
It is summer. I am loving every minute of it! I have all three of my boys full time. I don’t know why, but having three kids is so much more than having two kids. We are having such a ball. We have been to park dates, T-ball camp, spent time doing crafts, eating lunch outside and visiting friends. I have been so busy, that I have had barely any time to create picture-perfect food. That is fine, my husband is helping out during the weekends, so I can get my work done.
I love spending every minute with my awesome boys. But do you know what I don’t like doing? Spending time putting away stuff. Mostly stuff we can do without.
That’s right. I hate all the clutter. I really hate it. I have always been pretty liberal about getting rid of things. But, now that we have three kids in the house, organizing has never been so important.
It is usually easy just to throw things away or drop off a bunch of junk at Goodwill. After reading This article a few years ago, it has made me more mindful of what kind of things we should be dropping off at Goodwill, and which items can actually be recycled. Please don’t drop off broken items and stained clothing off at Goodwill or Salvation Army. You are just wasting people’s time and energy that will have to sort out all that junk. I have listed which items can be recycled and have also listed some places where these things can go.
Hopefully, this will help you declutter your mind and home, so you can spend more time with your family!
Happy summer!
Paper
Instruction Manuals, you can find most manuals online
Free plastic cups from bars or restaurants
Business cards
Loose nuts, bolts screws etc.
Old plastic baby bottles
Old headphones, you can recycle old headphones here.
Junk Mail- Stop junk mail from coming to you!
Old electronics check your local recycling center for their procedure.
Soap bottles- I have these soap dispensers in my shower. I fill them up and recycle the bottles. I hate having extra bottles in my bathrooms.
Coloring books that have no pages left to color
Kid’s school work- take digital photos and store online. Get one of these for the special things.
Old greetings cards- take digital photos of special ones. Save just a few you love.
Catalogs
Take- out menus.
Product packaging
Cardboard boxes
Plastic hangers from the store
Expired coupons
Plastic containers with missing lids
Old magazines
Broken sunglasses, learn how to handle sunglasses here.
Missing lids
Broken plastic toys, learn more here.
Shopping bags
Old calendars
Old plastic containers
Old Christmas cards.- take digital photos for your records.
Ticket stubs- take digital photos if it is something you want to remember.
Old hangers- you might want to check to make sure your local recycle center takes metal ones. Some do, some don’t.
Old hard alcohol bottles with just a little bit left. I need to face it. Those days are over.
Cell phones, learn more info here.
Mismatched socks or socks with holes. And old underwear. Learn about recycling them here.
Worn Towels
Worn Sheets
Fast food restaurant toys, learn more here.
Old Mail
Old Notebooks
Old toiletries- empty and recycle the bottles.
Old spices- empty and recycle bottles.
Christmas lights that don’t work, learn more about recycling lights here.
Old lightbulbs- More info here
Old lists
Old batteries
Metal or plastic key chains
Glass Jars
Phone Books
Conference Packets
Travel brochures
Wedding invites and save the date cards
Old Work Badges
Chargers for old phones
Old or stained tablecloths.
Plastic water bottles without lids
Old ink cartridges
Old Binders and Folders
Old Hair Dryers, more info here.
Books- if you’re not going to read that book again, give it to a friend. If you might read it again, go to your library.
Old college textbooks
Old party supplies
Wedding favors
Holiday decor you don’t use
Old cake pans or cookie cutters
Alarm clocks- An item you no longer need if you have a phone.
Promotional T-shirts you don’t wear
Any clothing that doesn’t fit. If you’re trying to hit a certain weight goal, buy something new when you reach it!
Old craft supplies
Old Posters
Old purses and bags
Vases, I hinted to my husband, that I would rather have plants rather than cut flowers.
Old Bridesmaid dresses, many communities look for dresses so underprivileged teens can go to prom.
Your high school or college t-shirts
Paint- many nonprofits accept paint donations.
Unused stationary
Discarded collections, rocks seashells etc.
broken crayons, chalk.
Toys that your kids have outgrown
Diapers that are too small
Scrap fabric
Trophies- and roll your eyes at the coach when they’re handed out to everyone.
Old power cords
Old extension cords
Watches, we have entered a different era.
Maternity clothes- if you won’t be needing them.
Baby clothes- find your local pregnancy center or someone in need.
DVD’s – store your movies digitally and stream movies
Sports equipment you don’t use.
CD’s – store music online before giving these away.
Cookbooks- get recipes online. Take digital photos of your favorite recipes.
Decorative figurines
Shoes you don’t wear
Coasters
Furniture you don’t use or is cluttering up a room.
Tangled jewelry- you might be surprised who might repurpose it.
Old Halloween Costumes- I usually put all the pieces together when I donate costumes. Many people go to thrift stores to look for Halloween costumes.
Old home decor
Old remote controls- Click here for how to donate remote controls
Scarves you no longer wear
Old cell phone cases
Old calculators
Old cell phone accessories
Belts you don’t wear
Duplicate grooming products, women’s shelters are always in need of these.
Receipts
Old photos- take digital photos and store online.
All the stuff from the bottom of your purse.
Old make-up brushes
Old make-up
Old chapsticks
Last year’s Halloween, Easter and Valentines Day candy.
Squeezy bath toys – these can get moldy.
Old sponges
Old pillows
Games with missing pieces- recycle the pieces you can.
Old nail polish
Twisty ties
Chip Clips
Expired food
Dried out markers
Pen’s with no ink
Dried up glue
Expired medicine
Any leftover item that came in a goody bag, and then be a good example, and don’t give one filled with junk.
Old travel coffee mugs without lids
Moldy, grimy bath toys
Old mascara
Mismatched water bottle lids laying around.
Rubber bands
Loofahs- and then stop using them!
Old make-up bags
Bubble wrap
Air fresheners
Recalled or expired baby items- you might be able to recycle some of it.
