How to Identify the Things You Can Throw Away

 

Many of us practice recycling and think twice before throwing away something that might be useful in the future. This ecological awareness may be admirable, but it can cause storage problems in our homes when we start hanging onto too many things that really should be thrown away or donated to an organization that can use them.

When you start having trouble finding places to put new things, it's time to declutter your home.

Be adamant and resolute about the job. Don't waver and think that an item may come in handy, and it wouldn't hurt to hang on to it. This is the wrong attitude for domestic editing, and the chore will never end. Try and get comfortable with the idea of throwing things away without a second thought.

Think about household items that have an expiration date. Going through your home and throwing away all the things that are past their usefulness can open up a lot of useful storage space. 

Are you ready to declutter your home? Let's start in the kitchen.

Streamline Your Kitchen

Go through your oils, sauces, and spices and toss anything that’s over two years old. Although they technically may still be “good”, oils will start to smell rancid and spices will lose their potency after two years. You’ll have to practically fill your saucepan with the old spices to deliver the same amount of flavor that is provided in a couple of teaspoons of new spices. 

Old sauces like ketchup, soy sauce, and flavoring sauces can also turn rancid and old-tasting and can possibly make you sick, depending on their ingredients. Clean out your shelves, cabinets and refrigerator of old half-empty jars, bottles and boxes of questionable food items.

Don’t forget to clean out the area underneath the kitchen sink and toss out household cleaners that lose effectiveness after a couple of years. 

Decrease Bathroom Clutter

 

Expired medications should definitely be tossed. Unused first aid supplies like bandages and gauze pads can become unsterile if the packaging is damaged over time and rips or leaks. 

Old makeup and bottles of shampoos, conditioners, and lotions that are simply taking up space while you’ve moved on to different brands can also be thrown away. Don’t forget to clean out the area under your sink as well. The areas under the sink are common places to find unhealthy mold and mildew. 

Organize Your Home Work Area

Make a habit of keeping your desk and work area clean and organized. You’ll be more productive and be able to find important documents when you need them. Separate your home documents, warranties, and how-to manuals from your work documents to further simplify finding the documents you need to locate quickly.

Make Your Bedroom a Healthier Place to Sleep

Old pillows can break down over time, and the fibers can be unhealthy to breathe. They can also contain dried saliva, allergens, and bacteria. Replace them every two to three years. Duvets and blankets can also harbor dust, allergens, and bacteria. Although it isn't practical to replace them regularly, try to get in the habit of washing them or having them drycleaned fairly often, especially if you're bothered by respiratory, skin or eye allergies.

What to Do When Editing Isn’t Enough

When you’ve domestically edited everything you can, and you're still short of storage space in your home, MeSpace can help. 

We have self-storage facilities in eight locations in Bangkok, Pattaya, and Phuket. At MeSpace, you can rent a self-storage space to suit your needs, from the XXS room at 1 sqm to the XXL room at 50 sqm. 

We also offer wine storage, business document storage, safe deposit boxes, drive-in storage for larger items, and door-to-door storage where you pack your items in boxes delivered by us, and we'll return, pick them up and store them for you. 

If you've decluttered your home as much as you can and are still short of storage space, contact us and rent a convenient self-storage space from MeSpace.