Now that it’s late-July, summer is in full swing.  The days might be longer but they’re also less predictable this time of year.  Whether it’s entertaining kids home from school or partaking in outdoor happy hours, it might not seem like you have a lot of time for organizing this time of year.  Well, in the spirit of progress over perfection, I’ve put together a list of 5 easy things to purge from your home this summer.  These easy tasks should take little time but keep you moving forward towards your organizing goals.

 

Condiment Packets from Restaurants

Multiple Small Ketchup Packets

 

This is an item many people are guilty of keeping around.  They get tossed into a kitchen drawer or onto a fridge door shelf with intentions of being used but never are.  Gather them all up and toss them.  You likely won’t ever use them so you might as well chuck ’em.  And in the future, only take what you will use or ask the restaurant not to send them in your next order.

 

Extra Buttons

Multiple Buttons in Various Colors

 

Let’s be honest, you probably never use those extra buttons that come with some clothes.  I know I never have.  If you’re also like most people, you even have extra buttons to clothes you no longer own.  Instead of continuing this inadvertent button collection, toss them.  They are just taking up space in your house.

 

Appliance or Gadget User Manuals

These are manuals take up a ton of space thanks to their super detail, large print, and multiple languages.  Chances are, you already know how to use your appliances.  In the off chance you need any information in the future, you can easily find these online.  Recycle the physical copies and feel lighter in an instant.

 

Old Pillows

Single Bed Pillow

 

Another item I see my clients holding onto are old bed pillows.  Keep one or two for that living room sleepover or to go with a blowup mattress but other than that, purge them.  You have all the bed pillows you need already on your beds.  They take up a huge amount of space for never being used.  Plus, if they got relegated to a closet somewhere they probably aren’t that comfortable anyway.  Check if your local shelter will take them and give them to someone who could really use them.

 

Business Cards

Miscellaneous Business Cards

 

 

We all seem to collect them but never seem to ever go back and use them, am I right?  So then why are they taking up space in our homes?  Toss them immediately.  Even if you do reference them, either enter them as a contact in your phone or take a picture of the ones you might need.  While on the topic, also purge your own business cards from previous jobs.  You will never use them, and they just take up space.

 

I’m sure you have at least some of the above items taking up space and cluttering up your home.  Take a few minutes to address them and get them out of your house for good!  Then get back to living that summer life and enjoying these longer days.  If you find yourself on a high after this quick task, tackle another by checking out my post on 5 Things to Declutter in 10 Minutes (or Less).

 

As always, I hope you found this post interesting, informative, inspiring, or entertaining (I’ll take any one as a success).  If so, please let me know in the comments section.  Also let me know if there is anything you’d like to see on this blog by writing me at feedback@theorganizingblonde.com.

 

XOXO,

The Organizing Blonde