Reader's Digest: 43 Things to Get Rid of in the Next 43 Days

Mar 21, 20174 min read

Reader's Digest asks Maeve for her tip dozen easy items to get rid of in 43 days.

Enjoy our latest collaboration with Reader’s Digest, 43 Things to Get Rid of in the Next 43 Days. Maeve offers up her 12 of her top favorite easy items to let go. Check it out!

De-cluttering doesn’t have to be an overwhelming weekend activity. Attacking just one item a day makes the process so much easier. Maeve's 12!

1. Fast food extras

All those extra plastic forks, condiment packets, and straws from fast food and takeout orders tend to pile up, sometimes turning into scrunched-up napkins or unwrapped straws. “Some people take these items intentionally, while others just let these freebies happen to them,” says Maeve Richmond, founder and coach of organizing company Maeve’s Method.

She recommends picking a number, and capping your saved items to that, like keeping just three soy sauce packets in the kitchen or five napkins in the car. If you never intend to use them (especially the unhealthy condiments), ask the cashier to hold the duck sauce or plasticware so you don’t have to trash them as soon as you’re home.

2. Old papers and notes

You probably scribbled down names, phone numbers, and ideas when planning a trip or life event. “All the information we gather during ‘planning stages’ feels so important, it seems like you will never be able to let it go,” says Richmond. “But the truth is, when the trip or event is over, most of this information is old news.” Glance the information over before you toss it in the trash. Any important phone numbers or addresses can go in your phone, and a memory-filled item can go in a scrapbook or scanned for a digital album.

3. Food storage containers

It seems like a waste to trash the plastic boxes that come with takeout, but those containers can pile up fast. Hang on to the ones you’d realistically use during the week—like the ones that fit in your lunch bag or are big enough for your typical leftovers—and trash the rest, especially if the plastic is peeling or warped.

Better yet, invest in some microwavable glass containers, which don’t have the chemical risk that plastics do, says Richmond. “Somehow we don’t think we should be spending even a cent on something that we can get for free,” she says. “If it’s a day-to-day activity for you, by all means it’s a great idea to invest in something that’s great quality.”

4. Plastic shopping bags

Yes, those plastic grocery bags can come in handy, but that doesn’t mean you should keep an endless stockpile. Take a moment to calculate how many you actually use in a typical week. “Do the math,” says Richmond. “It’s what I use when clients are struggling with volume.” Add a pad of five or so to that number to give you a bit of wiggle room, she says.

5. Outdated magazines

When a pile of magazine gets bigger and bigger, it’s highly unlikely that you’ll actually get to each one. Toss any that older than four to six months, suggests Richmond. “There’s something fresh and new to read instead,” she says. Steal a tip or two from these 10 habits of clutter-free people.

Looking to #declutter this year? Try our top 12 easiest household items to let go.

6. Single socks

It’s fine to hold on to an unmatched sock for a bit while you wait for its mate to show up, especially if all your socks are the same brand and style. But a drawer stuffed to the brim with single socks is a waste of space. “Take that space and translate it to something else, like a sweater or a pair of jeans,” says Richmond. “You’re taking up valuable real estate with a bunch of little things.” Don’t miss these clever tricks for maximizing your storage space.

7. Expired batteries

Do a quick run around your house to find all those loose batteries lying in random drawers. Pull any out that are past their expiration date or are starting to corrode. Even if those decade-old batteries still have juice, you’ll be on step closer to clearing out that junk drawer. “If you’ve never done the battery challenge, do it once in your home to whittle out stuff that’s just sitting there useless,” says Richmond.

8. Unused specialty foods

You might have used a tablespoon of a special sauce or spice when experimenting with ethnic foods. “We love feeling inspired to cook a new food,” says Richmond. “But some items don’t get used or we lose our taste for the food.” Trash those ingredients in the back of your cupboard that you only used once and have not immediate plans for.

9. Cardboard boxes

You might be holding on to the original box for a big-ticket item like a TV or computer just in case you want to sell it or need to move, but they’re usually not worth the space. The few extra bucks you might make selling it in its original packaging probably aren’t worth it, and you shouldn’t start hoarding boxes unless you plan to move within two months, says Richmond. “If you think you might return an item, by all means hold onto the original box for a month or two,” she says. “But once that item becomes a member of your family, that original box isn’t important anymore and can go.”

10. Unread books

Choosing a book used to require a trip to the bookstore, scanning the shelves for the most interesting ones. But now that new books are just a click away, they tend to pile up before we can read them, says Richmond. “Knowing we spent money on something and didn’t use it triggers this personal guilt issue,” says Richmond. Sit down and figure out when and why you bought each one, then send the ones you don’t plan to read anytime soon to a book donation organization.

11. Obsolete technology

“Life is changing fast,” says Richmond. “Technology we spent good money on only a few years back is now antiquated.” They’re hard to let go because you remember how useful they were, she says. But unless you can honestly say you would use that outdated phone that doesn’t have a charger, get rid of it.

12. Designer dress bag

Don’t feel obligated to keep the protective bag that an expensive dress or suit came in. “Think of them as a transportation device,” says Richmond. “Then, if you want to use it in your closet…by all means protect away.” But if you’re more inclined to smush it into a corner of your closet, let it go.