10 Things to Get Rid of Right Now

Extra toys, dishes, useless magnets and plastic bags – all of this creates a feeling of clutter and makes the interior impractical. We suggest putting an end to this and getting rid of unnecessary things right now, with our simple shortlist.

1. Odds and Ends on the Fridge

Cleaning expert Marie Kondo says that all items in your home should bring benefit or joy. Otherwise, they should be thrown away. This applies especially to notes and magnets on the fridge. It's more convenient to store delivery numbers in your phone, and a collection of magnets is hardly worth anything. Plus, a thousand small items on the fridge create a feeling of clutter.

2. Expired Cosmetics and Medications

Unfortunately, cosmetics quickly go bad: the shelf life of eyeliner, for example, is between six and twelve months, so keeping it 'just in case' is pointless. The same goes for medications: if you don’t use tablets before their expiration date, they can become dangerous to your body, especially antibiotics.

3. Unwanted Clothes and Shoes

Clothes and shoes also have their shelf life. If you feel that an old item no longer fits, has lost its shape or has faded, part ways with it without regret. This is especially true for items you rarely wear: they take up a lot of space in the closet, but provide little benefit. It’s better to do a good deed and donate such items to charitable stores.

4. Stacks of Newspapers and Magazines

Old newspapers and magazines can sit for years unused on the coffee table, creating a feeling of clutter. For interior decor, just two or three magazines with eye-catching covers are enough. The rest can be safely recycled or simply removed from sight.

5. Toys That Kids Have Outgrown

Toys that kids no longer play with don’t belong in your apartment. Dollhouses, construction sets and train tracks winding between the sofa and coffee table – all of this delights children, but against the backdrop of bright toys, any interior will be overwhelmed. Therefore, feel free to get rid of unnecessary construction sets or drawing kits.

6. Unused Containers

The usefulness of plastic containers is hard to overstate, but it doesn’t mean you need a lot of them. Two or three containers of different sizes are more than enough. Consider this: containers take up a lot of space, and you don’t use them as often as you think. Therefore, it’s better to get rid of extra sets.

7. Old Vacuum Cleaner Filters

A filter in an air purifier should be replaced at least once a year, otherwise it becomes useless. The same applies to vacuum cleaner filters – dirty filters release dust particles back into the air, which makes cleaning with a vacuum pointless.

8. Unneeded Items in Drawers

Organize your drawers – old coupons and fast food sauces belong in the trash. Test pens and markers: most of them have likely dried out long ago. You don’t need a collection of cans either – keep just a couple of different sizes, and repurpose the rest – for example, make original candle holders or flower vases from them.

9. Plastic Bags

Many of us have a separate drawer for plastic bags from the supermarket. Give up on them in favor of canvas bags: they take up much less space and don’t harm the environment (plastic bags take over 100 years to decompose). Moreover, you can carry such a bag with you to the store: it doesn’t tear and holds plenty of groceries. To avoid forgetting your bag at the supermarket, keep it in your car’s trunk.

10. Old Sponges and Dishcloths

Old sponges and dishcloths are major sources of microbes. They should be replaced regularly, preferably every 3–4 weeks. To keep a sponge dry and clean for as long as possible, secure it with a paperclip after washing. Also, you can warm the sponge for one minute in a microwave – no unpleasant smell or trace will remain.