Getting rid of clutter can be a tedious task, but some of the items you're holding on to can be a health and safety hazard. Below are the things you have to send to the trash bin right away:
1) Old magazines and newspaper. There's no reason for keeping these at your house as the reading materials are just going to pile up and take space in your storage or garage. If you're clipping stuff from these items, spend one weekend to get purging. Your clean up can go a lot quicker if you just snap photos of the articles you want to save and store on a hard drive. Then send the rest of the magazines and newspaper to recycling already!
2) Expired food in your fridge. Perhaps also include the plastic containers that go with it. No one is going to touch those foods anymore and you can make do with a few containers for leftovers - especially if the containers are older and contain BPA, per Health.
3) Expired medicines, makeup and grooming products. You could get sick from those if you keep using them and you're likely to buy new makeup anyway, so the old ones just pile up in your drawer and gather bacteria. Clear them out and prevent possible bacterial infections! Sounds like a good health plan, right?
4) Old gadgets, electronics and CDs. You gifted yourself with a new gadget last Christmas, so there's no reason to hang on to old electronics. These can be sold on Craigslist or eBay, but you can also check trade-in deals via Amazon, Apple or Gamestop. If you still have CDs from last decade, throw those away before they gather more layers of dust. Or give to someone who can use them to make recycling projects.
5) Junk mail, old receipts and bills. You might need to keep some relevant papers for tax purposes, but you can shred away those that have already been checked and accounted for. Try signing up for electronic billing from utility and credit card companies this year so that you can file bills and mails digitally instead. It might even be better to manage your bill payments this way, per Time.
Also read - Garbage Disposals: 6 Things You Should Never Put In Garbage Disposals (VIDEOS)
6) Fresheners and insecticides. Whether sprayed or plugged in, these products contain phthalates or chemical perfumes that makes the air you breathe more toxic. Find the cause of the problem to why your house smells and take care of that instead.
7) Worn out shoes and underwear. Not only do worn out shoes cramp your style, you risk injuring your feet if you keep wearing them. As for old bra and panties, the loose elastics no longer serve to support or cover your private parts. It's time to buy new ones. You'll feel better wearing new sets, too!
