It’s a New Year, Dubuque: Throw These Five Things Out Now

The New Year is the time for resolutions, planning, and reorganization. The secret to making it work is to start it immediately. Now for those of you who simply need to create some more room for the newly acquired Christmas-things or simply want to downsize the clutter. The new year is ripe for throwing out old crap! Seriously just do it. You'll feel better and your house will thank you.

Now I have heard some old adages in my day for figuring out what is trash and what is not. Questions like: would I mis this? Does this still serve it's intended function? Does it still look or work nicely? Is it highly replaceable or forgettable? Well, I recently saw a list from Good Housekeeping about the 10 things you need to throw out in January. If you want to check out their list, it's here. Ok, get your trash bags ready; it's time to clean out the clutter and start a new. Here are my thoughts on where I'm starting my own junk purge with a "Top 5" to focus on.

Get our free mobile app

#1: Kids' Toys

No not all of them, but as your kids age, baby and toddler toys just make no sense to keep around. Besides Half of them are broken or chewed on. Garbled sound boards scream out in the night to terrify you awake. I'm looking at you trolly from Daniel Tiger.

#2: Holiday Decorations

Broken ornaments, mangled tree skirts, missing lights, burned out candles, things that are a bit too 70's Christmas? As you put the decorations back away (and honestly every changing season) throw out the old, uninspired, and grody.

#3: Old Clothes

You've been keeping that hoodie since your senior year of high school thinking, "one day it will fit again." Just stop. It won't. Your delusional. Plus, it's ugly and outdated. If ya never wear it, just toss it.

#4: Clear the Food Pantry / Cupboard

Still got some of grandma's homemade canned soup from 1997? Would YOU risk it? Then throw it out. In most cases canned food items last a real long time, but I'm sure you've got some hidden treasures lurking in the dark shadows of that pantry; like that 20-year-old can of kidney beans. This is also the case for very old medicines and over the counter drugs.

#5: Papers, Papers, Papers

Who else has a catch-all drawer full of old papers, that probably don't even serve a purpose, but for some reason might be important someday? Me, too. I try to throw out old bills, and old taxes and in the safest way possible. Remember, shred sensitive or personal stuff. They used to say save 7 years of tax information. Now they say just 3. Either way throw out all the paper clutter you can. You don't know what half of it is anyway.

There. That's where you all need to start. Stop procrastinating and get to the decluttering. You know you'll feel better after you do. Besides, we all need a fresh start sometime, and our homes are the easiest place to get in order first.