When you look around your house, you’re most likely to spot the items you’re looking for and ignore everything else. That assumes your eyes even connect with the built-up clutter from years gone by.

Oh sure, you might occasionally find a random $20 bill left in a pocket last used long ago. But such discoveries are rare. What you’re more likely to find is stuff you can’t believe you have, never remember acquiring, or wishing you hadn’t.

Whatever their previous worth might have been, here’s to start purging to put more organization back in your life.

1. Old Holiday and Birthday Cards – Find a special place for those you just can’t part with and recycle the rest.
2. Wrinkled Gift Wrap – Recycle wrinkled wrapping paper and toss flattened bows. Then, keep what’s left and place it in a storage container.
3. Movies and Books – If you can’t remember the last time you watched that DVD (or VHS) or read that book, pass it on to someone who will enjoy it.
4. Expired Food and Spices – Go through your pantry and kitchen cabinets and toss any spices or canned and packaged foods past their expiration date. Consider using a shelf organizer that will allow you to see most of the items in your cupboards, so you can use them up before they go bad.
5. Cookbooks – Save copies of your favorite recipes and pass those unused cookbooks onto friends or family who might see them with different taste buds.
6. Take-Out Menus – Most everything is online these days, including the take-out menu for your favorite hole-in-the-wall restaurant.
7. Mysterious Keys – Still haven’t figured out what that key on your key ring opens? Unless you or someone you know can transform it into funky jewelry, it’s probably time to recycle it.
8. Old Formal and Business Wear – There are several great organizations who will take bridesmaid dresses, prom dresses, tuxedos, and business attire off your hands and pass it onto someone in need.
9. Old Prescription Glasses – Chances are, your prescription has changed a few times over the years. So why are you still holding onto that old pair you KNOW you’ll never wear again?
10. Old Cables, Cords, and Chargers – We all have a drawer full of old cables and charges. Keep those you need labeled and organized in a media box and recycle everything else at an electronics store.

Another great thing about purging is that, in most cases, your eliminating one or more fire hazards.  Not that a fire can’t start anyway, but why push that envelope? If that’s a concern of yours waiting to be addressed, contact Now Security Systems for a free in-home security analysis and recommendations on where to install fire and CO detectors, and how many you might need.