I’m on my annual summer decluttering binge. Something about the new year gives me energy and makes me crave order. Over the past few years I have gone through most of our house so we don’t have much unwanted clutter, but it is still amazing how much stuff can build up. Kids grow out of clothes and toys, things break, our life changes.  So far I’ve gone through the kids books and got rid of a whole lot of ones that just aren’t suitable for the kids, or that they have grown out of (somehow I can’t see Toby reading magic ballerina or rainbow fairy books). I’ve done a light cull of the linen after buying some new single sheets for the kid’s beds (their old ones were looking a bit worn and grey), and gone through my wardrobe, after I was given a whole lot of hand me down clothing that had hardly been worn. Still to go is the top shelf in the kitchen, as well as the spare room (which is actually pretty good – I just need to go through my teaching stuff with a critical eye).

If you’re feeling the urge to declutter and simplify your home, here is a list of things that are easy for you to start with. Pick one or two, and cull, then repeat.

• novelty hats – all those hats with beer logos, tractor branding, or farm chemical logos that come “free” need to go.
• unwanted kitchen appliances – eg juicers, donut makers etc.
• clothes you haven’t worn in 12 months (unless you’ve just had a baby).
• coat hangers that are broken or don’t hang properly
• broken pegs from the peg basket.
• cookie cutters you never use.
• instruction booklets you never read.
• cleaning product that you don’t use.
• books you won’t read again (be ruthless and honest about this!).
• toys the kids have out grown.
• broken toys.
• completed colouring and puzzle books.
• gift bags.
• advertising fridge magnets
• earrings that are uncomfortable.
• craft kits that have been finished (but the box and spare pieces are still hanging around).
• DVDs you don’t watch any more.
• purses and bags that are unused.
• half finished craft projects, that you will never finish.
• 90% of kids art and craft.
• University or TAFE notes from 10 years ago (or even 2 years ago)
• sports equipment that is no longer used.
• stuffed toys that are not loved
• board games.
• pretty stationary that you never use (hello email!).
• gifts that you were given but you don’t actually want.
• bed linen that you never use (sheets, blankets, quilts etc).
• towels that you never use.
• shoes that are uncomfortable.
• random coffee cups.
• old paper work that you don’t legally need to keep.
• tupperware tops and bottoms that have no partner.
• cleaning supplies you haven’t used in the last 12 months.
• old makeup.
• extra clothing that you rarely wear – no one need 5 sets of painting clothes.
• baby equipment (if you no longer have babies).
• tools that are broken or malfunction.
• knives that are no longer sharp (unless you know how to sharpen them and they are worth sharpening in the first place).
• old toiletries.
• printer cartridges for an old printer you  no longer have.
• socks without a partner.
• old takeaway menus.
• the remote for the tv that died.
• pens that don’t work.
• craft supplies that have dried up or are damaged.
• craft supplies for crafts you no longer do.
• usb charging cables you no longer need (those things breed like crazy).
• recipe books you never use.
• vases that stay in the cupboard.
• disposable food containers that breed under the sink (think Chinese containers, or ice cream containers)
• old drink bottles – those just apparate in around here.
• old swim goggles and hats you’re keeping ‘just in case’.
• anything on your walls that you don’t love.
• old mobile phones (apparently Australians are hopeless at recycling phones. You can send them away in an envelope that you can get from post offices. The envelopes usually come in the new phone box too.).

Some of these things are easy to chuck in the bin, while others can be bagged up and donated. Either way, get them out of your house and out of your life, and I bet your home will start to feel less cluttered and more relaxing.

What else would you add to this list?