Get rid of cardboard boxes and plastic bags for your cereal, snacks, and dry goods. They’re bulky, unattractive, and don’t keep food fresh. Instead, use glass jars, canisters, or airtight containers to store food neatly and keep it organized.

When did you last replace your kitchen sponge? If it’s been over a month, throw it out. Meanwhile, sanitize it in the dishwasher regularly.

Schedule HVAC maintenance every spring and fall, and check filters monthly. Replace dirty filters to prevent system damage and extend its lifespan.

Toss shoes that are broken, worn out, or missing a mate. If you haven’t worn a good pair in ages, donate them to a thrift store.

Clothes sitting unworn for over a year deserve a new home. Free up space by donating or selling them.

The same goes for outgrown kids’ clothing. Unless it’s an heirloom, donate, sell, or share it through a Buy Nothing group to free up space.

Donate toys your child has outgrown, or upcycle those they want to keep. Try beach buckets as snack servers, kiddie pools as party coolers, or plastic critters as planters!

If your child has outgrown their ninja costume, donate it!

A great option is Halloween Helpers in Pennsylvania, a nonprofit that collects and redistributes secondhand costumes and offers tips for organizing costume drives.

Displaying your child’s favorite artwork in a gallery wall or photo album, then recycle the rest. For an extra use, turn it into gift wrap or cut it into greeting cards.

We all have that bag of single socks. If you’ve washed them all and still can’t find their match, it’s time to say goodbye.

How long have those cosmetics been hiding in your makeup bag?

Mascara needs replacing every three months, foundation and concealer last about a year, and lipstick, eye shadow, and blush should be replaced every two years.

Give away anything you know you won’t use. That perfume could make a great centerpiece for a DIY spa gift for a loved one.

Dispose of old prescriptions and unidentified meds safely by following the FDA’s guidelines. Many pharmacies and law enforcement agencies offer drug take-back days for proper disposal, so check with them for details.

Most ground spices should be replaced after 12 months. Test them by smelling—if there’s no scent, there’s no flavor. Time to toss them!

The American Dental Association suggests replacing your toothbrush every three months for optimal brushing. We agree—it’s better for cleanliness. (Bonus: After it’s done cleaning teeth, that old brush can help scrub grime in your bathtub!)

You’ve enjoyed them, now it’s time to part ways. Save any updated addresses to your phone or computer before recycling those outdated greetings.

Chances are, you pick up new wrapping paper during holiday shopping, so recycle the old stuff. If you can’t let it go, store it in a rolling mesh laundry basket or repurpose last year’s paper for festive decor.

Yep, there’s a theme! Embrace the present by recycling last year’s calendar and any outdated datebooks.

Toss any unidentifiable items in the fridge or freezer. Want to be more eco-friendly? Look into composting those outdated items instead of throwing them away.

If a film only gets one thumb up or you wouldn’t watch it again, it’s time to give it away. Use hidden storage for the movies you keep. While movie memorabilia makes great decor, it’s perfectly fine to tuck away movie boxes until needed.

Throw away canned goods past their expiration date. If you find unopened packaged food you won’t eat, donate it to a local food pantry.

Don’t hesitate to trim your collection to the best ones. Share the books you don’t read often with friends who’ll enjoy them—maybe host a book-swap potluck!

Find your go-to menus and numbers online, then store them in a plastic folder. Stick the folder inside your kitchen cabinet for easy access—this also works great for recipes!

Condiment packets can last a while, but they do have best-by dates (nine months for ketchup, 12-24 months for mustard and taco sauce).

A junk drawer full of old sauces is only useful if they’re still good, so clean it out today!

Most recycling centers accept old keys in mixed-metal bins—just remove any rubber or plastic coverings first. To confirm local recycling rules, use Earth911’s online guide by entering your zip code.

If you know you won’t wear it again after the event, sell or donate it. Many organizations will take your old bridesmaid dress, prom dress, or tux and pass it on to someone in need.

When you get new prescription frames, donate the old ones. Nonprescription reading glasses and unopened contact lenses can also be used by others, so be sure to pass those on, too.

If you’ve received that promotion and have 300 unused business cards with your old title, recycle them.

A flimsy, broken umbrella is more trouble than it’s worth. Invest in a new, functional one—your future self will thank you for staying dry!

A spare USB cable or old charger could be useful to a friend or relative. Anything you can’t give away can often be recycled at an electronics store or online.

Keep cords organized in media boxes divided with cardboard “cubbies” and labeled sections to avoid confusion. Add some flair by decorating the cardboard with scrapbook paper.

With all the digital video recorders, DVD players, and cable boxes, it’s easy to accumulate extra remote controls. Get rid of the ones you no longer recognize or use.

If your CD collection is gathering dust, organize the ones you want to keep and sell or donate the rest. For a big declutter, consider digitizing them yourself or using a service, and store them on an affordable external hard drive.

Properly sealed paint can last up to 10 years if stored at a consistent temperature and kept from freezing. However, if you store it in a garage or shed, temperature changes can cause it to deteriorate faster.

If you find paint cans with bulging lids, leaky seams, or a dried layer of paint on top, it’s time to dispose of them. Before tossing, check with your local hazardous waste center for safe disposal guidelines.

If the paint is still good, consider donating it to a charity like Habitat for Humanity, a scout troop, or a school for crafts.

Instead of storing receipts in an old shoebox, try scanning and keeping digital copies for easy access, especially for returns or warranties. Keep in mind that thermal receipts can’t be recycled as paper due to their plastic coating—it’s best to trash them instead.

Take a good look at your library—if certain editions have seen better days and don’t hold sentimental value, it’s time to let them go.

You bought those window treatments thinking they’d fit your new place, but your windows have other ideas. If you’re good with a sewing machine, consider altering them to suit your current space, so they can still add charm and style to your home.

Our favorite way to repurpose old plates? Turn them into refrigerator magnets! Or, for a creative project, use them as a quirky room divider—though you’d need quite a few plates for that.

Most appliance manuals are available online to help with technical issues. Keep the essential ones in a folder and feel free to recycle the rest.

While you might miss your deep-fryer when you next need it, think of the peaceful space on your countertops, now just home to a toaster and a tablet. If your appliances aren’t used often, it’s time to clear them out.

If you’re not into melting down small soap slivers into one big bar (or grating them into liquid soap), it’s probably time to let go of that DIY project and toss the tiny soap pieces.

If you love the frame but the glass is shattered, you can replace the glass at a local repair shop. Otherwise, it’s time to part with them.

Your kitchen cabinets deserve better. Consider repurposing those containers from your medicine cabinet or upcycling your old Mason jars into something fresh.

Card and board games lose their fun when you can’t play them right. Save yourself the frustration of incomplete sets like Weird Monopoly or half a game of Hearts, and toss any jigsaw puzzles that are missing pieces.

Let your GPS handle navigation and recycle those outdated road-trip aids. You can turn keepsake maps into unique wall art instead.

Once potpourri loses its scent — which can happen in a few weeks with exposure to sunlight or humidity, or a few years if stored in a drawer — it turns into a dust magnet. When essential oils no longer revive it, it’s time to let it go.

If you have a couple of old disposable cameras lying around, now’s the time to use them. Hand them out to family and friends, then get the pictures developed to see what you get!

When you’re crafty, supplies can quickly take up space. Toss any dried-up glue sticks, old paint, and worn-out paintbrushes, then reorganize the supplies you want to keep.

Unused musical instruments can be donated for others to enjoy. If you ever feel the urge to play again, you can always get someone else’s former gear — it’s the circle of life!

If your old leftover caddies are holding onto the memories of spaghetti dinners past, it’s perfectly fine to part ways with them. (Psst: You can try one last cleaning with a baking soda paste for a fresh start.)