Old sheets
Don’t hang on to old sheets that don’t fit any mattresses in your house. “It’s that ‘just in case’ mentality,” says Novak. If you really do end up getting a new mattress that size later, you can always buy new sheets. Donate the old ones to someone who can enjoy using them right away.
Unflattering clothes
You probably already know you should pare down your wardrobe, but an overflowing closet of clothes can be overwhelming. To make the task easier, start in the back of your closet or bottom of your drawers. “There’s a good chance that’s the stuff you’ve forgotten about and you will be more likely to let it go,” says Novak.
Expired batteries
Do a quick run around your house to find all those loose batteries lying in random drawers. Pull any out that are past their expiration date or are starting to corrode. Even if those decade-old batteries still have juice, you’ll be one step closer to clearing out that junk drawer. “If you’ve never done the battery challenge, do it once in your home to whittle out stuff that’s just sitting there useless,” says Richmond.