3 Things You Should Always Declutter In April

Keeping your home tidy takes time, effort, and, of course, plenty of decluttering. When it comes to decluttering, it's important to get rid of the right things so your possessions are well managed and you don't have excess inventory. For those feeling invigorated by warmer spring temperatures, three things you should always declutter in April are winterwear items, cleaning supplies, and medications.

Although it is easy enough to look around your home and see countless items you could declutter, some logical and worthwhile candidates include those you have accumulated more than you meant to or more than you require. Winterwear is a specific category where inventory can grow rapidly; parting with items that are no longer in good condition or that don't fit your growing children is a smart move that will clear space in your coat closet. While cleaning supplies are in high demand when you're up to your neck in spring cleaning, there's no need to hang onto products that aren't serving you. 

Lastly, it's all too common to realize that your medications have expired just as you need a dose of Benadryl to combat spring allergies. Decluttering your medicine and keeping only what hasn't yet expired is a powerful way to stay organized and prepared. Remember to check expiration dates on nasal sprays and eyedrops, too, not just ingestible meds. Feeling motivated to tackle more than these three things? Here are three common items you can declutter now for a cleaner, tidier home.

Now that you know what items are worth decluttering in April, it's time to set yourself up for a smooth process. Act intentionally with items you're decluttering — this is particularly relevant with items like old winterwear. Although you might be done with a pair of gloves your toddler outgrew, ask your friends if their children or grandchildren could use them next winter. You can also research winterwear-specific donation organizations, which often need items in good condition. Whether you're donating or keeping winter footwear, make sure you know how to clean winter boots before they get put into storage.

If you feel guilty about parting with items you meant to use but never did, it's important to let go of those negative emotions to declutter effectively. Purchasing a cleaning tool for a particular season of life and then underutilizing it doesn't mean you have to keep it. To avoid falling into the "sunk-cost fallacy," in which you refuse to part with items that you spent money on, offer these items to a loved one or post them in a community Buy Nothing group. Whether it's a half-used bottle of limescale remover or a broom you actually hate, one person's trash is often another person's treasure. When parting with possessions is especially hard, a declutter checklist can help you make the difficult decisions.

As far as decluttering medications goes, it's important to properly handle expired or partially used items. Reading up on the FDA Flush List is a safe way to responsibly dispose of a wide variety of medications. Now is a good time to sort through your first aid kits, too, checking the expiration dates on individual packets of pain relievers so you're prepared when injuries or accidents happen on the go.