It’s no surprise that with warmer days heading our way, we’re going to have weekends of decluttering, trashing, and repurposing. No one wants to take bags of trash out, clean up the garage, or send half of our closet to the second-hand shop in cold, snowy, windy weather. But we’ve been hunkered down for months, collecting piles of unworn clothes and out-of-date technology, and it’s about time to break free.

Making the blanket statement that we need to “spring clean” can feel overwhelming. One way to overcome this is to chunk our tasks by room or section, starting with the most difficult (such as the garage or bedroom closets) to get them out of the way from the beginning. Here are a few tips on how to get rid of those unwanted or no-longer-needed items in your home.

Kitchen

• Gadgets can be passed on to family members setting out to live on their own for the first time...
• ...Or you can check that a Goodwill or second-hand shop takes electronics
• Expired food should be disposed of and their containers recycled, if they can be
• Tape the ends of all of your AA, AAA, 9v and 12v batteries with electric or duct tape for the
  safest disposal
• For old paperwork, we will be holding a FREE paper shredding event on April 13 from 8 am – 12 pm at 650 N. County Rd. 25A in Troy (under the grandstand at the Miami County Fairgrounds)

Bedroom

• Gift books that you’ve already read to someone who will appreciate a new read.
• Pass gently worn clothes and shoes to family members or friends who may need them...
• ...Or see if a local school or church accepts clothing donations
• Electronics can be taken to the transfer station (for the tipping fee of $5 for electronics weighing
  under 200 pounds or $53.80/ton) where they are actually recycled and sent to Goodwill, helping
  to provide jobs for community members with disabilities.

Bathroom

• Empty, clean out and recycle (or trash if not recyclable) containers of any hygiene products that
  you no longer use
• Safely dispose of old medicine and recycle the bottles

Garage

• Much of what you’ll probably be cleaning out of the garage could be considered hazardous
  waste. Go to our page Household Hazardous Waste to learn how we can help you dispose of it.

Most of all, have fun! It’s going to have to get done, so you might as well make it enjoyable. Turn it a
family game and/or give yourself a treat every time you clean a new section of your home!