Tackling a major cleaning and organizing project is a great way to keep your home tidy and your life streamlined. While it can feel extremely liberating to discard or donate items that no longer serve you, be careful not to get carried away and part with something you would’ve been better off keeping.
How to know the difference? When it comes to what not to throw away, heed the following advice of the lifestyle experts at Martha Stewart.
Electronics and appliance manuals. While most information found in manuals is also accessible on the internet, you may still want to hold onto the important paperwork and instructions that came with your household devices. The print manuals will ensure you’re getting the information intended specifically for your particular items, and provide you with the proper part numbers and troubleshooting information.
Sentimental items. From school papers to ticket stubs, nostalgic items from your past can take up a lot of space, making it extremely tempting to toss them all away, especially if they haven’t been looked at in a long time and are simply gathering dust. But before you make this decision, take the time to sort through your collection of memorabilia in order to keep any truly special items, such as letters, that could be invaluable for generations to come.
Childhood books and games. These items might appear to be junk after spending decades packed away in your attic, but childhood favorites should be sorted through with careful consideration. Be sure to keep those that are still in decent shape and are particularly meaningful to your childhood experience, and can be passed on to future generations.
Miscellaneous collections. Is there a box of baseball cards or comic books hidden away in one of your closets? Or perhaps a coin or stamp collection that you started in your childhood? Before you part with such a collection, take the time to get them professionally appraised. The same goes for your grandmother’s jewelry that you squirreled away—don’t discard such items until you understand their real value.
Photos and videos. In today’s digital age, old-school snapshots and VHS tapes are relics that are easy to toss. A preferable option, however, might be to have them transformed into a digital format. This way you are preserving your treasured memories for decades to come.
Record albums and CDs. Those lovingly worn vinyl albums you’ve collected over the years should not be discarded. These days, vintage records are considered collector’s items, and have also become a stylish part of home decor, given the resurgence of record players. The same holds true for CDs. So while you should indeed get rid of any broken records, find an attractive spot to showcase your remaining collection.
