A fantastic list (including a free printable checklist as well!) of 31 things to purge from your home and life in May. Take the month one step at a time and declutter one thing each day from your home and life. Get things sorted bit by bit and enjoy a more clutter free home.
This post is part of a series that I’ve created based around the concept of decluttering one thing a day for an entire year.
You can print off each month as we get to them, or if you want to see the entire list of 365 things for the year in one go (a sneak peek!) then you can visit this post – 365 things to declutter from your home and life this year.
Don’t forget to grab your copy of the free checklist for May in the Printables Library, and get started today!
You can of course choose how to declutter.
Whether you decided to do it all on one day in a blitz session, or take it slowly and declutter one item a day on the date the checklist suggests – the trick is just to get started and make progress.
Hope you enjoy!
31 Things to purge from your home in May
#1 – Weeds in your garden – Spring is when everything starts growing outside, so why not spend an hour weeding today? You’ll love the difference such a simple thing makes to the look of your home, and it will start to get it ready for the warmer days.
#2 – Boxes from electronic items you have bought – seriously – how many times have you ever needed the box again?
#3 – Duplicate kitchen items. You really do only need one of everything!
#4 – Old nail varnish / nail varnish in a colour you don’t wear any longer
#5 – Anything waiting to go to the tip – make a few journeys and free up the space. It’s so lovely to not have to look at the boxes and bags of rubbish waiting to leave the house…
#6 – Any stickers on your car windows that are outdated or not needed any longer. Things like Car Tax Discs (Are you still displaying one even though you don’t need them anymore?), or hobby/groups stickers that you don’t need.
#7 – Anything in a box in your garage that you don’t use, or remember what’s in it!
#8 – Makeup past its best. Do you know how long makeup should be kept for? There is a little icon on each item with a number such as 6/12 or 18 on it – that the months you should keep it once it’s been opened…
#9 – Take away menus for places you never eat at
#10 – Bags and purses you won’t use again
#11 – Outdated items on your noticeboard. Ideally I would look at getting rid of using your noticeboard for anything other than displaying art or calendars – the small bits of paper and notes are better off in a more organised place such as your Home File.
#12 – Broken or chipped vases
#13 – Excess bedding – Ideally keep just 2 sets per bed (1 for the wash and 1 to use) and keep within easy reach of each bed.
We keep ours in a cupboard on the landing, so we can access it all easily – works a treat if you have kids and may need to change the bed in the night…
#14 – Hair products you used to use when your style was different
#15 – Photo albums you don’t use
#16 – Clothes you simply don’t wear anymore
#17 – Toiletries and perfumes you hate the smell of
#18 – Chipped garden plant pots
#19 – Outdated reference books – You can so easily turn to Google to ask whatever you’re wanting to know.
#20 – Herbs and spices you never use
#21 – Keys that you have no clue what they unlock
#22 – Small product samples – things you’ve picked up at department stores, or in magazines etc… – you’ll probably never use them.
#23 – Rings that don’t fit (and that you won’t get re-sized)
#24 – Games consoles that you never use
#25 – Your outgoings – This is a big one – but can be eye opening! Take a look at your bank statement and declutter any payments that you shouldn’t be making anymore (I found a small insurance policy on a washing machine that we had been paying 5 years after we moved from that house – seriously! – it hadn’t been spotted because we had several policies with the same company…)
#26 – Anything that you cannot truly fit into your available time / schedule – start to say no or delegate more. Be picky and you’ll find more time to do what you truly love doing.
#27 – Old nightwear.
#28 – Old bulbs (shake them and see if they rattle!)
#29 – CDs you don’t listen to any longer
#30 – Anything you are keeping in your house that belongs to someone else (kids who have moved out, something you’ve borrowed from a friend etc…)
#31 – Old party decorations. Especially anything that has a number for the birthday – if you have no more kids that will need a large number 3 on a cake – then get rid!
Declutter checklist for May
If you’d like your very own copy of the declutter checklist for May – then it’s available right now in the Printables Library.
This is where I keep ALL the free printables from around this site – you may well like downloading the May Homemaking TO DO checklist while you’re there…
Grab Your Copy Now…
There you have it – 31 things to purge from your home and life in May – AND a Free Checklist to stay on track.
The best way to stay on track all month and get a bit done each day.
I hope you have fun with this list, and that you join me next month for June’s checklist (and if you can’t wait until then, remember that the entire list is written out HERE).
