What to Do with My Useless Junk

There is always one question which creeps into your mind usually twice a year, spring and autumn. What do I do with my useless junk? There are a few simple guidelines which you can follow which work for any size household. Let's look at how you can deal with your useless junk.

Don't Save Stuff to Use Later

One of the first things you can do when thinking of what to do with useless junk is to stop saving items to use them later. You know the feeling, you come across an item which you cannot use immediately but know you can make a use of at some point in time. This includes glass jars which may store stuff later; old clothes which may become other items later; carpet remnants; door handles, doorknobs, locks, and other leftovers from renovations or repairs.

Find Alternative Use

Old shirts can be cleaning towels. Old envelopes can become paper for "to do" lists. Old magazines can be used for their articles or scrapbooking. Calendars can be used for pictures. Burnt pots and pans can be decorated for flowers, or wall hangings. Glass jars can be saved if you keep lots of change or screws and nails. Old candles can be melted down and remolded into new candles. Old trays can be used for ceiling tile or wall decorations. Broken ceramic pieces can be used in rock gardens. Many pieces of useless junk can become creative works of art and decoration for a home.

Keep Feelings Out of It

The most important thing to remember when wondering what to do with your useless junk is to keep your emotions and feelings out of the decision. Don't get sentimental about things and objects which have no further use in your life. Yes, they had a use once, but they outlived their use in your life. Let the useless junk go take room someplace else.

Donate, Salvage, Remove

So, how do you get rid of the useless junk once you concluded it is useless junk? Donate anything that someone can make use of someplace else. Old tools, clothes, furniture and odds and ends are good for giving away to someone else as it helps them and creates space in your house. Salvage anything which is broken, cracked, or just doesn't work. Throw out the old vacuum, or the old sheets which have seen the children grow up. The dishes with the one cracked piece can be separated into a smaller set; with the remaining damaged pieces thrown out. In any case, the idea is to remove what is considered useless junk from the house. This is especially good for when you, like me, have had places with very limited space and too much accumulated useless junk. It also helps for when you find yourself having to either move, or make room for other people. Trust me, using the ideas above will help decide what to do with useless junk