When I did some research into my blog analytics at the end of last year (in order to uncover the 10 most popular organizing posts of 2016), I was a little surprised to see that my post on “no Brainer things to toss during your kitchen declutter session” was at the very top of the list. OK. So you clearly liked this list!
In keeping with my promise to deliver more concrete help with decluttering this year, I decided to go ahead and create a monthly “No Brainer Things to Toss Series”. I’m all about giving you more of what you love! My plan is to create a monthly post centered around the specific area of the home that we’re zeroing in on as part of the Organize & Refine Your Home Challenge.
Since February is home office in The Challenge, I’ve compiled a list of 10 “No Brainers” that you can immediately place into the “toss” pile during your home office declutter sessions. All I had to do was take a peek around the two home offices in my own home to get a boatload of ideas 🙂
THE HOME OFFICE DECLUTTER TOSS LIST
After clearing out the obvious trash, the first order of business I like to tackle in any home office decluttering project is the paper (you CAN’T be surprised to hear this, from ME, right?). Gather up all of the random pieces of paper strewn around the office and toss into a laundry basket to deal with AFTER you declutter and organize the rest of the office.
Paper decluttering is a project in and of itself. Check out my paper decluttering series to learn how to set up a paper management system, as well as organize various types of paper clutter.
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There you have it! What items will you be tossing from the list? What else would you add? Share with the rest of us one of the items in your home office declutter toss pile!
Need a little more help with decluttering & organizing your home office?
Download the Declutter Tool Kit, a free resource for helping you declutter your home from top to bottom. Click on the image below to learn more about it and to download a copy for yourself:
Check out my step-by-step guides for decluttering & organizing your home office:
- Home Office Decluttering
- Home Office Organization & Maintenance
- Reference File Organization
- Going Paperless in the Home Office
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Jackie says
There is a guy who does some really great things with broken or un-useable pens..go to penguyart.com to donate all your un-useable, broken, unwanted pens so they don’t end up in our landfills!! Really great and unique way to help save our planet..because every little bit helps! Spread the word
Natalie Gallagher says
What a great idea Jackie. Thanks for sharing!
Jean Hanson says
Thanks for this, Natalie.
A quick tip for your readers who hold garage sales….A few years ago I did a major purge of office supplies while gathering stuff for my rummage sale: a ton of sticky notes (perhaps as many as you had), index cards, spiral notebooks, file folders, pens and markers, binders, etc. I made “office in a bag” packages and priced them reasonably. I sold out within the first hour. People loved them!
And p.s. on the mystery cables. Do a little matching with your electronics first. I accidentally tossed a cord I needed for an air filtration system that I use only seasonally. I hope your readers are more careful than I was.
Natalie Gallagher says
“Office in a Bag”…That’s a fabulous idea Jean! Yes, I totally agree re: the electronics cords. In my case, that box has sat up in a corner of our office closet for years, without us so much as taking the lid off. I knew that if I hadn’t accessed any of those cords in that time, that they were all useless to us at this point. But a great warning for others!
Leanna says
Thank you for sharing at the #HomeMattersParty
I have a craft room office combination that I am currently cleaning. I read your article with interest. I had tossed a bunch of mystery cords, old dvds and a mountain of pens that hubs must slowly bring home from work. I have to look at it again to see if I have some old excess stationary products I can donate away.
I know one thing for certain, the minute I got rid of the excess it was much easier to locate what we needed. Great practical information here.
Natalie Gallagher says
Thanks so much for the feedback Leanna…AGREED that it’s so much easier to access what you need when all of that unnecessary clutter is gone 🙂
Emily says
I recently rounded up a bin of random cords, gave everyone one week (and a daily reminder) to make sure nothing they needed was in the bin and tossed it, it was so freeing! I’d love to get rid of my hubby’s old text books, especially since several of them are still used and could be resold, but he “apparently” still uses them! Thanks for linking up to #HomeMattersParty
Natalie Gallagher says
Wow, if you can resell old text books, more power to you! I KNOW that everyone has that box of random cords!