Now’s the time TO DECLUTTER!

If you’ve been trying to spring-clean but constantly found yourself having to vacuum round piles or books or dust round dozens of ornaments, it’s time to declutter.

Most of us own far too much stuff and have wardrobes groaning with clothes and shoes, and shelving units bowing under the weight of books and CDs.

Yet it might be bad for our health – scientific studies have found that having too many possessions can make us stressed, frustrated and even exhausted.

So, take the time to have a clear-out – not only will you free up space, you can make money by selling all the things you don’t need.

Cleaning will be easier, too – and finding your car keys.

Here’s how:

WARDROBE

First, go through all your clothes and shoes, sorting out any that are damaged, stained or old and worn, and throw these away. Now group everything into sections – tops, skirts, trousers, jackets, boots, heels, etc – and see what you have too many of. Add to this anything you haven’t worn for a year, except occasion wear – although if a piece has a special meaning to you, do keep it. Now go through your clothes and shoes again and add anything to the pile that doesn’t fit you properly or is uncomfortable to wear.

Sort the discarded items into two piles – one to be sold online, one to go to the charity store.

And if you’re not sure about any items, keep them together out of sight, and, if you haven’t worn them by the summer, get rid of them.

MEDICINE CABINET

Most of us only ever look in our medicine cabinet when we need a plaster or headache tablet, but it’s important to declutter them every six months.

To do so, first check every item’s expiry date and remove any that aren’t in date, as they will have lost effectiveness.

Also take out any that aren’t in their original packets – while you may know what they are, others might not and take the wrong thing by mistake.

Don’t throw these products in the bin or wash them down the sink – take to a pharmacy to dispose of responsibly.

Finally, keep your medicine cabinet well organised, so you can easily see any important over-the-counter drugs you’ve run out of.

MAKE-UP BAG

Often overlooked is the humble make-up bag, but that, too, needs a regular check, as old cosmetics can cause skin and eye irritations.

Any liquid make-ups such as mascara, lip gloss and some eyeliners should only be kept for six months after opening, or they may become contaminated with bacteria.

Most other beauty products have a lifespan of up to three years, but do discard before then if they change consistency or colour or begin to smell.

If you’ve got some older products you’ve not opened, check the expiry date on the packaging, as they may still be safe to use.