Plan an Annual Purge of Things You Don't Use

Get out your mop, plug in the vacuum, pull down the drapes—it's time for some good old-fashioned spring cleaning. Green cleaners choose eco-friendly and natural products to make their home shine, but many people forget about one vital part of spring cleaning: the purge!

Purging is a healthy part of life. We naturally move through different stages of life, and it makes sense that something that we used every day as a teenager will have lost its appeal by the time we're in our thirties. But memories and sentimentality—they're a roadblock for many people.

It can be hard to let go of things from our past, especially when they're linked to someone special who has died. But it is possible, and a yearly purge every spring makes it easier to let go. Think about it: if you're letting things go on a yearly basis, it becomes expected, normal even. And with every purge you'll find it easier to let more things go.

Start by designating a space in your home for purged items, and only purged items—you don't want to accidentally give away something you use regularly. Place two bins in the designated area—one for broken items that can be recycled, another for trash (there's always some trash).

Now if you're trying to live green, you might be thinking that purging is wasteful—and it would be if you were throwing things away. But, as the saying goes, one man's trash is another man's treasure. The things you're purging can find a good home with someone who could use them.

There are lots of ways to pass your old treasures on to others, but these are our favorites . . .

Freebies for Friends

Invite all your friends over to have their pick of the freebies—all of the items that you want to purge. You'll have a blast reminiscing about "the time when" and you'll be able to unload some of the "merchandise."

Super Garage Sale

Throwing a garage/lawn sale is obvious, but there's just one hitch: your purge is happening in April, but garage sale season doesn't get rolling until June. That means you're going to have to come up with temporary storage. The good news is you can organize things for the sale when you purge, going to far as to organize items by price so that all you need to do is draw up some signs come June.

Donate to Charity

Many charities collect clothing and household items, which they then sell to second-hand shops or sell in their own shops to raise money for their programs. Some require drop-off of items, but others make it really easy by asking you to leave the items on your doorstep on a certain day so that they can pick them up. So you get to purge and help others at the same time—a win-win all around.

Donate to a Shelter

If you have gently-used clothing and footwear or children's toys, you can donate these items to homeless or women's shelters. Clothing can make a big difference for someone who has nothing, and outerwear in particular will help keep the homeless sheltered from the elements during the day and on nights they sleep outdoors. Women's shelters also often need clothing because mothers and children often leave home with few (if any) belongings. Something as simple as a stuffed toy can make an abused child feel safe and comforted.

Swap 'Til You Drop

Kids grow like weeds, and there are times when it seems like nothing fits for more than a few months. Instead of saving the special clothing and donating the rest, you might want to consider handing items down to a friend or family member with a child a bit smaller than yours. It's especially helpful for the receiving parents if they're on a tight budget. You can also look for local swaps, try an online swap service, or organize a swap through your child's school. All kids could bring one or two pieces of too-small clothing to school, and then they can go "shopping" for one or two items in a larger size. Anything left over goes to charity.

These five ideas are great ways to help you get rid of a lot of the stuff that's cluttering up your home and your life. The purge will be tough at first, but it will feel amazing when you have more storage space for the things you love. Remember: Less is more!

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