10 Common Household Items You Can Happily Do Without

Do you ever feel like you have too much stuff?  I do. My sister just moved to Texas and totally became a minimalist.  It made me want to go clean out my whole house of stuff I don’t need!  I’m excited to have Alyssa Craig guest posting again sharing 10 Common Household Items You Can Happily Do Without! I have gotten rid of most of these things, but I have a few of them I could work on getting rid of!  

10 Common Household Items You Can Happily Do Without

by: Alyssa Craig

Our homes quickly get cluttered with many items we do not really need. We often acquire and keep items simply because we’ve never given much thought to whether or not we really need them. Are you looking to save some money, cut back on clutter, and gain back some valuable storage space? Here are just ten items you likely have around the house that you can happily do without:

1. Fabric Softener: You might use fabric softener out of habit, but it really is an unnecessary addition to the laundry routine. Detergent alone is enough to get your clothes clean and you can enjoy the benefits of a scented detergent without the added perfume of the softener. Air dry more clothes to keep them from being damaged by the heat of the dryer.
2. Paper Towels: If you are also looking to be a little nicer to the environment, you might consider no longer using paper towels. Cloth towels that can be washed and reused work just as well and they last for many years. In a pinch you can even use dirty towels to wipe up a spill, as long as it will not stain.
3. Desktop Computers: Unless you only sit at a desk in your house to work on the computer, a desktop is no longer necessary in every home. Most people like to be more mobile in their home and already own smaller technologies, such as a laptop, tablet or even a smartphone. These make owning a desktop even more unnecessary.
4. Box Spring: Surprisingly a box spring, though traditionally part of a bed set, is not actually a must have. There is another method you can implement to get a good night’s sleep and you will find it is less bulky, more cost effective, and more adaptable. Go here for more information.
5. Many Cleaning Products: When cleaning day comes along, you get out your arsenal of cleaning supplies to tackle each room in the house. Even just the bathroom may require three or four products. The truth is you really do not need a different cleaner for the sink than from the tub and the toilet. Baking soda and vinegar can do the job quite nicely and are safer and more cost effective too.
6. Cable TV: Unless you are really tied to watching your television shows live, there is really no reason to still have a cable TV subscription. News is available through the internet and various mobile apps. Roku, Netflix, Amazon, Hulu Plus, and other services are available to watch most current television shows for much cheaper than cable.
7. Landline Phones: Especially if everyone in your household has a cell phone, a landline is completely irrelevant. Even if you bundle your phone number with your internet provider, it is extra money you could be saving. Do yourself a favor and ditch the landline. Most of the calls to that number are probably telemarketers anyway.
8. Exercise Machines: You have a treadmill, stationary bike, or weight machine in your basement. If you are not using it regularly, you can probably let it go without a second thought. These can take up valuable space and only become a place where clothing dries and clutter accumulates. Many gyms even offer $10/month memberships, making that even more economical than buying a machine of your own.
9. Unused Novelty Kitchen Appliances: As you go through your pantry, kitchen cabinets and storage spaces, how many extra kitchen appliances can you find that you do not use often? Juicers, waffle irons, sandwich grills, extra blenders, quesadilla makers, cake pop appliances, popcorn poppers, hot cocoa makers, and many other novelty kitchen appliances may have seemed like a good idea at the time (or perhaps they were a well-meant wedding gift), but if you do not use it regularly, just get rid of it.
10. Air Fresheners: You have plug-in air fresheners and each time you enter a room a puff of fragrance fills the air. However, when it comes down to it, cleanliness is key. No amount of air freshener will replace a well-kept home. Instead of investing in air fresheners and continually replacing them, develop a better system to keep your home smelling naturally fresh because it is genuinely clean.

Go through your house and locate these items and any other item that is just taking up valuable space. Donate the items or sell them at a yard sale. As a result, you can enjoy a little extra space, a little extra cash, and little peace of mind.

How many of these Common Household Items You Can Happily Do Without are you going to get rid of this week?

For other post on cleaning out check out these post below…