March 10, 2016
Too Much of a Good Thing?
If you’ve been following our series on some of the important items that you may not have realized that you need for your new home until you’re moving in, you’ll know that we’ve been talking about the everyday things you use all the time, but won’t be provided when you purchase a new home. Today we’re going to wrap up the series with an unusual list - one of things that most people tend to collect too many of, whether they need all of them or not. You could probably get away with fewer of these items – try it and see!
Sheets – Unless someone in your home wets the bed, or you’re absolutely terrible about doing your laundry, two to three sets per bed should be plenty.
Glasses – Take a good long look at the beverages you drink, and how often you drink them. Do you need red wine glasses, white wine glasses and champagne flutes, or will one all-purpose style of four to six stemmed glasses do the job? Do you entertain often enough to merit more than a dozen tumblers? And let’s be honest…how many souvenir coffee mugs do you need for your morning cuppa joe?
Containers for Leftovers – Whether they’re Tupperware, Gladware or repurposed Cool Whip and hummus containers, you’re probably hoarding way too many plastic vessels in your under the counter cabinets.
Towels – Much like sheets, unless you’re a total laundry slacker, two to three sets per person living in the house should do the job just fine. Many people overload their linen closet with piles of towels that never get used, while the same sets go in and out of the washer all the time.
Health & Beauty Products – Women tend to overindulge in this category, but guys can also collect an abundance of shampoos, colognes, exfoliators or skin care products, when they gravitate toward the same items time after time. And resist the urge to clean out the stock of miniature versions of toiletries when you stay at hotels. Once you get them home, they just become clutter.
Cleaning Products – Wanting to try a hot new thing is a common trait, especially when a company promises that their latest offering will save you time and money. But make sure you use up what you already have before you indulge, and if you’re not satisfied with something new, give it away or dispose of it.
Books – Any librarian you meet will tell you there’s no such thing as having too many books, but the vast majority of books you read won’t be re-read after you’ve finished with them. Consider getting most of your books from a local library to cut down on the number of books you’ll need to store. Donate or sell the ones you have that you know you won’t read again. But make sure you keep your child’s favorite bedtime story close by.
Candles, Guest Soaps and Bath Goodies – Make sure you’re using them, not just collecting them. If you aren’t lighting them or bathing with them, tuck them into drawers or closets to add a subtle scent to your clothes.
Hangers – it’s smart to keep a few extra here and there for guests to use, or for new acquisitions, but too many hangers take up space and catch on EVERYTHING. Investing in some uniform hangers also keeps things neater and tidier – a mix of sizes, shapes and materials makes it harder to keep order.
Vases – If you keep the vase your flowers come in every time you receive a fragrant gift, more than likely you have more than you’ll ever use. Recycling them is the way to go, or consider giving them to the Salvation Army or Goodwill.
Reusable Shopping Bags – Whether you get promotional ones or buy extras at the store when yours are in the trunk of the car or in your kitchen pantry, they do tend to pile up. Only keep as many as you normally use on a shopping trip, plus one – just in case.
Spices – Because they have a shelf life, keeping a wide variety of spices on hand is unwise - unless you’re a professional chef. Most people rely on a fairly limited set of recipes for their daily needs, so only buy the ones you use often.
T-Shirts – Whether they’re concert tees, sports tees or promo items, most people have more than they could wear in a month crowding drawers or closets.
Rags – Not every piece of ready-to-discard clothing makes a good rag. Polyester blend fabrics don’t absorb well – they just push the spill around. Only keep cotton, and limit the number to what will fit in a single bag or drawer.
Trust us…once you’ve let go of the excess baggage caused by too much stuff, you’ll be glad you pared down! Sometimes, less is truly more.
