43 things to get rid of in the next 43 days

Don’t hang on to old sheets that don’t fit any mattresses in your house. “It’s that ‘just in case’ mentality,” says Novak. If you really do end up getting a new mattress that size later, you can always buy new sheets. Donate the old ones to someone who can enjoy using them right away.

You probably already know you should pare down your wardrobe, but an overflowing closet of clothes can be overwhelming. To make the task easier, start in the back of your closet or bottom of your drawers. “There’s a good chance that’s the stuff you’ve forgotten about and you will be more likely to let it go,” says Novak.

Do a quick run around your house to find all those loose batteries lying in random drawers. Pull any out that are past their expiration date or are starting to corrode. Even if those decade-old batteries still have juice, you’ll be one step closer to clearing out that junk drawer. “If you’ve never done the battery challenge, do it once in your home to whittle out stuff that’s just sitting there useless,” says Richmond.

Be honest: You’ll probably never dig out a ratty towel when you have a stack of clean, fluffy ones. “You wouldn’t even give them to a guest, so what are you doing?” says Novak. Keep a few for emergencies like cleaning up floodwater, then bin the rest, she says.

Don’t clog up your closet with T-shirts from holidays just for the sentimental value. “There are some things you think are clothing but are actually memorabilia,” says Novak. “You keep those clothes in your closet, but they actually belong in a memory box.”

You might have used a tablespoon of a special sauce or spice when experimenting with ethnic foods. “We love feeling inspired to cook a new food,” says Richmond. “But some items don’t get used or we lose our taste for the food.” Chuck those ingredients in the back of your cupboard that you only used once and have no immediate plans for.

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Contain yourself to just one memorabilia box that’s easy to store out of sight. Once that container is full, pare it down instead of letting new boxes build up. Instead of holding on to the physical item, consider taking a picture for the nostalgic value. “Any time you can, take a picture of the item and have a folder of something that’s all your memories,” says Novak. Instead of a bulky box of dusty teddy bears and melted candles, you’ll save those memories digitally.

Chances are, someone out there will get more use out of that costume jewellery than you do. Consignment shops will often buy jewellery on the spot instead of paying you after it’s sold, and community theatres use costume jewellery as props, says Novak. You could also consider selling the pieces on Etsy. “People that use them for their art projects will buy it,” she says. “That’s your target market right there.”

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Trash any stockings with runs or intimates with elastic that’s barely hanging on. “All those support garments should actually support you,” says Novak.

You might be holding on to the original box for a big-ticket item like a TV or computer just in case you want to sell it or need to move, but they’re usually not worth the space. The few extra bucks you might make selling it in its original packaging probably aren’t worth it, and you shouldn’t start hoarding boxes unless you plan to move within two months, says Richmond. “If you think you might return an item, by all means hold onto the original box for a month or two,” she says. “But once that item becomes a member of your family, that original box isn’t important anymore and can go.”