14 Items Pro Organizers Urge You to Throw out in April
Transition your home from one season to the next by getting rid of these 14 items.
"April is one of my favorite times for decluttering because it sits right between winter months and summer months filled with activities," says Sandy Eaton, a professional home organizer and founder of New Day Organizing. Most people still have winter gear and holiday pantry items lingering around while trying to bring out spring clothing and seasonal toys. To avoid chaos and clutter, use this month to transition your indoor and outdoor space from one season to the next.
According to Eaton, decluttering isn't just about getting rid of things—it's more about making room for what matters most in the season ahead. "April is a great month to start going through seasonal items that may be broken, expired, or just cluttering up your space and clearing them out before the busy summer months begin," says Kimberly Cheeseman, a professional organizer and owner of Orderly At the Shore.
Use this expert-provided list of things to throw out in April to successfully transition your home from one season to another.
Broken Garden Tools and Used Up Supplies
"As people start working outside in their yards again, they often discover broken tools, empty fertilizer containers, or duplicate supplies," Eaton says. She recommends clearing those things out and creating a simple gardening station that's stocked and ready for the months ahead.
Old Cleaning Supplies
"Spring cleaning often reveals half-full bottles of products people forgot they had," Eaton says. Toss expired products, consolidate duplicates, and throw out broken cleaning tools. "Keeping only what you would actually use makes your cleaning station simpler and safer," the organizer says.
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Expired Food
"Whether it’s in the pantry, freezer, or fridge, regularly check to see what food is old and can be tossed," advises Robyn Reynolds, a professional organizer and the owner of Organize2Harmonize. This prevents duplicate purchases, keeps shelves manageable, and makes room for new seasonal food items.
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Extra Grocery Bags
Grocery bags collect quickly, especially during the holidays when we tend to shop more. And although they pile up fast, Reynolds says they don't leave as quickly. "While it is necessary to keep a few, I give you permission to let go of the massive amounts of extras," she says.
Expired Sunblock and Insect Repellent
"Spring is the perfect time to check expiration dates on items such as sunblock and insect repellent," says professional organizer Allison Flinn, the founder of Reclaim Professional Organizing. Flinn advises replacing expired formulas with any products you'll need again in the months ahead.
Unused and Broken Outdoor Toys
For Cheeseman, spring is the time to throw out things like chalk that was left outside, deflated balls, outgrown bikes and scooters, and things that got beat up over the winter. "Use April as a transition month to replace commonly used outdoor toys as needed and take inventory of what your kids may want to use for summer," Cheeseman says.
Worn-out Summer Sandals
Take Cheeseman's advice and don’t wait until summertime to discover your sandals are dingy or have broken soles. "Go through your family's warm-weather footwear and get rid of old sizes, items that are very worn out, or sandals that you never even wore last summer," she suggests.
Spring Clothes You Didn't Wear Last Year
"As you rotate your closet for warmer weather, pay attention to what you didn't wear last year," Eaton says. If something stayed in the closet all year, she says it's a good candidate for donating and helping someone who may truly be in need.
Unnecessary Winter Gear
This month, reassess your winter gear and part ways with winter coats, gloves, hats, boots, and sporting equipment you no longer have use for. "Families tend to hold on to too many items 'just in case', but if something hasn't been used in a few years, it is likely safe to donate or pass along before storing it all away for next year," Eaton says.
Excess Mugs
Mugs accumulate in the winter when we receive them as holiday gifts and purchase new ones for cozy holiday beverages. "More than two or three per person in the household is what I consider excess—time to donate or repurpose into planters or other craft items," Reynolds says.
Books You Won't Read Again
Reynolds says April is the time to donate old books that are only collecting dust on the shelf. "It's time to make space for new ones that you will actually read," the organizer says.
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Damaged Warm-Weather Gear
April is a great time to assess pool accessories and warm weather gear. "Review pool towels, sunglasses, goggles, water toys, pool floats, and anything else primarily used in the summer," Flinn advises. If items are damaged and no longer usable, she says it's time to toss and replace.
Useless Cords and Chargers
To avoid chaos and confusion while packing for spring and summer travel, declutter the junk drawer and get rid of miscellaneous cords and chargers this April. "Most times, we don’t even know what it belongs to," Reynolds says.
Product Manuals
Take this spring to finally tackle messy drawers. Something you're likely to find? Tons of old product manuals. "Believe it or not, every manual is available online—if it’s instructional you can always look it up," Reynolds says. Toss old manuals—especially for products and appliances you no longer own!
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Maria Sabella is a lifestyle writer with a passion for home and interiors — from paint colors and holiday decor to the latest design trends. Her work has appeared in outlets including Better Homes & Gardens, The Spruce, BuzzFeed and Bustle.
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