10 Paper Items Professional Organizers Say You Can Toss Today
If it's time to declutter, start with that pile of junk mail.
Papers have a way of piling up around the home. It's one of the most common sources of clutter, so if you're looking for an easy way to start decluttering, organizers say you should toss some paper items. Nearly everyone is guilty of holding onto paper clutter because it might be useful or because it's sentimental. But as experts point out, you're often creating more stress for yourself. Allison Flinn, owner of Reclaim Professional Organizing, says, “If you don't toss papers regularly, it will be hard to find what you actually need when you need it.”
Examples of paper clutter that can probably go include things like save-the-dates for weddings that happened six months ago, coupons that have long since expired, and that pile of junk mail that's been living in the laundry room for a few months.
But before you go tossing everything, make sure there's no sensitive information on them. Things like bills, explanations of benefits, bank statements, credit card statements, pay stubs, tax returns, or any other mail with any personal information should be shredded to avoid identity theft, says Martha-Carol Stewart, founder and CEO of Chaos Organizing.
Below, professional organizers get honest about the paper items you should toss ASAP.
Bills That Can Go Digital
Nowadays, we can decide to go digital with some things that were traditionally always sent as paper—like bills you can choose to receive electronically. “No need for a paper copy when you have a digital copy,” Flinn points out. Visit your credit card’s website and opt into digital bills.
Other Items That Can Be Electronic
Stewart notes, “Technology can be a wonderful thing when it comes to paper clutter because we have a choice to receive communication in emails versus post office mail.” In addition to bills, there are other items that can go digital as well. Think: bank statements, church or school newsletters, warranties, and receipts.
Instruction Manuals
From coffee makers to lawn equipment, it’s still standard practice even in today’s digital world to receive a manual with appliances and other items for the home. Although it might feel sacrilegious (What if I need that?! you might think), Stewart says manuals can be tossed. “Manuals can be found online and no longer need to take up precious space in a cabinet or filing cabinet,” she says.
Junk Mail
There’s a reason why it’s called “junk mail,” after all. As Stewart says, “Junk mail is a quick and easy toss because it is typically advertisements for things we don’t need—win-win with no paper clutter and not bringing things we don’t need into our home.” If it’s coupons you never see yourself using or a penny saver newspaper you’ll never read, put it out for recycling.
Invitations
It might be tempting to hold onto things like invitations and save-the-date cards. After all, someone took time and thought to send these to guests like you, and you’ll feel bad if you throw it away. Apart from invitations to really special events, Stewart emphasizes the importance of entering the information into a calendar and tossing them. “Taking care of this quickly eliminates clutter sitting around on counters or desks,” she adds.
Some Kids’ Artwork
Sentimentality plays a role when it comes to your children’s artwork. You may feel the need to keep every bit of everything they’ve ever created, but Flinn says you can be choosy. “Keep what you find special, but you don't need to keep every piece of paper they have ever scribbled on,” she says.
RELATED: Pro Organizers Want You to Throw Out Your Children's Artwork
Old Newspaers
Stewart says that where she lives in Louisiana, it’s a common tradition to keep newspapers to use as table coverings for crawfish and crab boils. But in most places, you can part with newspapers you’ve already read. “Newspapers (and any paper for that matter) attract bugs and mice, so eliminating those old stacks helps keep our homes cleaner and bug-free,” she says.
Unnecessary Receipts
Although more and more stores are allowing customers to choose digital receipts instead of paper ones, or even forgo the receipt altogether, this isn't the case with most retailers. But Flinn says you can do away with receipts that aren’t needed for returns or record keeping. Some examples include receipts for high-value items or business-related expenses.
Catalogues
Feel free to part with old catalogues, too. Stewart says that if you want to hold onto a catalogue, a good rule of thumb is to keep for only a two-month limit: if you haven’t looked at it in two months, let it go, “otherwise they will creep in and take over your tabletops.”
Needless Work-Related Documents
Even as everything increasingly goes digital, we all amass work documents that pile up in our office closets, desk drawers, and file cabinets. But as Flinn says, “There is no need to keep paper copies of outdated documents such as drafts and notes that are no longer relevant.” Figure out what's no longer necessary to keep, and get shredding.
RELATED: Your Phone Might Be Way More Cluttered Than You Think—Here's How to Fix It
Shelby Deering is a freelance lifestyle writer who frequently covers home design and decor for national publications. She has worked as a full-time freelance writer for over a decade, and has worked in the industry for nearly 20 years, writing home tours, interviewing top designers, and beautifying her own home. She holds a master's degree in Journalism and Mass Communication from the University of Wisconsin-Madison, and when she's not writing, you can find her at thrift stores and flea markets, running, or exploring local trails in Madison, Wisconsin, with her husband and corgi, Dolly.
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