Use it Or Lose it Decluttering the fun, cheap, and easy way
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The Use it or Lose it Method
The fun way to simplify your home
It can be fun to go through things and see what you have. You might find some real treasures
The use it or lose it method teaches us to use up our consumables before we buy more and to use our favorite things everyday.
How to start:
1) gathering all of the item below in one place
2) sorting out things you love and want to use
3) start a box of things you want to give away
4) throw away expired, used up, or broken items
Item to go through:
Lovely soaps, bath bombs, the pretty candles, or note cards - Why don’t you start using them today. Why are you saving them? Make a conscience choice to set them out and use them up.
Face creams, serums, masks - Have a facial day once a week and use generous amounts of them. What if face products weren’t as good as you thought they would be? Use them on your hands, arms and chest (even your feet!) Use an spf face moisturizer as a sunscreen.
Shampoos & toothpaste - Make a conscience choice to use them up, one at a time, before you buy anything new. You might be surprised how long you can go before having to purchase more. Use that toothpaste you didn’t care for to clean your jewelry or scrub a scuff off your floor. If a shampoo doesn’t work well on your hair then you can use it as dog shampoo or a mild detergent for hand washable items. Sometimes things aren’t as good as you thought they would be. This is a good time to use them up or get rid of them.
Make a travel kit (makeup, samples, perfume , soaps, and lotions) - Packing small travel items is a great way to put a few nice sample products or partially used products together. When a trip comes up you’ll have your toiletries ready. Many homeless shelters are in need unopened toiletries, including sample size items.
We have lots of things in our homes that we don’t use. Sometimes we’re saving them for a special occasion. Sometimes we just forget what we have.
Cleaning items - They can collect around the house. I gather all of my cleaning items, combine partial bottles, and inventory what I have to keep myself from buying any more than I need. if you have more than one of the same thing. Do you have a Multipurpose cleaners that didn’t work well for you but smell good? It can be used as a drain freshener. If you go out of town for a few days or have a bathroom you don’t use often, or you just want your house to smell good for company pour a small amount into sink or bath drains. This works well for RVs also.
Pantry staples - Look in the back and up high in those cupboards. Before you buy more, use up oils, vinagars & spices. What recipe did you buy them for? Do you know jar spices only last 2-3 years? Did you know how old your spices are? See if any of yours are on this list?
Craft supplies - Challenge yourself to use them up. I’ve been making birthday, holiday & thank you cards from old scrapbooking supplies. You can start making holiday and birthday gifts them which saves you time and money.
Non Consumable items Do you use all of your dish towels, bath towels, sheets, bath mats, blankets? Often animal shelters need these items. You can cut up a few for cleaning rags or toss one in the trunk of your car for emergencies.
What about cloth napkins? Nice wine glasses? Why not use them for everyday meals?
Do you have a small kitchen appliance you haven’t used in a while? Get it out and use it for dinner. Do you have a fondue pot, bread maker, food processor? Do you still like to use them? Why not donate the small appliances you rarely or never use.
My niece recently had a post on her blog, Zero Waste Gift Ideas , and she shared a post on Facebook about looking for a used food processor. I happily mailed her my old one. I got more cupboard space and she was thrilled to get it. Do you know a young couple that might need some basic household items? Why not ask them what they need.
Life is best lived! So USE IT or LOSE IT.
