New support group “Socks without Partners”

A quick toss list to reduce clutter and ease stress.

They are everywhere, alone and afraid, separated from their twin, (or from one that doesn’t even look alike, thanks to the current fashion trends of mismatch). You may only have a few, or have so many, they may need their own zip code. You waste so much time trying to find their mate.
 
Why do you feel the need to hold on to single socks? 

​There are a few reasons. First, it’s wasteful to throw out useful items. Second, logically, you know that they are in the house somewhere. So you hold on to that one sock until the mate magically appears in the clean laundry.
 
I don’t know where they go. Yes, it’s possible that I threw one out, because you could see more foot than sock. Or it could have been separated from its mate, and still be waiting in the laundry to be washed. The question is how much time should I waste trying to get these two back together?
 
My answer is one laundry cycle…
​
That may sound harsh, but realistically, if it’s not found then, the odds get smaller as the days pass, that it will ever be found. Yes, I watch too many Criminal Minds episodes. But it’s true.  I know that it hasn’t magically left the house, it’s still somewhere. But you may never be able to reunite the pair. I have found socks in stored sheets sets, or in the leg of a special pair of pants only worn for particular occasions. Static is evil!
​

Important lesson alert!  Stop wasting your time on unimportant items. Throw them out and ease your mind.

So along with single socks, here is a list of quick toss items you should get rid of now:

• Gloves without a mate
• Stained clothing
• Hangers from dry cleaners, along with the plastic bags
• Catalogs (only keep the most current one)
• Pens that don’t work
• Takeout menus from restaurants you don’t frequent
• Any item with stretched out elastic
• Old cards (birthday or holiday) especially if it was only signed
• Old calendars
• Magazines older than 3 months (6 at the most)
• Expired medicine
• Ripped clothing, towels or blankets
• Dried up nail polish
• Newspapers older than a day (it’s old news already)
• Junk mail
• Instruction manuals (most are now on-line)
• Old receipts
• Nylons with runs
• Old lotion
• Travel brochures
• Rusty tools
• Dead light bulbs (if you shake them and hear a rattle they are dead)
• Dried up glue
• Key chains not in use
• Chipped or broken dishes
• Unused boxes
• Storage containers that are stained or don’t have a lid
• Expired food
• Dead batteries
• Broken hangers
• Expired makeup
• Business cards you won’t use
• Outdated computer software
• Paid bills
• Invitations to past events
• Broken jewelry
• Cords that don’t belong to anything you own
• Phone cases you won’t use again
• Dried up markers
• Expired coupons
• Worn out children or pet toys
• Games or puzzles with missing pieces
• Broken decorations
• Poor quality photos
• Old used notebooks
• Used padded envelopes
• Broken pots and pans
• Dirty sponges
• Cut out articles you have never looked at
• Expired insurance policies and warranties
• Individual coasters
• Dried up paint
• Damaged books
• Outdated schedules

​Ok, did you see a theme here?
 
If it is broken in any way, TOSS IT! 
If you were going to fix it, you would have done so by now. 
 
If you no longer can use it, GET RID OF IT!
​It doesn’t have to go in the trash; it just doesn’t need to stay in your life.
 
We have enough on our minds; we don’t need to belong to another support group. Let “Socks without Partners” be a thing of the past.

​Wishing you an Uncluttered Life!
 
Rhonda Burger is a Professional Organizer, and owner of Help Me Rhonda Unlimited.
She is a Member of Preferred Organizers. Rhonda can be reached at 414-483-6385.

​©Rhonda Burger 2016