New ‘Autumn Purge’ tool has been created to help Brits decide what to keep and what to get rid of – and it could help your wallet and your mood
Struggling to decide what to keep or chuck out at home? This ‘Autumn Purge’ tool could be your saviour, helping you swiftly decide what stays and what gets the boot. It comes after a recent poll revealed that the average Brit owns 17 items they no longer use – keeping them ‘just in case’.
While one in four try to declutter every few months to free up space at home, the study found that a change in season often triggers people to have a clear-out. Over one in ten do so in September, and 22 per cent do so ahead of splashing out on new items around Black Friday and Christmas.
But many of us find it tough to part with items in our homes, even if they’ve been gathering dust for years. Half of us cling onto old tech like CDs and mobile phones, while 43 per cent can’t bear to bin old shoes and 38 per cent hoard books they’ll likely never crack open again.
A third admit it’s too much hassle to sell items they no longer need, while others don’t think their belongings are worth much.
Other hurdles for selling unused items include lack of motivation (26 per cent), time constraints (24 per cent) and fear of getting rid of an item you might need later in life (22 per cent).
Professional decluttering guru and star of Sort Your Life Out, Dilly Carter, has joined forces with Post Office to help families in ridding their homes of unnecessary items. Take the quiz now.
The research was commissioned by Post Office, where people can post and collect pre-loved goods across its 11,500 branches.
Candice Ohandjanian, Mails and Parcels Director for the brand, said: “Our research revealed that people can feel overwhelmed by decluttering, but it brings a huge boost to mental health once it’s done.
“We partner with the UK’s largest carriers, so you can drop all your sold items in one place to help ensure they’ll arrive safely and securely at their new homes.”
Data from OnePoll.com also indicated that 32 per cent believe decluttering has a significant positive impact on their mental health. Over a third have felt overwhelmed before going through everything but felt relieved once it was done.
Dilly said: “Letting go of unused items is essential, not just for the way our homes function, but also for our overall wellbeing.
“When we’re weighed down by belongings we don’t need, it can have a huge impact on how smoothly our homes – and lives – run.
“Having worked in thousands of homes, I’ve seen first-hand how clutter can affect not just your space, but also your energy and peace of mind.
“I want to encourage everyone to pass their items on to the right homes, in the most efficient and thoughtful way possible.”
TOP 20 UNUSED ITEMS BRITS KEEP HOLD OF:
- Clothes that no longer fit
- Old technology (e.g. CDs, mobile phones, DVDs, consoles etc.)
- Old shoes
- Books they’ve never read (and probably won’t)
- Old wallets or handbags
- Board games or puzzles
- Old glasses/sunglasses
- Souvenirs they never look at
- Unused candles
- Diaries/notepads from years ago
- Old kitchen appliances (e.g. blender/microwave)
- Unused toys
- Unused picture frames
- Plastic containers without lids
- Unused light bulbs
- Old baby items
- Unused exercise equipment (e.g. yoga mats etc.)
- Damaged pots and pans
- Unused spice jars
- Damaged or broken furniture
