10 Things You Should Never Toss While Spring Cleaning

If you come across a shoebox full of old photos, hanging onto those precious memories may seem like a no-brainer, yet sometimes in a frenzy of activity old photos may accidentally find their way into the bin. When spring cleaning, take some extra care when you come across old photos or even old negatives – there may be priceless memories hiding in plain sight that you’ll want to hang onto, and possibly even convert to digital form at some point.

A lot of work went into earning that degree or certificate you’ve uncovered during your clean – don’t even think about throwing it away! Even if your own school days seem like a distant memory, you should hang onto these important items – you may even want to get them framed in order to display those academic achievements.

If you come across an expired passport or old driver’s license, the first thought that may occur to you is, “What do I need these for anymore?” Well, you actually don’t, but you know who could really use it? A thief looking to steal your identity, who can glean info from the biometrics page on your old passports and IDs and make you a victim of identity theft. Store your old IDs somewhere secure; if you do want to toss them, make sure you run them through a shredder first, a rule of thumb that also applies to expired credit cards.

As new technology constantly emerges to eclipse last year’s must-have gadgets, most of us have a considerable amount of old electronics filling up drawers or boxes, ranging from obsolete video-game systems to old cell phones and more. Instead of throwing these items in the trash, consider recycling them instead. There are several organizations in Canada – including the Electronic Recycling Organization and the Electronic Products Recycling Association – that will accept a donation of your old no-longer-used electronic devices, and put them in the hands of someone who can really use them. In addition, an organization such as Music and Memory donates used iPods and other MP3 music-playing devices to people suffering from dementia.

Obviously you’re not going to throw away jewelry, but think twice before getting rid of the boxes they came in. If you’re ever going to sell those items, a piece of jewelry will be seen as more valuable if it’s still in its original box, which will also serve as a place to store the pieces and keep them in mint condition.

Don’t ditch all those old pairs on glasses that haven’t been worn in years, but put them aside to donate them. That’s because your old glasses can change the lives of people in developing nations who can’t afford a pair of prescription glasses. There are numerous organizations that will take old eyeglasses and get them to those who desperately need them, such as Lions Club International, which has been bringing old glasses to people in need for decades.

You may be seriously tempted to get rid of those old cans of leftover paint from your last painting project, but resist the urge to toss it. What if a wall were to get scratched, gouged or otherwise damaged, meaning you’ll have to buy a whole new can, which may not be a perfect match. Sure, old paint cans will take up space, but there’s a good chance you may need that paint for a touch-up at some point.

If you’re about to toss out an old jar of honey that’s been hiding at the back of a cupboard for so long you forgot you even had it, reconsider. While you may assume that it’s gone bad, honey never expires; even if it’s crystallized to the consistency of solid rock, simply melt it in a pan of warm water on the stove, and it’ll be good as new.

Those old warranties and product manuals may be taking up valuable space, but you never know when that appliance, lawnmower or whatever will break down – and you’re going to want to have that warranty handy. Plus, most product manuals feature important details about the warranties along with valuable troubleshooting tips.

Old junk or priceless family heirloom? Sometimes the line between the two can be razor-thin, with a lot having to do with your own sentimental attachment as opposed to actual value. The truth is, don’t get so caught up in your spring cleaning frenzy that you thoughtlessly throw away an old family heirloom that holds a lot of sentimental value, and which you may even want to pass along to your child at some point.