It’s a perennial problem, no matter the season. While Spring is often associated with cleaning, a late-in-the-year review of our possessions may also be a good idea, especially as the holidays and the new year approach. Almost all of us have more stuff than we actually need, and for many, more stuff than we actually have room for in our lives and in our homes. As a result, there are decisions to be made about sorting, keeping, donating, disposing, and coming to terms with what fills our homes. Furthermore, the process of cleaning and clearing can have emotional ramifications well beyond the physical manifestations of a newly spacious living environment. For our possessions are not only physical items we bought or were gifted, but are symbolic representations of how we think about ourselves, our lives, and the people whom we love.

So what’s the best approach for taking inventory and clearing the clutter? Recent posts in mainstream media and recommendations by experts offer a wide array of approaches. Some suggest you start with items that carry no emotional value (no one’s emotionally attached to their expired food items or food storage containers that lack lids), while others suggest a “worst is first” rule, so that you tackle the most difficult items first, and then the remainder of the decluttering decisions will be much easier. For a really offbeat idea, one pro-organizer suggests “The Poop Rule:” That is, consider if you came upon the item and it had poop on it, is it so meaningful that you’d clean it and keep it regardless, or instead, would you just want to toss it away? While that may cause you some discomfort, it may, in fact, be a useful way to let go of items that no longer serve a purpose in your life.

 Many experts recommend you ask yourself questions about an item to help you sort whether it’s for the “stay” or “go” pile. For example, would you buy the item if you came across it today? When was the last time you saw, used, or wore the item? If it’s a duplicate, do you really need more than one of them? Another decluttering strategist recommends the “Didn’t Know” rule: That is, did you even know you had the item before you came upon it, perhaps deeply buried in a closet or cabinet? As this expert says, “If something didn’t even register in your memory, does it really deserve a place in your space? How useful or precious can an item be if you forgot you even owned it?” And for a list of other strategic decluttering strategies, grab some boxes and click here.

Alternatively, some experts, including Martha Stewart, warn you not to be too hasty or dismissive when determining what to keep and what to jettison. For example, in a recent post on Martha’s website, the motto seems to be, “Clear the clutter, not the essentials.” So what counts as essential to Martha? Her list includes cookbooks (especially if they contain handwritten notes from a loved one), sentimental keepsakes (is it really worth creating a little space if you’ll regret no longer having the item?), board games, and of course, craft supplies (you never know when you need to whip up a decorative holiday doodad or ornament). Another set of recommendations about what to keep rather than discard suggests you consider items handed down to you as potential items for your decor, such as using an old scarf to recover a pillow or displaying old handbags or perfume bottles as decorative knick-knacks for your shelves.

Finally, if you are housing some items that are practically useful or valuable but no longer serve a purpose in your own life, you may want to take a look at an example set by a community in Maine. The small community of Brunswick, Maine, has a local library that has expanded well beyond books to include household items that people relish the opportunity to borrow without needing to own. So if you no longer need that sewing machine or lawnmower but can’t stand the concept of just throwing them in your trash, see if you can get your local library or community center to think like Brunswick and create a community lending store, a win-win for both you and your neighbors.