Forget spring cleaning. It's the great fall cleanout - the time when you take stock of all your old, outdated, crusty, dirty stuff and determine to update and upgrade. You don't have to overhaul your whole place and clear out all your things. But, replacing a few key items can give you a fresh new outlook on your home and increase your daily enjoyment. Here are the 8 things you really, absolutely, totally have to get rid of by the end of the year.
1. Your big-Butt TV
You know, the one that's two feet deep and weighs more than you do. It's ugly and takes up too much room. Plus, it's killing your vibe. Come on, take the plunge. There's no reason not to trade it in for a flat screen, especially since you can get a decent size version for the cost of your weekly groceries.
2. Your nasty carpet
When it gets to the point that you can't steam out the stains at all, it's time to go carpet shopping. Here are your options:
New wall-to-wall carpet. Go for the extra plush and extra stain resistant if you can. Because remember this moment and the stains that are making you do research on carpet when you should be planning your Black Friday assault.A throw rug. Good because they're not permanent, so if you get fickle, you can change it out again next year. Or next season even. Plus, you can choose a bolder shade or pattern than you would with wall-to-wall carpeting.Carpet tiles. Quite possibly the best invention of all time. They're easy to install yourself and easy to change out for spills and midnight dog vomiting incidents.3. That builder grade light fixture
Because ick. Replacing it with something snazzy doesn't have to cost a bunch. For under $100, you can have this antique bronze chandelier or this modern raindrop fixture or this dark grey pendant lamp. And a handyman should be able to install it and cart away that ugly old mess quickly and easily.
4. That old ceiling fan
"Wood grain" that doesn't resemble any actual type of wood, brassy hardware that isn't in line with the rest of the décor in your home, a creaky noise combined with a shaky presence that makes you feel like it's about to launch itself across the room, and 17 layers of caked-on dust. Sound like what you have overhead? Yeah, it's definitely time for a new fan - despite the fact that you might not be turning it on again for many months. An off-season purchase of a ceiling fan could save you money. Check out Home Depot for 30 percent savings on many fans right now.
5. Your old lady bedding
Even if it's just in the guest room, you don't want décor that fails to reflect your style. If your bedding is drab, dreary, or downright ugly, it's time to trade up. Costco is a great place for high-quality, low-cost sheets, blankets, and pillows. If you're trying to stay within a budget, you'll also want to check out Target, Tuesday Morning, and Anna's Linens.
6. Those scratched-up pots and pans
Yes, we know it wasn't you who took a fork to every non-stick sauté pan or put your oven-unfriendly double boiler into enemy territory on 400 degrees. The whodunit is irrelevant. They're gross. Chuck ‘em. Look at department stores, where cookware is a favorite item of weekly sales, or wait until Black Friday, where sets are often found as doorbusters.
7. The vacuum cleaner that hasn't picked up a single piece of dog hair in this decade.
You can get a decent vacuum for about $100 on sale, or you can splurge on a super-deluxe version that'll cost you but in turn give you a hairball-free space. Better yet, get one of those robot things that doesn't even require you to make the small effort to push it across the room.
You can check out CNET's best vacuums of the year here.
8. Your shower head
That dribble is pathetic. Don't you deserve better? Your hair certainly does. An easy DIY project and an inexpensive item to replace, a new shower head will pay you back tenfold in just the first few uses, especially if it has one of those massager functions.
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