18 things you should immediately throw out or give away

Someone less fortunate than you could be wearing them. Same goes for children's clothing and Halloween costumes that can't be used as hand-me-downs.

You can find a local donation bin at Planet Aid.

Still good but you haven't worn them in forever? Donate.

Donate old shoes at a local charity or an international one like Soles4Souls.

You're not in college anymore, and those bottles of fancy bourbon are not a trophy collection, unless you live in a frat house.

You can find a nearby recycling center at Recycle Finder.

Toys can be expensive. If they're not broken but no one in your family will use them, donate them — whether it's to charity or relatives with young children.

If you're not sure where to donate them, look into DonationTown, a charity that accepts used toys.

You'll never need to charge your 2004 Motorola Razr. We live in the smartphone era now.

But don't drop them in the trash: They can be recycled or donated. Here's a list of options.

You might hope that lost sock will just turn up. It's better to just let them go. Similarly, if your socks are worn down and full of holes, there's no use wearing them.

Would you rather reuse them? Here are 61 other things you can do with mismatched socks.

You know very well what I'm talking about. You can't just leave it in there. Compost it if you can. Drop the clean jars or bottles in the recycling, or find another use for them.

Just a heads up, most expiration dates are wrong — here's how long your food will last.

Some states have banned single-use plastic bags, but for people living elsewhere, it makes no sense to collect them when you could just make the switch to reusable tote bags.

No one will ever need your business card for a company you worked for five years ago, or for a position you previously held at your company. Recycle them.

So yes, maybe Rivka Galchen's profile of theoretical physicist David Deutsch has lasting literary value, but it's not the kind of value that accrues by sitting on your coffee table for three years.

Recycle them. Old magazines can also be used for DIY projects.

It's 2020. Rip them to a hard drive and save some space on your shelves.

You can also turn them into art!

It will mess up your face. Toss 'em out. Clean out the containers to be recycled, if possible, or reused. Same goes for unused makeup samples.

Here are 11 things you're probably doing wrong with your makeup.

No, you don't need those Motrin capsules "just in case." They expired in 2015.

And no, you probably shouldn't just toss them into the trash. Here's how to make sure you recycle medications safely.

You should be replacing your toothbrush every few months, once the bristles are frayed.

Or try a smart toothbrush.

Your dish sponges are the perfect breeding ground for bacteria. Wash them often, and replace them every couple of weeks.

Confused about how to wash a sponge? The only way to clean it is to use bleach.

Water filter cartridges should be replaced every few months, depending on the model, or when you notice your water tastes funny.

Candles can be expensive, making them harder to part ways with once they've burned out. However, you can clean out the remaining wax and upcycle the jar or recycle it to free up space in your home.

If anything is actually important, scan it or take a photo and keep it in an organized folder on your computer.

You can scan receipts with your phone on Google Drive.

• Read more:
  • 11 things you should never throw away
  • 20 people who discovered that their junk was actually worth a fortune
  • 18 things you should always throw away before you move
  • 26 things you should never throw out before you move