There is so much talk around at the moment about how much time we all spend on our devices but they are so ingrained in our lives these days aren’t they. That can mean that we have growing collections of leads, plugs, old devices and other bits and bobs, many of which we hang onto “just in case”.
Well this week is the week to cull the tech!
So how do we decide what stays and what goes?
To help with the decision making, ask yourself the following:
- Do I use it?
- How many do I have, need and use?
- Does it fulfil the function it was purchased for?
- Is it past its useful life?
- Do I have something else that can fulfil the same function?
- How many can I fit into the allocated storage space?
If you need a refresher, revisit the criteria you created during Week 1 of our challenge to assist you in making decisions about small appliances and give yourself a limit. If you are new to the challenge, you can see our Week 1 post here.
Put everything aside that no longer has a useful purpose or home in your life.
What do I do with the keepers?
They definitely all need homes, and ones that minimise the chance for damage and enable them to be accessed when they are needed – especially items that you use on a daily basis.
There are a myriad of options to store your tech stuff, especially leads and plugs. Here are just a few ideas for you:
- Cord keepers: to keep your cords/leads wound nicely and contained, you can repurpose an old toilet roll or purchase some Velcro strips that you could utilise for the same purpose. You can also purchase specialised items such as Cord Organisers or Cord Straps from Officeworks.
- Labelling: before you put things into storage, label them so you know exactly what they are, especially the cords/leads. You can wrap a diy label around the end of the cord, or purchase something like these Cord Identifiers from Officeworks.
- Storage: keep them in a clear tub or use a hanging organiser with individual pockets (such as this one from Ikea or this one from Howards Storage World). This will ensure nothings gets tangled or “lost” again!
What do I do with the ones that no longer have a purpose for me?
If they are still in good condition but no longer have a purpose in your home, you can also consider passing them forward to others such as family, friends or someone in need.
I often see callouts on GIVIT for tech items, including phones. You can also donate your old computer or laptop and associated peripherals (working or not) to The Tech Shed through Canberra City Care. This program refurbishes computers and provides them to low-income earners as well as providing technical support.
If the items are broken or no longer functional they are just taking up valuable space in your home and need to go in the bin (recycling whatever you can of course!).
For recycling of old mobile phones and associated components, you can drop off at your local Officeworks, or alternately to a phone retailer that participates in MobileMuster. MobileMuster also provides a mailing option. You can print off a label from their website or pick up one of their reply-paid post packs at your nearest Australia Post outlet. And even better, there is no cost to you.
Please also don’t forget to back up your data and do a “factory reset” on your phone before you donate it so as to protect your data.
For other tech items that are no longer in working order (such as printers, laptops, PCs, keyboards and the like) you can drop them off for free to either the Mitchell or Mugga Lane Resource Management Centre as part of the National Television and Computers Recycling Scheme. Or to The Tech Shed as mentioned above.
How did you go? Feel free to share your successes, challenges and tips on our Facebook page.
Happy decluttering!
Melissa x