Somewhere in most homes there is a drawer or cardboard box full of electronics that nobody has switched on for years. Old phones, cameras, remote controls, headphones and tangled chargers sit together in a soft heap. Each one was kept because it might be useful one day, or because it felt wasteful to throw away. A calm afternoon is enough to make sense of it all.
Tip everything onto a table and group the items by type. Put phones with phones, cameras with cameras and cables with cables. Seeing everything laid out shows you how many chargers you have with no device, and how many devices with no charger. Anything that finds its partner can be tested, and anything left over can be set aside.
Testing and letting go
Test what you can, but be careful with old batteries. If a battery looks swollen, leaking or corroded, do not use the device. Remove batteries from things you plan to keep, since they can leak over time and damage the item. Devices that still work are worth passing on to someone who may enjoy them.
Before you let go of any phone or camera, think about what it might still hold. Old photos, messages and notes may be stored on it and could be worth keeping. Copy anything you want to a safe place first. It is also sensible to clear personal information from a device before it leaves your hands. If you are not sure how, ask a friend who knows or a repair shop.
Electronics that no longer work deserve a better end than the ordinary bin. Many towns have a recycling centre or a collection point that takes electrical goods. Put all the broken items into one bag or box, so that a single trip is enough. Then it is gone for good.
What you keep should have a clear home. Store each device with its own charger in a labelled bag, and keep the bags together in one box. A short list on the lid tells you what is inside. Check the box now and then, so it never returns to a jumble. And when you buy something new, decide at once what will leave in exchange.
