It's beginning to feel like spring in Oklahoma! With warmer days quickly approaching, many people are dusting off their cleaning to-do lists and hoping to toss their seasonal depression out with the dust bunnies. Most people know the drill—wipe down the windows, clean out closets, tidy up the refrigerator—but many completely forget about their technology.

This blog will help you perfect your spring cleaning list. 

1. Clean Out the Junk Drawer

The dreaded junk drawer. No need to worry, we’re all guilty of having a junk drawer of one type or another. Your junk drawer might be a tub or basket… maybe even a purse. The point is, we all throw our "this could come in handy" items somewhere, and then, like any busy human does, we forget about them.

• Keep an Eye Out for:
• Extra Charging Cords
  We get a new cord with every piece of technology. No one needs 32 USB-C cords and 16 mi-cro-USB cords, so do yourself a favor and toss all but one or two.
• Old Phones
  Let go of that Blackberry already. Even if it turns on and “works just as good as the day you bought it,” you won’t have service at the end of 2022 when 3G networks shut down. Make sure to dispose of it properly by recycling it!
• USBs & SD Cards
  If you’ve had it in the junk drawer, you probably don’t need it anymore. Take a few minutes to glance at the contents and, unless it’s filled with photos or videos of loved ones, toss it.
• Computers
  While they might not fit in your junk drawer, you probably have them stuffed in a closet somewhere. Recycle those bad boys! Companies like Best Buy, which recycle computers for free, require their partners to wipe all user data before reusing parts, so there’s no need to worry about your personal data!
• Old Batteries
  If you don’t remember putting it there, toss it. Not only is it hard to know if they’re good or bad, but they can also be a fire hazard. If you have metal (screwdrivers, scraps, even paper clips) in the drawer and it happens to touch both ends of the same battery, it could cause a spark. There have even been cases of 9-volt batteries starting house fires… yikes! It’s best to just toss them (or preferably, recycle them) and start fresh.
• Other Items to Toss:
• MP3 Players  
• Earbuds  
• Rechargeable Batteries  
• Old Tiles/Trackers  
• Remotes  

2. Digitize Photos & Videos

It’s fun to flip through the thousand or so photos I’ve accumulated (thanks, Mom and Dad!), but they do cause a lot of unnecessary clutter. Digitizing your photos could clear up your shelves and help create backup copies. Copying those old photos to a flash drive or even the cloud makes it easier to share them with loved ones and ensures you never lose them in a disaster, but there are plenty of other ways to get them digital.

• Scan Them!
  Scanning your photos is the cheapest way to digitize your photos, but it is the most time-consuming because it requires you to individually scan dozens, if not hundreds, of photos. If you don’t have a scanner at home, don’t go out and buy one—there are apps that can help! One of the best available is Google’s PhotoScan app, which is free for Apple and Android us-ers.
• Pay for a Premium Service
  Paying a service to digitize your photos can be a little pricey, but it saves you time and guar-antees quality! Plus, some companies will even digitize your VHS or movie reels (if you have one of those laying around…). If you’re wanting to start exploring some options, check out iMemories.com. They offer many digitizing options for photos and VHS tapes starting at $0.59 per photo.

3. Toss the Phones & Tablets

If your kitchen drawer is starting to look like a phone graveyard, it’s time to let go of the old phones. Luckily for you, there are a few ways to toss your phones and tablets without throwing them into the trash bin (which, really, you shouldn’t do!).

• Sell It!
  Though most phones aren’t worth much, it’s always worth taking a look at trade-in values at stores like Best Buy or GameStop. Most places will offer you a cash-for-device trade, which helps you get rid of your device and make a few bucks. It’s always worth comparing offers to see who will pay you the most. Some companies, like Cell4Pets.com, even donate a por-tion of your payment to charity!
• Donate It!
  If your phone isn’t worth much or, in some cases, doesn’t even work, you can donate it to organizations like Secure the Call, which takes unwanted cell phones and refurbishes them for at-risk people such as domestic violence victims and seniors. There are other charities and organizations like this, so if you’re wanting to donate, just search around! It’s likely your organization of choice will even pay for shipping.
• Recycle It!
  You should NEVER throw away a cell phone. Cell phones contain toxic metals that can harm the environment, and precious metals, silicone, glass, and plastic that can be recycled and reused. If you have a device that no longer works, take the extra step and find a location near you that will recycle it for free.
• You Can Recycle Tech for Free at Best Buy
  Grab all your old tech and make a trip down to Best Buy this month! Best Buy works with electronics recyclers that adhere to high guidelines and standards. They make sure all cus-tomer data is wiped, ensure products do not end up in landfills, and properly dispose of all hazardous materials. It’s the safe, sustainable way to dispose of your tech!
  
  The best part? It’s completely FREE. Many Best Buy stores have bins that accept recycled items like wires, cords, and rechargeable batteries. If you have any questions or items that aren’t intended for the bins, just visit the customer service counter.
• What They Accept:
• Battery Backups
• CD/DVD Drives
• Desktops
• Hard Drives
• Ink/Toner Cartridges
• Laptop Batteries
• Memory
• Tablets
• E-Readers
• All-in-One Computers
• Cables and Connectors
• Computer Speakers/Controllers
• Laptops (Limit of Five Per Day)
• Mice and Keyboards
• Modems/Routers/Hubs
• Web Cams
• Netbooks
• Printers

Spring cleaning isn’t just about dusting and decluttering your home—it’s also a great time to refresh your digital and tech spaces. 

By clearing out unnecessary gadgets, responsibly recycling old electronics, and digitizing memories, you can free up space and create a more organized, efficient environment. So, grab a box, start sorting, and make this season the cleanest (and greenest) one yet!