Make a household list of mail to keep
Deciding what to stop is easier once you know what to keep. A household keep list gives each person a say and protects the mail they expect before anyone submits a request.
How to build the list
- Ask each person to name the catalogs, mailers, and publications they want to keep, and record them under their name.
- Limit the list to advertising and catalog mail. Bills, bank statements, and official notices do not belong in this cleanup.
- Keep the list where everyone can find it, but leave off account numbers and other sensitive details.
- Review it every few months, since preferences change and some senders may have stopped mailing.
What the list will not do
A keep list protects wanted mail from accidental removal. It does not stop new advertising from arriving, and new senders show up through purchases, donations, and shared mailing lists. Keeping a catalog on the list also does not commit anyone to buying from it. The list only records mail preferences.
Build it first
A few minutes on the list can save you from discovering that a request covered something someone wanted. With the list in place, each later cleanup goes faster because the decisions are already made. See the photo guide when you are ready to photograph.
Instructions for the next step
Have an unwanted advertisement ready?
Photograph one piece you are authorized to handle, with the sender and full mailing label visible. Review the details before submitting. The first request is free; the sender controls the response.
Try one request free