It’s the start of a new year. It’s time to get things cleaned up and organized. There’s one thing that often gets neglected and today I’m going to challenge you to clean that area. Ready? Let’s get started!

Got your broom and dustpan ready? Perhaps a mop and a duster? Great. Sounds like you’re ready to tackle that little cleaned, but oh so cluttered and crowded and dusty corner. Your eReader. Maybe it’s your phone, or your kindle, or your nook. Whatever it is, it’s time to clean it.

First things first.

Find all those sample books you have sitting around and, if you can, put them all in once place. Next look through them and see if there are any that you know just by looking at it that you don’t want to read it. Delete those books. Next, check and see if you can read any of them on Kindle Unlimited. If so, create a special wish list on Amazon and add them to that list and delete the samples off your kindle. If you can’t read them on KU, check with your library. Can you check them out there? Perhaps with an Inner Library Loan? If so, you can leave them on your kindle just to remind you to request them. Just remember to delete the samples after you borrow the book.

Now take a break. Have a snack, or a hot drink.

Ready to start phase two?

Of course you are! Stop rolling your eyes and looking at your watch. I gave you a break, let’s get back to work.

Scroll through your device and if you see any book that you aren’t sure if you want to read it or not, stop. Go immediately to Goodreads. Do not pass Go. Do not collect new books. Find the book on GR and check some reviews. (Check the negative ones too.) If there is anything in a review that makes you think you might not enjoy the book, look no farther. Delete the book.
Continue this process until you’ve reached the bottom of your unread books. Of course, if you find books on your device that you know you don’t want to read but had forgotten you still had, delete at once without bothering with Goodreads.

Finished? Nicely done! Do you feel better now? I know I did when I cleaned my kindle out. I deleted 20 sample books, and at least that many books. Now I want to read the books I have.

Do you ever clean your eBooks out? What is a favorite way to do it? Does it make you want to read again?