We’ve all been there — keeping things “just in case” or out of habit, though they’ve not been used in decades. I know, decluttering is emotionally draining & hard, but getting rid of clutter can make your house much more functional & serene. In case you’re inspired to start making room for a little more, here are 12 of the most common objects that are taking up valuable space in your home — and you need to get rid of them.
Featured Image Credit: Ketut Subiyanto /Pexels.com.
Expired Beauty Products
Check your bathroom cabinet or vanity for a minute. Possibly you have expired lotions, old foundation or skincare products you don’t remember about. Old products might no longer be useful & may even make you frustrated. Toss anything that’s past the expiration date & only keep what you use regularly.
Old Magazines & Newspapers
We keep piles of magazines or newspapers in corners or coffee tables, promising to “read them later.” Months or even years pass & they just gather dust. These piles take up space & they clutter up your house. You should recycle them or scan the ones you’re going to save. If you’re a magazine lover, try to convert to digital subscriptions to save space.
Like our content? Be sure to follow us.
Broken Electronics
The cracked phone screen, the old, dead laptop, a stack of unconnected cables — these things are using up space. You may be tempted to have them around “just in case”, but they never get repurposed. Donate old electronics to a local e-waste facility & retain only the good stuff.
Clothes You Never Wear
There’s always that one outfit we are 100% certain we will return to, but if it hasn’t worn for more than a year & is still sitting in your closet, throw it out. A pair of ripped jeans or a fashion piece you don’t wear any longer occupies top-shelf space. Pass on gently worn clothes to someone who will use them.
Duplicate Kitchen Tools
Have you ever opened your cabinet drawers & found three pizza cutters or multiple measuring spoons? Duplicate kitchen tools also clutter your space & make it difficult to locate the necessary items. Hold onto one of every necessary one and resell the rest to clear out your kitchen.
Unmatched Socks
That growing pile of single socks is a source of frustration for many. While you might hope their missing partners will show up, it’s more likely they’re gone for good. These unmatched socks only waste space in your drawers. You can convert them to cleaning wipes or dispose of them & stick with pairs you actually wear.
Outdated Paperwork
Bills, bank statements, receipts & user guides for machines you don’t even use can easily eat up your desk space. Discard what you don’t need & digitize whatever is useful to conserve space.
Unused Hobby Supplies
Do you still have craft materials, knitting yarn, or art tools from pastimes you never did? Aiming to learn something new is all good, but surplus hobby supplies make space. Just be real with yourself — if you haven’t used them in more than a year, share them with someone who will.
Decor You Don’t Like Anymore
Maybe it’s a gifted vase that doesn’t suit your style, a framed photo you’ve stopped loving, or outdated figurines. These pieces may have held value at one time, but if they no longer suit you or make you happy, they’re just taking up room. Donate or sell them to make your home a cleaner, more intentional living space.
Old Towels & Linens
Do you have raggedy towels or bed sheets that have been used up? These take up valuable linen storage & are just not very useful anymore. Get new ones & give the old ones to the animal shelters where they can still be used.
Toys Nobody Plays With
If you have children, there are toys they might have outgrown or just stopped playing with. These stuff get hoarded in toy chests, drawers or bedsides and are wasted space. Sort them out with your child & give used toys away to a family in need.
Outdated Tech Accessories
Chargers for devices you no longer use, headphones that aren’t even in use anymore, even CDs and DVDs that no one is listening to anymore are simply taking up drawer or shelf space. With streaming & wireless tech taking over, these items are probably outdated. Donate or recycle what you don’t use & keep only what’s still functional.
Disclaimer: This list is solely the author’s opinion based on research and publicly available information.
Like our content? Be sure to follow us.
Read More:
