Have you ever taken a good look around your home and questioned how you ended up with all this stuff? You hold on to things that you no longer need and if a professional organizer walked into your home, they’d probably be shocked by the amount of stuff you’ve collected over the years? If you want to declutter your space without getting overwhelmed, here are 15 things experts recommend you throw away immediately.
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Takeout Menus from Places You Haven’t Ordered From in Years
There’s always that one drawer where we keep a collection of menus from restaurants that even don’t exist anymore. The truth is you now place orders through apps. So unless it’s your favorite spot and you actually use it, that stack of paper is just collecting dust (and maybe a few sauce stains).
Mismatched Socks with No Hope of Reunion
That pile of unmatched socks you’ve been saving, hoping they’ll magically find their pairs again? Yeah… it’s time. The other sock has disappeared forever into the mysterious sock dimension. Let it go & reclaim your drawer space.
Cords for Devices You Haven’t Owned Since the Obama Era
If you cannot identify the device to which the cord belongs, the cord has no value. The items include outdated phone chargers, unidentified USB cables & strange adapters from electronics no longer in use. You don’t need these cords unless you’re running a tech museum.
Expired Spices, Sauces & Condiments
Is that soy sauce bottle from three previous apartments still lingering around? Toss it. After a year or two spices become flavorless and forgotten condiments at the back of your fridge have no useful purpose. Bonus points if you finally wipe down that sticky shelf too.
Plastic Containers with No Lids (or Lids with No Containers)
If your Tupperware cabinet is a war zone, you’re not alone. Get rid of items that have no matching parts – they’re useless. Stop trying to make “lidless container” happen. It’s not happening.
Old Magazines, Catalogs & Flyers
Unless you need them for creative vision boards (and even then what quantity is truly necessary?), old magazines only take up space. You’ll never open that 2017 Better Homes & Gardens magazine again. Out they go.
Free Swag You Don’t Use
Stress balls, conference keychains & promotional water bottles may look cool at first but after a while they become nothing more than clutter. Keep the pen that writes really well. The rest? Donate or ditch.
Expired Makeup and Toiletries
That lipstick is expired if you haven’t used it in a while or if the label has completely worn off. And mascara? Discard mascara after three to six months because it can cause eye infections if used longer. Throw away old lotions, half-empty shampoo bottles & nail polish that no longer works.
Empty or Broken Boxes from Electronics
The large box your TV arrived in doesn’t need to be saved “just in case.” The box takes up closet or garage space unless you plan to resell or return it. Flatten it for recycling and move on.
Duplicate Kitchen Tools You Never Use
You don’t really need four peelers, two garlic presses & three sets of measuring cups in your kitchen. Choose your most effective kitchen tools to keep & donate the unused extras. Having more things means dealing with additional clutter you need to sift through.
Clothes That Don’t Fit or Haven’t Been Worn in Over a Year
Every closet contains a stack of jeans you promise to fit into someday and brunch-worthy tops you’ve pledged to wear. If an item hasn’t brought you joy recently and you’ve stored it away for over a year, it’s time to let it go.
Old Greeting Cards with No Emotional Attachment
Some cards are special and worth keeping. But that generic birthday card from a coworker whom you seldom speak with? There’s no need to store that item indefinitely. Keep the ones that mean something. Recycle the rest.
Instruction Manuals for Things You Can Google
Most instruction manuals are available online now so you don’t need to keep a drawer stuffed with printed manuals for all your appliances. Save those cards that stand out as unique or those you cannot find online. The rest? Recycle!
Craft Supplies or DIY Kits You Haven’t Touched in Years
If your Pinterest project supplies remain untouched since you purchased them three years ago, it’s probably time to part with them. Hold onto hobbies that you truly enjoy and free up space for fresh activities.
Candles Burned Down to a Sad Wax Ring
We get it — the scent was amazing. But once the wick becomes too short to light the candle, the remaining wax has no useful purpose. Even having multiple candles as decorations eventually creates clutter.
Disclaimer: This list is solely the author’s opinion based on research and publicly available information.
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