Overtime, we all end up with stuff we don’t need. And, stuff accumulates more stuff, which is why I LOVE to do regular decluttering. This list is 52 Things You Can Toss Today that you’re not going to miss!
Reasons to toss things?
- It’s old. And not the cool “vintage” old. More like, “it’s expired, it’s completely worn out, it doesn’t work anymore, I never used it” kind of old.
- I might need it one day (but you won’t). This is the most common reason we keep stuff. I challenge you to try to think about it differently. Instead, if you haven’t used it in the last 1-2 years, do you REALLY need it?
- It’s broken. The truth is, if you really cared about fixing this item, don’t you think you would have done it by now?
- It doesn’t fit your style. Lots of things go out of style. Sure, fashion, of course. We don’t need to hang on to out-of-style clothing or accessories. But also things like home decor, holiday decor, beauty products, and even kitchen items. If it’s not something you’d want to buy now, then it’s time to reconsider it.
- It doesn’t serve you. We can end up with “stuff” and sometimes it hard to even know where it came from. Is this product actually adding value to your life in any way? Is it loved? Is it used? Is it valued?
What to Declutter
Kitchen
Let’s start in the kitchen because personally I always want to start my decluttering in the kitchen for some reason.
- To-go water bottles. These always tend to accumulate and you likely don’t need as many as you have. I tend to say one per person in your house is usually enough.
- Spices you never use or have expired.
- Excess coffee mugs. It’s hard because they can often be sentimental or were gifts. I our house we have instilled a one mug in one mug out rule so anytime we add a new mug, an old one has to go.
- Food you will never eat. It’s time to check expiration dates and chuck the old stuff and get rid of random things you didn’t like or know you won’t eat.
- Mismatched plastic food containers
- Unused small kitchen appliances – If you have a kitchen appliance you haven’t used in over a year, you probably don’t need it taking up space.
- Extra glassware, baking dishes, vases, serving trays, bowls, etc. If it hasn’t been used in 1-2 years, it’s time for it to go.
- Takeout condiments. They have probably expired and honestly aren’t even that delicious.
- Mystery freezer food. Yep, check that freezer for anything that’s been in there so long you no longer know what it is.
Closet and Wardrobe
- Purses you haven’t used in the last year
- Any intimates with holes – It’s ok, go ahead, admit it, we all have a pair of underwear somewhere that has a hole in it. Throw it out.
- Clothes that don’t fit comfortably. Stop holding on to things that don’t fit well just because “you might wear it someday”. It’s just cluttering up your closet and making it harder for you to find your favorites.
- Jewelry you don’t wear. Some of us have some sentimental pieces and those are OK to keep, but if you don’t wear them often, consider storing them somewhere else like a lockbox in the attic with other sentimental items so they don’t clutter up your everyday stuff. Then, purge anything outdated or that you haven’t worn in over a year.
- Fancy outfits – We all are guilty of hanging on to our fancy outfits for when we have a nice event to go to, which for most of us isn’t that often. Personally, I’ve cut my collection of these down to 3 staple dresses and I just rotate through them. Not to mention, most people tend to buy something new for a really nice event anyways so no need hanging on to a nice outfit you’ll never wear again.
- Shoes you don’t wear- Same with fancy outfits, we often keep a lot of “just in case” shoes. But honestly if you haven’t put it on your foot it in the last year, do you REALLY need it?
- Hats, gloves, and scarves that you didn’t use last winter. If it wasn’t good enough to use last winter you’re not going to use it this winter.
- Jackets that you never use. If you went an entire season and didn’t even think about using a jacket, it’s time for it to go, too.
- Those PJs you don’t wear but keep shoving into your drawer.
- Scarves and other accessories that aren’t in style anymore.
Bathroom
- Makeup. Check expiration dates and throw away broken or unused products.
- Travel sized product samples. We all keep these just in case, but they very often go unused, there’s only so many mini shampoos we need. Keep just one set.
- Old nail polish. You likely don’t need as many colors as you think, and polish only lasts so long. Stick to your top 5 or 10 colors and get rid of old, dried out bottles.
- Old beauty products – Yep, lotion and body soap and eye creams all expire. Check the dates on them. But truthfully if they’ve been sitting in cabinet long enough that you wonder if they’ve expired, do you really really don’t need it.
- Expired medicine and vitamins
- Unused hair styling tools.
Misc. Home Goods
- Outdated hanging wall art or novelty decor and items that no longer matches your style.
- Holiday decor you never put up anymore. Since holiday decor is seasonal, I give it a two year window. If I didn’t use it 2 years in a row, it’s time for it to go to make room for new, updated stuff.
- Extra sets of towels, table linens, and blankets. Most of us need some extra sets of towels and blankets and table linens for when we have guests or company, but that doesn’t mean we need enough to house an entire football team. If you have any that haven’t been used in more than 2 years, you’re probably not going to use them.
- Extra pens and pencils (only keep your favorites).
- Board games or video games no one plays.
- Books. If you’re not ever going to read it again and you’re not saving it for a friend to borrow…really…why do you have it? You could donate it and someone else could enjoy it.
- Extra backpacks or luggage.
- Hobby or sports equipment for a hobby or sport you don’t play anymore- this also goes for any unused exercise equipment.
- Overabundance of cleaning supplies.
- Burned-down candles.
- Kids’ toys that are missing necessary pieces.
Paper
- Rewards member cards. Every store can look you up by your name or phone number now so let go of the added weight for member cards.
- Owner manuals. Every owner manual for every item is now available online so you really don’t need to take up space with the paper ones.
- Expired coupons
- Takeout menus. This goes along with owner manuals, literally every menu exists online.
- Used up gift cards.
- Magazines, if you’ve read it it’s time to recycle it.
- Old used-up notebooks
Technology
- Old remotes, electronics and their chargers.
- DVDs, CDs,VHS tapes.
- Photos and videos on your phone. Personally I use Google Photo which automatically backs up my photos for me, so I can delete them from my device.
- Apps on your phone and tablet you don’t use
- Old phone contacts.
- Any social media accounts you no longer want to be a part of. I LOVE doing this and try to do it at least 2x a year. Any account that just doesn’t make you feel good, or you roll your eyes when they show up on your feed, why are you following them?
- Emails you no longer wish to receive. You can use a service like unenroll me which helps search for email lists your a part of and bulk unsubscribes.
Random Items
- Loose change.
- Gifts you don’t like, but feel obligated to hold onto. There are likely some things that the giver of the gift will NEVER know if you donate it, I promise I won’t tell.
- Plastic bags and reusable totes. We need some reusable bags, but most of us have way more than we need.
- Really chewed up pet toys.
