It’s too easy to let clutter pile up all across our homes. You might have good intentions of not wanting items to go to waste or having to spend money to replace them later, but clutter causes its own set of problems long before those theoretical ones arise.
It’s worth combing through your house for several common categories of items that most people keep for far too long and don’t need. Doing so provides more space for items you actually want, and gives those old items a second life with someone else.
Ancient tech you’ll never use again
That iPhone 3G isn’t helpful now
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Tech becomes obsolete faster than a lot of other categories, so it’s a good starting point for clearing clutter. A common culprit is the huge box of cables we all keep in case we need them “someday”. While there are some outdated cables you should hold onto, you don’t need those VGA cables you haven’t touched in a decade or a dozen of those super short USB-C cables that came with battery packs.
You should also do a scan for any devices you don’t use anymore, especially if they’re broken. While there are good uses for old smartphones, including an emergency backup, you don’t need a bunch of them. Outside of keeping them for nostalgia, ancient phones have little use and can safely be donated or recycled (after you factory reset them to protect your information).
The same goes for flash drives, headphones, and other tech accessories. If it’s so old or non-functional that you can’t stand to use it, get rid of it.
Unnecessary kitchen items
That Grinch mug can go
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Kitchen cabinets can easily become a nightmare as junk you rarely use crowds out the items you do. Start by cleaning out old takeout containers and utensils; if you don’t use them right away, you probably won’t ever use them. Condiment packets are another takeout source that can pile up; bring them with your lunch or throw them out otherwise.
Carefully consider single-purpose tools, like quesadilla makers or banana slicers. While many of these solve niche hassles and might be worth it for you, they don’t earn their storage space if you only reach for them a few times a year.
You probably have more utensils, mugs, plates, and other dishes than you need. Get rid of mugs that have uncomfortable handles, plates that always fall to the bottom of the pile, and those extra forks you never use.
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Bags are another source of clutter that gathers in the kitchen. Keep enough plastic, paper, and/or cloth bags for home use, plus some in the car. Recycle or give away any beyond that; they pile up quickly.
Junk paper and boxes
So much paper; so little use
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Some paper is important, but not as much as you might think. You will probably never read that pile of old magazines you used to subscribe to, so those can be recycled or donated.
Go through your pile of manuals to assess which ones are worth keeping. Major items you’re likely to have for a long time and might need to troubleshoot (like washers or TVs) are worth saving, but you don’t need the manual that tells you how to turn on a flashlight in 15 different languages. Many manuals are available on the web (on sites like Manuals Online), which is a convenient backup.
Receipts can pile up fast, too. I keep paper receipts in a basket, which I clean out every few months. Once you’re sure you won’t need to return the items, recycle the receipts. Takeout menus are further unnecessary piles of paper, since nearly all restaurants have their menus online.
Have a look over your boxes, too. You can throw out shipping boxes unless you’re planning to ship something soon or might return the item. Get rid of product boxes for items that are past their warranty period (unless you plan to resell them, since having the box increases the value).
Don’t forget that scanning with your phone is an easy way to digitally store important papers. If you’re not sure about a receipt, form, or other bit of paper, scan it, and you can print it later if needed.
Excess clothes and linens
Shrink your wardrobe a bit
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We all have more clothes than we regularly wear. Take a journey through your closets and drawers to find clothes that don’t fit, shoes you’ve long since stopped wearing, and outfits buried at the back of the closet that you forgot about. These are perfect candidates to donate to those in need.
Unmatched socks aren’t doing any good, so get rid of them. Do the same with any clothes that are more trouble than they’re worth, like socks that don’t stay up. And while you’re looking over your closet, toss any broken hangers.
Linens are another big space-waster due to their size. Worn-out dish towels can go, and it’s worth checking your bath towels, pillowcases, and similar items to see how many you actually use.
Anything that’s expired
Best used by… long ago
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It’s tricky to keep track of the “best by” dates on everything. Outside of setting reminders, the best method is to do a sweep every year or so as part of your home maintenance schedule.
Check toiletries like toothpaste and medicine, swapping out anything that’s no longer at full effectiveness. In the kitchen, spices, sauces, canned goods, and similar items have dates worth checking too.
While you’re at it, use or discard sample-sized products. I prefer to keep them in my travel bag; if you rarely take trips, it’s best to just use them and reclaim the space.
Speaking of expiration dates, you should also check your battery supply. Many single-use batteries have a shelf life of 5-10 years; replace any expired ones so they work when you need them. Don’t buy cheap batteries when you do!
Other miscellaneous and “someday” items
Clutter takes many forms
We’ve talked about the biggest categories of clutter, but there are other kinds of items that don’t fit as neatly into groups.
If you have kids or pets, it’s worth considering which toys they no longer play with. Any toys your dog ignores or your child has outgrown are just taking up space (and creating a tripping risk). Your own “toys” are worth looking over, too. There’s no need to keep items from a hobby you no longer pursue, for example.
With some items, the definition of clutter is subjective. One person might want to get rid of their old CDs because they’re all-in on streaming, while someone else might collect CDs as a way to hold onto physical media. Evaluate what you truly care about and make sure you’re not holding onto items just because of inertia.
Broadly, anything you’re saving for a vague “someday” is a great candidate to get rid of. When you have trouble deciding whether to toss something, consider the last time you used it and how difficult it would be to replace. If you haven’t touched it in over a year and you could replace it for under $20 without much trouble, it’s best discarded.
If you’re really not able to decide, put such items into a designated box. Then, if you don’t need those items in the next month or two, it’s confirmation that you can get them out of your life.
