We all have things around the house that we’ve held onto longer than we probably should. Maybe it’s an old kitchen appliance collecting dust, a drawer full of tangled cords, or enough reusable shopping bags to last a lifetime.
Some people consider these things clutter or even a little tacky, while others see perfectly useful items worth keeping. And sometimes they’re right. There’s nothing worse than getting rid of something only to realize you need it a few months later.
Still, certain household items have a way of piling up and taking over valuable space. Here are 12 things some people think are worth reconsidering, especially if you haven’t used them in years.
Outdated paperwork and old bills
Old utility bills, expired warranties, receipts, and other paperwork can quickly take over drawers and filing cabinets. Go through what you’ve accumulated and get rid of documents you no longer need, but check retention requirements for tax, financial, and property records before tossing anything. Be sure to shred paperwork containing personal information.
Related: 14 Important Documents You Should Never Throw Away
Excess towels, sheets, and blankets
There’s nothing wrong with having extra linens, but do you really need three shelves of towels you haven’t touched in years? Keep what your household regularly uses, along with a few backups, and consider donating extras that are still in good condition. Vintage linens and family heirlooms are worth holding onto if you genuinely love them.
Old electronics and tangled cords
Most households have a drawer filled with chargers, cables, and accessories for devices they no longer own. Take a few minutes to match cords with the electronics you still use, and consider recycling anything that’s outdated or no longer needed. Old electronics and batteries should go through appropriate recycling programs rather than into the regular trash.
Kitchen gadgets that only do one thing
Avocado slicers, banana cutters, egg gadgets, and other specialty kitchen tools often seem useful until they end up buried in a drawer. If a regular knife or spoon does the same job and you rarely reach for the gadget, it might be time to let it go. Of course, if you use your apple corer every morning, there’s no reason to get rid of it.
Small appliances collecting dust
That bread maker, juicer, or waffle iron might have seemed like a great purchase at the time, but when was the last time you actually used it? Small appliances take up valuable cabinet and countertop space, especially when they’ve been sitting untouched for years. Consider selling or donating the ones you realistically don’t see yourself using again.
An overflowing collection of reusable shopping bags
Reusable shopping bags are practical, but somehow they seem to multiply every time you leave the house. Before long, you’ve got bags stuffed inside other bags, hanging from doorknobs, and taking over an entire cabinet. Keep a reasonable number of sturdy favorites and donate the extras that are still in good condition.
Sentimental items you feel obligated to keep
Inherited dishes, old decorations, and family keepsakes can be difficult to part with, even when you don’t particularly like them. Instead of keeping everything out of guilt, choose the pieces that genuinely mean something to you and consider offering the rest to family members. There’s no reason to get rid of your grandmother’s teacups if they bring you joy.
Related: When Decluttering, Never Throw These 11 Things Away
Stacks of old instruction manuals
Many manufacturers now provide instruction manuals online, so there’s often little reason to keep a drawer full of booklets for products you no longer own. Go through your collection and recycle manuals you don’t need, especially those for appliances and electronics that are long gone. Keep instructions you regularly reference or can’t easily replace.
Gift wrap supplies you never use
Wrapping paper, gift bags, ribbons, bows, and tissue paper can quietly take over an entire closet. There’s nothing wrong with saving supplies to reuse, but buying more when you already have plenty defeats the purpose. Sort through what you own, toss damaged materials, and organize the rest so you can actually find what you need.
Cookbooks that haven’t been opened in years
Cookbooks can be wonderful to collect, especially vintage editions filled with family recipes and handwritten notes. But if your shelves are overflowing with books you never open, consider passing along the ones you no longer find interesting. Keep the cookbooks you love reading, cooking from, or collecting, even if you only use them occasionally.
Old plastic food containers and mismatched lids
Almost every kitchen has a cabinet filled with plastic containers that have somehow lost their matching lids. Others are stained, cracked, warped, or so worn that you don’t particularly want to store food in them anymore. Match up what you have, keep the containers that are still usable, and get rid of damaged pieces and mystery lids.
Worn-out household items you’ve been meaning to replace
Dried-out markers, broken toys, expired beauty products, and other odds and ends can accumulate without anyone noticing. These are often the easiest things to overlook because they’re scattered throughout drawers, cabinets, and closets. Go through one small area at a time and remove anything that’s broken, unusable, or no longer worth keeping, following proper disposal guidelines when needed.
