Every home has things that aren’t used but somehow survive every decluttering session. They get pushed to the back of drawers, moved from one closet to another or saved because they might come in handy someday.
But when something is broken, expired, unusable or hasn’t served a purpose in years, continuing to store it doesn’t make it more useful. If you’re ready to reclaim some space, these 11 things are an easy place to start.
Old Electronics and Mystery Cords
Old phones, chargers and mystery cables have a way of collecting in drawers long after the devices they belonged to are gone. Keep a backup phone or extra charger if you actually need one, but there’s little reason to store electronics you haven’t touched in years.
Before recycling an old phone, remove your personal information and reset it properly. You can often take unwanted electronics and cords to an electronics recycling program instead of throwing them in the trash.
Broken Appliances You’re Not Going to Fix
A broken toaster, blender or coffee maker can occupy a surprising amount of cabinet space while you keep telling yourself you’ll eventually repair it. If months or years have passed and you still haven’t done anything about it, it’s probably time to decide.
Repair it if it’s worth fixing, or recycle it if you’re finished with it. What doesn’t help is moving a broken appliance every time you need something from the cabinet.
Worn-Out Bathroom Items
Old toothbrushes, loofahs and bath sponges can stick around long after they’ve been replaced. Saving one toothbrush for small spaces can be useful, but you probably don’t need a growing collection.
Get rid of worn-out sponges, damaged bath accessories and all those extra toothbrushes you’re realistically never going to use. Bathroom storage is limited enough without filling it with things that have already been replaced.
Memorabilia That Doesn’t Mean Much Anymore
Greeting cards, ticket stubs, old programs and small souvenirs can accumulate because they once represented something worth remembering. But not every object connected to a memory needs to be stored forever.
Keep the pieces that still feel meaningful and consider letting go of the ones you barely remember saving. You can also photograph certain items before getting rid of them if you want to preserve the memory without keeping the physical object.
Expired Medicine
Medicine cabinets can quietly fill with expired pain relievers, cold medicine and other products that haven’t been needed in years. Eventually, all those old bottles make it harder to find the medications you actually use.
Check expiration dates periodically and remove medications that have expired or are no longer needed. Use a drug take-back program when available or follow the medication’s current disposal instructions rather than automatically flushing it or throwing it away.
Clothes You’re Realistically Never Going to Wear Again
This includes clothing that’s permanently stained or damaged as well as perfectly good pieces that haven’t fit or been worn in years. If something has been sitting in the closet waiting for a repair, alteration or imaginary future occasion that never comes, consider how likely you really are to wear it again.
Donate or sell clothing that’s still in usable condition, and look for textile recycling options for pieces that are too damaged to pass along. Your everyday clothes shouldn’t have to compete for space with an entire wardrobe you never wear.
Free Stuff You Never Wanted
Promotional tote bags, branded T-shirts, giveaway mugs and free water bottles are surprisingly good at following us home. The problem is that getting something for free doesn’t automatically make it useful.
Keep the freebies you genuinely reach for and let the extras go. An unwanted item doesn’t become more valuable simply because you didn’t pay for it.
Beauty Products and Toiletries You’ll Never Use
Half-used skincare products, old makeup, forgotten samples, and tiny hotel toiletries can quickly take over bathroom drawers. Some may be expired, while others have simply sat there because you didn’t like them enough to finish.
Discard products that are expired or have changed in smell, color or texture. For unopened, usable toiletries you don’t want, consider whether a local organization accepts them rather than continuing to store a collection you’ll probably never use.
Related: 10 Dollar Tree Beauty Products Shoppers Say Feel Much More Expensive
Empty Shipping Boxes
Keeping a couple of sturdy boxes for returns, shipping or storage makes sense. Keeping every box that arrives at your door can turn a closet or garage into a cardboard storage area surprisingly quickly.
Save only the sizes you regularly use and break down the rest for recycling. There will almost certainly be another delivery box available the next time you need one.
Related: 13 Things You’ll Regret Storing in Cardboard Boxes
Tiny Soap Scraps
Those last little pieces of bar soap often get pushed aside because technically there’s still some soap left. Eventually, you can end up with several tiny pieces that nobody actually wants to use.
If you regularly combine scraps with a new bar or have a specific project for them, keep what you’ll use. Otherwise, there’s no reason to dedicate bathroom space to an ever-growing collection of soap slivers.
Dried-Out Wipes
Once wipes have completely dried out, they’re usually no longer useful for the job they were purchased to do. Yet half-empty packages can remain under sinks and in bathroom cabinets for months simply because nobody has bothered to throw them away.
Clear out packages that are no longer usable instead of storing them. And don’t flush unwanted wipes down the toilet, since many can contribute to plumbing and sewer problems.
