Decluttering can be frustrating when you feel like you’re constantly cleaning things out, but your house somehow still feels full. You organize a closet, buy another storage bin, clear off a shelf, and a few weeks later it seems like the clutter has worked its way right back in.
Sometimes the problem isn’t that you need to organize everything better. It’s that you’re spending time finding new places for things you don’t actually use, need, or even particularly like.
And it’s usually not the big, obvious stuff taking over. It’s the extra mugs, mystery cords, clothes that don’t fit, half-used beauty products, and all those little things you’ve kept because they’re still “good” or you might need them someday.
If you’re ready to make some actual progress, these are good places to start. Here are 18 pointless things that may be taking up valuable space in your home right now.
Beauty products and samples you’ll never use
That moisturizer you didn’t like won’t become your favorite just because you leave it in the bathroom cabinet for another year. Toss old or questionable products and pass along unopened, unexpired products and samples you know you won’t use.
Related: Toss These 14 Items to Help Reduce Bathroom Clutter
Accessories you always pass over
Purses, backpacks, tote bags, and jewelry can pile up surprisingly quickly when you keep buying new favorites without getting rid of the old ones. If you consistently reach for the same few pieces, consider selling or donating the ones that haven’t been used in years.
Worn-out underwear
Underwear with holes, stretched-out elastic or permanent stains doesn’t deserve valuable drawer space simply because it’s technically still wearable. Clear out the pieces that have seen better days so you’re left with things that actually fit and feel comfortable.
Related: 8 Sustainable Ways to Get Rid of Old Bras
Clothes and shoes you don’t wear
Uncomfortable shoes and clothes that haven’t fit in years can take up a huge amount of closet space while contributing absolutely nothing to your wardrobe. Keep what fits your life and body now, and reconsider the pieces you repeatedly pass over every time you get dressed.
Kitchen gadgets you never reach for
Specialty slicers, choppers and other single-purpose gadgets seemed useful when you bought them, but your kitchen drawer may tell a different story. If another tool does the same job and you haven’t touched the gadget in a year, you probably don’t need to keep storing it.
More mugs than anyone could possibly use
Coffee mugs seem to multiply without anyone intentionally collecting them, especially when you add in souvenirs, gifts and freebies. Keep your favorites and enough extras for guests, then donate the mugs that are permanently relegated to the back of the cabinet.
Old electronics and mystery cords
Old phones, tablets, chargers and cables can fill an entire junk drawer long after you’ve replaced the devices they belonged to. Save anything you need from old electronics before properly donating or recycling them, and let go of cords that are broken, obsolete or don’t match anything you still own.
Paperwork you don’t need
Expired warranties, old manuals, school papers, and other documents have a way of surviving every decluttering session because dealing with them feels like work. Keep paperwork that’s actually important, digitize sentimental pieces when appropriate, and recycle what no longer serves a purpose.
Books you know you won’t read
There’s no reason to get rid of books you love just to have a perfectly minimal bookshelf. But if you disliked a book, abandoned it halfway through or have moved it from house to house for 10 years without opening it, someone else may as well get a chance to read it.
Broken things you’re never going to fix
That wobbly chair or broken tool isn’t really a future project if it’s been waiting in the garage for three years. Give yourself a realistic deadline to repair it, and if you still don’t get around to it, sell, donate or dispose of it appropriately.
Expired or unused medication
A medicine cabinet packed with products you can no longer use makes it harder to find the things you actually need. Separate expired and unwanted medications and look for an appropriate medication take-back or disposal option rather than automatically flushing them or tossing them in the trash.
Old prescription glasses
Keeping a recent backup pair can be useful, but you probably don’t need every pair you’ve worn over the past decade. Check whether a local eyeglass donation program accepts usable pairs that no longer match your current prescription.
Kids’ stuff your family has outgrown
Baby clothes, toys, gear and years of artwork can quickly consume closets and storage bins long after your family has moved on from that stage. Save the truly sentimental things, pass usable gear along while someone else can still use it, and photograph artwork you want to remember without keeping every single piece.
Supplies from hobbies you’ve abandoned
It’s easy to hang onto craft supplies, sporting equipment and other hobby materials because you spent money on them and might pick the hobby back up someday. If you haven’t touched them in years and no longer have much interest, selling or giving them to someone who will use them makes more sense than storing them indefinitely.
Related: 14 Crafty Hobbies That Might Become Your New Obsession
Leftover party and gift supplies
Three paper plates, a handful of mismatched napkins, crushed bows and tiny scraps of wrapping paper aren’t really a useful party stash. Keep versatile decorations, gift bags and wrapping supplies you’ll realistically reuse, then clear out the random leftovers that have been taking up space between celebrations.
Towels and bedding past their prime
Old towels can be useful for cleaning, pets and messy household projects, but you probably don’t need an entire linen closet full of them. Pull out badly stained, torn or frayed towels and bedding, and check whether a local animal shelter or textile recycling program can take what you no longer need.
Things you’re keeping out of guilt
Inherited belongings and unwanted gifts can be especially difficult to declutter because getting rid of the object can feel like you’re getting rid of the person or sentiment attached to it. Keep the things that genuinely mean something to you, but give yourself permission to pass along items you’re storing solely because you feel guilty getting rid of them.
Anything you keep reorganizing but never use
If you’ve moved the same item from a drawer to a bin, from the bin to a closet, and then reorganized it again without ever actually using it, pay attention. Sometimes the easiest way to organize something is to admit you don’t need it anymore and finally let it go.
