Decluttering gets a lot easier when you realize the things taking up space in your home might actually be useful to someone else. That extra winter coat, unopened bottle of shampoo, or box of art supplies may not mean much to you anymore, but it could fill a very real need for another person or organization.
I’ve also become more intentional about where I donate things instead of automatically putting everything into one bag for the thrift store. Sometimes the best destination isn’t Goodwill at all; a school, shelter, furniture bank, animal rescue, or community organization may be able to put your unwanted belongings directly to use.
Before you throw away or continue storing something you don’t need, consider whether one of these eight common clutter items could have a useful second life.
Professional Clothing You Never Wear
That blazer, dress, pair of dress pants, or professional handbag you haven’t worn in years could be useful to someone preparing for a job interview or starting a new career.
Career closets, workforce development programs, and organizations that help people enter the workforce may accept clean, current professional clothing that is still in excellent condition.
Unopened Toiletries Taking Over Your Bathroom
It’s surprisingly easy to accumulate unused shampoo, soap, lotion, toothbrushes, feminine hygiene products, and travel-size toiletries, especially when you bring home hotel products or receive gift sets.
If they’re unopened and haven’t expired, women’s shelters, homeless shelters, food pantries, and organizations creating hygiene kits may be able to distribute them to people who need them.
Children’s Clothing They’ve Already Outgrown
Children can outgrow an entire drawer of clothing seemingly overnight, leaving parents with perfectly usable shirts, pants, coats, and shoes that no longer fit.
Instead of automatically taking everything to a thrift store, consider checking with family shelters, foster-care organizations, schools, daycares, and community programs that may be able to give those clothes directly to another family.
Furniture You’re Saving “Just in Case”
That extra dresser in the garage or dining table you’ve been meaning to sell for two years isn’t doing much good collecting dust. Furniture banks and organizations helping families transition into permanent housing may need usable beds, tables, chairs, sofas, and dressers to help turn otherwise empty apartments into functional homes.
Related: How to Clear Out “Just in Case” Clutter Without the Guilt
Art and School Supplies You Aren’t Going to Use
Half-used packages of construction paper, notebooks, markers, fabric, yarn, paintbrushes, and other craft supplies don’t necessarily need to be thrown away just because you’ve moved on from a project. Local schools, teachers, community centers, senior programs, after-school organizations, and creative reuse centers may happily take usable materials that would otherwise sit forgotten in your closet.
Old Towels and Linens You Wouldn’t Give to a Thrift Store
A towel that’s stained or slightly worn may not be something another person wants to purchase, but that doesn’t necessarily make it garbage. Animal shelters and rescue organizations often use old towels and certain linens for cleaning, bathing, bedding, and caring for animals, so it’s worth checking what your local shelter currently accepts.
Related: The Best Towels for Airbnb that Guests Will Love
Leftover Renovation and DIY Supplies
Extra tile, flooring, hardware, lighting fixtures, cabinets, and other home improvement materials have a habit of lingering in garages long after the renovation is finished. Rather than keeping them because you “might need them someday,” check whether a Habitat for Humanity ReStore or another building-material reuse organization in your community can accept them.
