Inheriting family belongings can leave you with a strange mix of finds and things you have absolutely no idea where to put. Maybe Grandma’s china doesn’t match anything in the kitchen, an old quilt has been sitting folded in a closet for years, or a piece of furniture feels completely wrong for your home.

Not everything needs to be kept simply because it belonged to someone in the family. But some things are difficult or impossible to replace once they’re gone. Before donating, selling or tossing inherited belongings during a big cleanout, these are the pieces that may be worth holding onto until you’re certain what you want to do with them.

Quilts and handmade textiles

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Handmade quilts, crocheted blankets and embroidered linens can represent hours of work and may have been made specifically for someone in the family. Even if they aren’t being used right now, they can eventually become bedding, wall decor or a meaningful piece to pass down.

Handwritten recipes

A handwritten recipe can preserve much more than the ingredients, especially when it includes someone’s handwriting, notes in the margins and little changes they made over the years. Recipe cards are also easy to keep and can eventually be scanned, framed or turned into a family cookbook.

Family photographs

Old photographs are nearly impossible to replace once they’re gone, even when nobody immediately recognizes everyone pictured. Keep them until relatives have had a chance to identify people and places, then add names and dates to preserve those details for the next generation.

Real wood furniture

An outdated finish or fabric can make older furniture easy to dismiss, but solid wood tables, dressers and chairs can often be repaired or refinished. Look at the quality and construction before getting rid of a piece simply because its current style doesn’t work in the home.

Jewelry

Inherited jewelry is worth holding onto even when the style isn’t something anyone currently wears. A piece can eventually be worn by another relative, altered into something more wearable or simply kept because of the person and memories attached to it.

Letters, postcards and personal papers

Letters, postcards, journals and notes can contain family stories and everyday details that don’t exist anywhere else. Set them aside during a cleanout and decide what to preserve or digitize when there’s more time to actually read through them.

China and serving pieces

An inherited china set doesn’t need to host formal dinners to earn a place in the house. Plates can be mixed with everyday dishes, serving bowls can come out for holidays, and teacups can actually be used instead of sitting untouched in a cabinet.

Silverware and small household pieces

Silverware, serving utensils, trays and candlesticks can seem too formal for everyday life, but that doesn’t mean they need to stay wrapped in a box. Using a few inherited pieces around the house can be an easier way to enjoy them than trying to find space to display an entire collection.

Anything with a story only your family knows

Sometimes the most irreplaceable heirloom isn’t valuable at all; it might be an old toolbox, mixing bowl, cookbook or inexpensive trinket connected to a story everyone remembers. Monetary value can be researched later, but once an object with a unique family connection is gone, getting it back may be impossible.