Getting rid of clutter sounds easy until you’re standing in front of a closet holding something you haven’t used in five years and trying to convince yourself you might need it someday.

Maybe it’s a kitchen gadget you barely touched, a dress that no longer fits, or a box of random cords you’re afraid to throw away. You know you probably don’t need these things, but getting rid of them feels like a waste.

Sometimes, the hardest part of decluttering isn’t deciding what you use. It’s worrying about what might happen if you get rid of something and eventually need it again.

Fortunately, one simple question can make those decisions easier.

things to declutter — Image Credit: Canva

What would I do if I needed this again?

The next time you’re struggling to get rid of something, ask yourself:

“If I got rid of this and needed it again someday, what would I do?”

Instead of keeping something because you might need it, think about how you’d actually handle that situation.

Could you borrow it from someone? Use something else you already own? Rent it? Find an inexpensive replacement at a thrift store or garage sale?

For example, maybe you’ve been holding onto a large serving platter because you occasionally host holiday dinners. But you haven’t used it in years, and it takes up valuable cabinet space. If you needed one again, you could borrow one or pick one up secondhand.

Suddenly, getting rid of it doesn’t feel quite as risky.

The fear of needing something later

One of the biggest reasons people hold onto clutter is the fear of regretting their decision.

We’ve all thrown something away, only to look for it a few months later. It’s frustrating, especially if replacing it costs money.

But how often does that happen compared to the things we’ve kept for years and never used?

Think about the extra phone chargers, old craft supplies, spare kitchen utensils, and clothes that no longer fit. How many have you genuinely needed in the past year?

It’s easy to remember the one thing you regretted donating while forgetting about everything you’ve kept unnecessarily.

Give yourself five possible solutions

If you’re still unsure about an item, try coming up with five ways you could manage without it.

Let’s say you have an extra slow cooker sitting in your garage. You already have one, but you’ve kept the second because you might need it for a party.

You could:

Borrow one from a friend or family member.
Use a large pot on the stove instead.
Prepare part of the meal ahead of time.
Change the menu to something that doesn’t require it.
Buy an inexpensive secondhand slow cooker if you ever need another.

Once you realize you have options, keeping that extra appliance may not seem so necessary.

You don’t always need five alternatives. Even identifying one or two realistic solutions can make it easier to let something go.

Think about what keeping it is costing you

We often focus on how much we paid when deciding whether to keep something.

Maybe you spent $80 on a jacket you never wear or $150 on a kitchen appliance that’s collecting dust. Getting rid of it can feel like throwing money away.

But the money is already spent. Keeping it doesn’t bring the money back.

Meanwhile, it continues taking up space in your home. You might even spend more money on storage bins or accidentally buy duplicates because you can’t find what you already own.

If something still has value, consider selling it. Otherwise, donate it so someone else can use it.

Don’t confuse what something cost with what it’s worth now

It’s easy to hold onto expensive purchases, even when they no longer serve a purpose.

Maybe you bought a fancy dress for a wedding, but your style has changed. Or perhaps you invested in exercise equipment that you haven’t touched in years.

You might feel guilty getting rid of these things because you remember exactly what you paid.

But a $100 item sitting unused in your closet isn’t necessarily more valuable than a $5 item you use every day.

What matters is whether something is useful to you now, not what you paid for it.

Be realistic about your future plans

Sometimes we hold onto things for the person we imagine we’ll become.

Maybe you have boxes of craft supplies because you plan to start making handmade gifts. Or a shelf full of cookbooks because you keep telling yourself you’ll cook more elaborate meals.

There’s nothing wrong with having plans, but it’s worth asking whether they’re realistic.

Have you made time for that hobby in the past year? Do you still enjoy it? Would you actually use those supplies if you had a free afternoon tomorrow?

Sometimes we keep things because we like the idea of using them, not because we genuinely want to.

Start with one thing you’ve been putting off

You don’t have to empty every closet or spend an entire weekend decluttering to make progress.

Start with one item you’ve been debating getting rid of.

Ask yourself what you’d do if you needed it again. Think through your alternatives, consider how likely you are to use it, and decide whether keeping it is worth the space.

You might still choose to keep it, and that’s fine.

But you may also realize you’ve held on to something for years because of a situation that probably won’t happen.

And sometimes, that’s enough to finally put it in the donation box.