30 Things You Can Toss Right Now to Declutter Your Home
You probably won’t even miss these once they’re gone.
With back-to-school schedules, busier calendars, and the promise of fall just around the corner, you may find yourself craving a home that feels a little more organized. The good news? You don’t need to spend an entire weekend decluttering every closet and cabinet to make a difference.
Sometimes, the easiest place to start is with the things you already know you don’t need. That chipped mug you never use? Toss it. The stretched-out socks hiding in your drawer? They’ve had a good run. And those mystery cords, expired vitamins, and almost-empty toiletries taking up precious space? It’s time to say goodbye.
The key is to focus on small, easy wins. Go through one drawer, shelf, cabinet, or closet at a time, and be honest about what you actually use. Anything broken, worn out, expired, uncomfortable, or simply taking up space can probably go. You might be surprised by how much clutter you can clear in just a few minutes—and how much lighter your home feels afterward. So grab a trash bag and get ready to toss!
Overhaul your home with these tips:
Expired Pantry Items
Check the back of your pantry for spices, sauces, mixes, and other foods that have been sitting around for far too long. If it’s expired or you know you’ll never use it, it’s time to let it go.
Old Receipts
Unless you need a receipt for a return, warranty, taxes, or another important purpose, those crumpled slips of paper don’t need to live in your wallet or junk drawer forever.
Worn-Out Food Storage Containers
Toss containers with cracked bases, warped lids, or stains that simply won’t come out. And if you have a collection of lids with no matching containers (or containers with no lids), those can go, too.
Single Socks or Socks with Holes
If one sock has been missing its mate for months, chances are pretty good it isn’t coming back. Clear out the stragglers and reclaim some drawer space. Same goes for socks that have officially reached the end of their run. Think: holes and thinning heels.
Dried-Out Pens
Test the pens around your home (don’t forget the junk drawer). Any that don’t work can go straight into the trash!
Old Mugs
Take a look inside your mug cabinet and be honest: Do you really need all of them? Toss any mugs that are chipped, cracked, stained beyond saving, or that you simply never reach for.
Mystery Cords
Have cords and chargers but can’t remember what they belong to? It may be time to pare down the collection. Just make sure you identify anything that belongs to a device you still use before tossing it.
Clothes That Don’t Fit
Holding onto clothes that don’t fit can make getting dressed feel more frustrating than fun. Let go of pieces that are uncomfortable or you know you won’t wear anymore.
Nearly Empty Cleaning Products
If a cleaning product has only a tiny amount left and you’ve been avoiding using it, either finish it or dispose of it properly according to the product label.
Old Takeout Menus
You can find nearly every restaurant menu you need online, so there’s no reason to keep a drawer full of paper copies. Recycle the stack and enjoy the extra space.
Broken Hangers
Bent, cracked, or flimsy hangers that constantly drop your clothes are not doing your closet any favors. Toss them and make room for the ones you actually like using.
Uncomfortable Shoes
Those shoes might be cute, but they’re not worth limping through the day. Toss or donate pairs that pinch, rub, or leave your feet aching every time you wear them. Your feet will thank you!
Old Sponges
Kitchen sponges don’t last forever! Once one starts to smell, fall apart, or look worse for wear, replace it instead of letting it linger by the sink.
Old Magazines
You might be saving magazines with the intention of reading them “someday,” but ask yourself whether that day is realistically coming. Recycle the ones you’re ready to release.
Almost-Empty Toiletries
Those bottles with just enough shampoo, lotion, or body wash left for “one more use” can pile up quickly. Finish them off or toss the unneeded ones that you’ve been hanging on to.
Takeout Condiment Packets
Do you really need 30 packets of ketchup, soy sauce, or mayonnaise? Keep a reasonable amount and toss the extras that have been hiding in your refrigerator door or junk drawer.
Worn-Out Towels
Towels that are frayed, permanently stained, or no longer absorbent have reached the end of their useful life. Repurpose them as cleaning rags if they’re still usable, or dispose of them appropriately.
Old Makeup and Beauty Products
Take a look through your makeup bag and bathroom drawers. Anything that has changed smell, texture, or color (or that you know you won’t use) doesn’t need to stay. For products with specific disposal instructions, follow the label.
Empty Boxes
Unless you’re actively using a box for storage or expect to need it for a return or move, break it down and recycle it. You probably don’t need quite as many cardboard boxes as you think.
Stale or Freezer-Burned Food
Open the freezer and be honest about what you’re actually going to eat. Anything spoiled, expired, or so freezer-burned that you know it won’t be enjoyable can go.
Macie Reynolds is the assistant editor of E-Commerce and SEO for The Pioneer Woman.
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