30 Useless Things Cluttering Your Home

People often hold onto clutter because it’s hard to let go. You think you’ll use it someday, but you never do. If you’re feeling overwhelmed, here are simple tips to help you declutter, room by room.

Plastic silverware

If you rarely eat on the go, there’s no need to keep plastic silverware at home when you already have proper utensils. Take them to work and store them in your desk for packed lunches.

Condiment packets

There’s no need to keep condiment packets from fast-food places. Stick to bottles of ketchup and mustard and throw out those extra packets.

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Unitaskers

Single-purpose gadgets might seem cool at first but often take up space because they’re rarely used. Examples include quesadilla makers, avocado slicers, egg slicers, herb scissors, and bagel cutters. If you haven’t used one in over a year, consider recycling, donating, or selling it.

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Mismatched or warped food storage containers

Sort through your food storage containers and match each one with its lid. Discard any that are warped or unusable by recycling them.

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Expired pantry items

Spices lose their flavor over time, and pantry staples like flour and sugar work best when fresh. If you haven’t used an item in six months, it’s time to toss it.

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Appliances you never use

If you haven’t used a device in over a year, you probably don’t need it. Toss broken items you’ve managed without and check for duplicate appliances. For example, if you have a multifunction device like an Instant Pot, consider donating your veggie steamer, rice cooker, or slow cooker.

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Newspapers

Recycle newspapers older than two days unless they include something important, like a mention of your child or an article you need. Clip and file any articles you want to keep.

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Pens with no ink

If a pen doesn’t work, throw it away.

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Power cords you can no longer use

If you’re unsure whether to throw something out, create a “cords” bin. Most old power cords can’t be used with newer devices.

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Magazines more than two months old

Magazines can be tricky since they may have recipes or articles you want to read. If you’re really interested in something, clip it and store it properly (or check if the recipe is online). Recycle the rest.

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Expired coupons

These are unnecessary—recycle them.

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Old cell phones

There’s no reason to keep these, as they’re probably outdated and just taking up space. Consider donating old cell phones to organizations like Cell Phones for Soldiers, which uses the proceeds to send prepaid international calling cards to troops.

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Last year’s calendar

People keep these with the intention of transferring important dates to the new year. You have until January 31 to do that, but recycle it if you haven’t by then.

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Greeting cards

Some greeting cards hold sentimental value with personal messages, but most are generic and lose their meaning quickly. Recycle the ones that don’t have special significance.

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Receipts

Save receipts only if they’re for tax-deductible purchases or items you need to return. Otherwise, toss them. To avoid clutter, consider using digital receipts or scanning and storing paper receipts digitally.

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Old crafting supplies

Unless you’re a dedicated crafter, you probably have dried-out glue, unused ribbon, and other miscellaneous items that are no longer useful. Dispose of what doesn’t work, and donate the rest to an elementary school art teacher or local YMCA.