If you’re like most people, when you take a look at your cupboards and drawers, you find that they’re full to the brim with odds and ends that are gathering dust. Sometimes, letting go of your outdated belongings can give you some relief, especially when you don’t use them anymore.
When clutter starts to fade and more space appears, it gives our home a fresher feel. Here’s a list of items that you might want to think about throwing out to give your home some breathing space.
Old Towels and Threadbare Linens
If you open your airing cupboard and find old towels and linens in there which don’t get used then it’s time to throw them out. They’ve probably turned thin and faded into a completely different colour from when you first bought them, and now that you have fresh new ones, there’s no need for them. While it might be a good idea to keep one or two, you can donate the rest to animal shelters or send them to your local recycling centre.
Expired Cosmetics
Have you noticed that your foundations are separating, your face creams smell weird, and you have bath products that are sat on the side, not being used? Well, it might be time to discard them. Using expired cosmetics or toiletries can irritate your skin, so it’s best to discard any that are out of date.
To find the expiry date of any product, you can simply check the back of the product and it should either give a date or show a cosmetics tub with a number followed by ‘M’. This states how long the product can be used after opening.
Old Mugs with Chips and Cracks
Old mugs are a common household item that we seem to collect without even realising. We probably have several chipped mugs hidden in our cupboards that we never use because they’ve lost their appeal, meaning it’s time to get rid of them. You can donate any intact and safe mugs to local charities but should discard any damaged pieces that could be hazardous.
Unused Kitchen Gadgets
While it seems like a good idea to buy fancy kitchen gadgets at the time, it isn’t long until they’re gathering dust in the back of our cupboards. Instead of allowing them to clutter your kitchen, you could think about donating them to friends, family, or local charity shops.
Old Receipts
We’re all told that we should keep hold of receipts, but when too many papers start to accumulate in drawers, pockets, and corners, you might want to think about throwing some out.
Many receipts and old statements serve no purpose, and removing them reduces clutter and makes locating important documents easier. Always make sure to shred confidential details before recycling to protect your personal information.
Outdated Electronics, Chargers, and Accessories
There’s no need to hold on to old phones, spare chargers, outdated cases, and broken headphones, especially when they’re never used. You’ll want to make sure you’re being environmentally friendly when clearing out old electronics, so always check local e-waste programs or consider passing working devices along to family or friends.
Never Used Cookbooks
You probably have stacks of untouched cookbooks lying around in your home that have never been used. Think about removing them to create space for recipes you truly love, as chances are, you only ever use one or two at the most. Donating these books to local charity shops means someone else can enjoy their recipes.
Children’s Toys
Children can get through toys at an alarming rate, which means you might have loads piled up that never get used. Sorting and donating well-maintained toys to charities or community groups can clear up your space and also brighten another child’s day, it’s a win-win situation.
Unworn Clothing
Thanks to new trends, our tastes in clothes are constantly changing, which means we have items that never leave the hanger. Try following the unspoken rule that if you haven’t worn the item for more than six months, then you probably never will. You can donate clothes that are in good condition to charity shops and take anything else to your local recycling centre.
Glassware That’s Never Used
You don’t need to keep hold of dusty wine glasses, mismatched tumblers, or novelty mugs, instead, they can be passed on to friends or donated, especially if in good condition. Clearing out glassware you no longer use makes it far easier to find newer items in your cupboards.
Stale Food Items
There’s no point keeping food that isn’t edible and this includes old flour, stale herbs, and cooking oils that are lingering in your cupboard. Discarding these items leaves room for fresher ingredients, which means only one thing – tastier meals! Simplify your cooking process by removing any old, flavourless items.
DVDs and CDs
Now that streaming services have taken over, no one has the need for DVDs and CDs any more, and this means there are probably stacks of them taking up space in your cupboards. If you have a large collection of disks that are still in good condition then you might be able to sell them to make a few pounds, otherwise, they can be donated to local charity shops.
Old Bedding and Pillows
Of course, it’s always a good idea to keep spare bedding for when you have guests, but flat pillows and lumpy duvets can waste storage space. If you have a pet, or know anyone else that does, then your old bedding could make a great dog bed. Otherwise, think about taking them to your local recycling centre.
Novelty Items
You can probably think of a few boxes in your attic that hold old-school souvenirs, holiday trinkets, or unwanted gifts that no longer bring joy. Try to reflect on whether these items still matter and if not then passing them along to other family members or donating suitable décor to charities can lighten the load, allowing your home’s personal style to shine.
Past Hobby Equipment
It’s common to go through phases of having different hobbies, which means old sports gear, art supplies, or unused workout equipment can take up space in your home. To reduce clutter, you can donate or sell these items so that they can still be used by someone who values them.
Seasonal Items
Whether it’s Christmas décor that no longer matches your taste or summer sports equipment that’s no longer used, you might want to take a look through your garage and think about what can be thrown away. If you have seasonal items that are in good condition then think about selling or donating them, otherwise, check if they can be recycled or need to be thrown out with general waste.