There are plenty of things we hold onto for good reason. Treasures from our travels, family heirlooms, sentimental birthday cardsall justifiable keepsakes. Then there are the odds and ends we accumulate just because we have the space to store them. You know, the But what if I need this one day? items. It seems like a rather harmless habituntil those nonessentials add up and turn your cabinets and closets into living nightmares. The chaos stops here. Its time to repurpose, recycle, or kick em to the curb.
While we arent here to push a hyper-minimalist agenda, we do believe every object in your home should serve a distinct purpose or, at the very least, brighten your day a little. We doubt your excessive tote bag collection or rubber bandfilled junk drawer is offering you much. Here are the 30 things youll be better off letting go:
Things in Your Kitchen
- The ominous cloud of plastic bags under the sink
- All those spices that are past their prime
- Mismatched Tupperware taking over your cabinetsget containers that stack neatly instead
- The microwavethe stove or oven does the job just as well (if not better) without hogging counter space
- Extra knives, because all you really need are three good ones
- Single-use accoutrements from your last takeout order (think: chopsticks, napkins, straws)
- The logo-heavy cups and shot glasses from your college days
- Specialized cleaning solutions (a single all-in-one concentrate will leave your house just as pristine)
- Any subpar tote bag you snagged just because it was free
- Stemmed wineglasses (simple drinking glasses work for water, juice, and vino)
Things in Your Bedroom
- Wimpy hangers from the dry cleaner
- The top sheet, unless you really love to bundle up
- Beat-up shoeboxes and the accompanying protective bags (streamline your collection with a tiered rack or over-the-door hanger)
- The shack of books youre done reading (donate them to a used-book storeor pass along to a fellow bibliophile)
- The obscene amount of decorative pillows you purchased during your boho phase
Things in Your Bathroom
- Every hotel toiletry youve ever stolen
- Sad towels with holes or makeup stains
- That ugly shower caddyinvest in a teak stool or over-the-tub tray that wont make you cringe every morning
- Expired medications, makeup, and sunscreen (yes, they all have expiration dates!)
Things in Your Living Room
- The dead plants you keep trying to revive
- A china cabinet (repurpose your plates as wall art instead!)
- Subpar vases from those very kind flower arrangement deliveries
- Trophies and any other inconsequential childhood memorabilia collecting dust
Things in Your Office
- The dead batteries rolling around in your desk drawer
- Junk mail (unsubscribe from that stuff and save a few trees in the process)
- Old magazines you havent looked at in years
- Supplies for the creative projects youre going to pick back up someday
- Chargers that belong to old devices, and old devices with no charger at all
- Half-used cans of paint (an excuse for a 30-minute DIY)
- Clunky filing cabinets (go digital or keep super-important documents in thin transparent envelopes)
This story was published on February 3, 2019. It has been updated with new information.
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Organizing 101: How to Finally Declutter Your Home
Every Minimalist Has This in Their Home
6 Decluttering Strategies Minimalists Swear By