If you’re wanting to declutter but have no idea where to start, take a look over these decluttering ideas to ditch the overwhelm.
This gigantic list features over 100 things you absolutely have no need keeping in your home.
You’ll be so glad you got rid of the clutter, and the best part? You won’t miss any of these items!
This list is by no means exhaustive. If you find something you no longer need, either bin, recycle or donate it.
I highly recommend setting up three separate bins and labelling them when you’re decluttering so you don’t get confused.
When decluttering, ask yourself these three questions;
- When was the last time I used this?
- If I got rid of it, would I buy it again?
- Could I use this moving forward?
- Do this have sentimental value?
These four simple questions can help you quickly and easily declutter your home.
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120+ DECLUTTERING IDEAS FOR AN ORGANIZED HOME
- Old magazines
- Scatter cushions
- Out of Date Cosmetics (Hint: There’s a little M on the back of the bottle which will tell you how good it’s for after it’s been opened e.g. 6M would mean 6 months!)
- Candles you don’t like the smell of
- Faux plants that are faded or dusty
- Old throws
- Permanently stained coffee tables
- Paper bills and statements (opt for paperless)
- Old chargers
- Old electronics
- Flyers and leaflets
- Telephone directories
- Takeaway menus (they’re online!)
- Pet toys your pet no longer plays with
- Old rugs
- Board games no-one plays anymore
- Watched DVDs
- VHS Tapes
- VHS player
- Wall art you no longer like
- Duplicate photos
- CD’s you haven’t listened to in years
- Reward Member Cards
- Unused Gifts
- Books You Have Read/No Longer Will Read
- Old Soaps and Lotions
- Water Bottles
- Notepads and Notebooks
- Broken or Out of Use Folders
- Faded Towels
- Travel Sized Samples
- Jeans that Don’t Fit You
- Shoes you Don’t Wear
- Clothes that don’t match with anything
- Gym equipment you don’t use
- Purses/wallets
- Owner manuals (all online)
- Clothes hangers
- Soft toys
- Your baby clothes your mom gave to you
- Broken light bulbs
- Chipped Mugs
- Chipped Dishes
- Socks with Holes
- Empty bottles
- Bed Linen
- Old Craft Projects
- Old Toothbrushes
- Rusted Knives
- Garden Tools
- Excess Cutlery
- Old Paint
- Craft Supplies you haven’t used in years
- Old baking tins, baking supplies and sheets
- Extra pens and pencils
- Excess mugs
- Stained Tupperware containers
- Placemats you don’t use
- Tights or stockings with ladders
- Delicates with holes or fraying edges
- Tattered holiday décor
- Novelty items you no longer want
- Cookbooks you absolutely don’t use
- Recipe cards and articles
- Faded patio furniture
- Old patio cushions
- Multiple wads of paper
- Kid’s artwork (save your favorites, keep photos of the rest)
- Photos on your phone
- Coupons to places you never go or eat
- Newsletters you don’t want to be a part of anymore (send a unsubscribe form)
- Emails you don’t want to receive anymore (hit the unsubscribe button at the bottom)
- Expired spices, herbs and seasonings
- Expired cans and tins
- Faded and old bath towels
- Mouldy shower curtains
- Old fashioned home décor
- Uncomfortable clothing
- Clothes that have never fit properly
- Swimsuits/Swimgear you don’t feel fabulous in
- Extra bags
- Old kid’s school backpacks
- Spare sheets, table linens and covers that never get used
- Apps on your phone you don’t open
- Kitchen appliances you never use
- Old sunscreens and lotions
- Sunscreens that don’t offer enough protection (check for factor and UVA + UVB)
- Old birthday cards
- Expired medical bandages and medkit items
- Tangled mess of cables and wires
- Lumpy, flat bed pillows
- Fancy dress outfits you won’t wear again
- Old receipts of items you can no longer return
- Blow up mattress that deflates quickly
- Jewelry you haven’t worn or won’t wear
- Pyjamas you never wear
- Old sunglasses or broken lenses
- Reading glasses with the wrong lens strength
- Old contacts and texts on your phone
- Facebook friends list
- Art or hobby supplies you no longer need
- Expired medicine and vitamins
- Old toilet brushes
- Old shower curtain liner
- Cleaning supplies you wouldn’t touch with a barge pole
- Overly harsh bleaches and cleaners
- High heels shoes that hurt too much
- Jackets you never wear
- Old umbrellas and raincoats
- Garage tools you have no need for
- Bags of extra nails and screws that come with furniture flat packs
- Delete social media accounts you no longer use
- Excess pet items, bowls, collars, chew toys
- Excess glassware, vases and bowls
- Takeout sauces and condiments
- USB Drives (make sure to wipe them first)
- Random bobby pins and hair ties
- Extra buttons
- Extra travel and make-up bags
- Battered suitcases and hold-ons
- More than one hairbrush per person
- Old hair styling tools
- Gift wrapping supplies
- Outdoor sports equipment no one uses
- Old souvenirs
- Tattered fridge magnets
- Used printer ink cartridges
- Broken printers
- Recalled baby items
- Random office supplies
- Useless kitchen gadgets
- Expired food
- Empty packages and cardboard boxes
- Broken kid’s toys they don’t play with
One thing to keep in mind when decluttering is to make sure you actually have permission to get rid of other people’s items.
It’s always a good idea to ask your kids, family or housemates if you can’t donate, recycle or trash their items!
As always I recommend donating, recycling or even selling your items wherever you can.
Charities, local libraries and recycling centres are always happy to take in boxes of donations.
Check out this handy post from Apartment Therapy for a big list of donation centers near you.
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