I often use the words minimalism and decluttering interchangeably. They are different, of course, but still connected.
Decluttering focuses on removing surface level possessions. Minimalism helps us discover how little we actually need.
Minimalism is better in my opinion, but almost no one can move toward owning less without some decluttering along the way.
Regardless of what you want to call it or how much progress you want to make, if you are ready to put in some effort decluttering unnecessary possessions from your home, you’ll love the change.
Here are 24 things you can declutter from your home:
1. Unused or old power cords and chargers
2. Extra hangers that are taking up space
3. Shoes that are worn out or no longer used
4. Old towels and linens
5. Games/Puzzles with missing pieces
6. Old and expired medications
7. Magazines and newspapers that have been read
8. Expired food from fridge or pantry
9. CDs and DVDs
10. Books that you’ve already read and are unlikely to read again
11. Old and expired makeup
12. Broken or outdated jewelry
13. Duplicates of household items, such as scissors or pens
14. Unnecessary paperwork, such as old bills or receipts
15. Outdated, obsolete, or broken electronics
16. Old and worn out pillows, sheets, and towels in your linen closet
17. Cleaning products you no longer use
18. Unused sporting or exercise equipment
19. Old candles that haven’t been used in years
20. Unused pet toys
21. Take-out sauce packets, napkins, and menus
22. Outdated decor items no longer displayed in your home
23. Excess water bottles and travel mugs
24. Almost everything in your junk drawer
Decluttering your home can be a daunting task, but it’s also an incredibly liberating experience.
One step at a time, one item at a time from the list above, and you’ll love the change you see in your home.
HC says
It would be awesome to have this list in an .ics file I could import into my calendar. I would move around and assign a line to a specific (free) day or delete unneeded items. Thanks for the list!
Ali says
Love this idea!
Alicia Gordon says
I have completed the entire list before reading this. I’m always I’m a constant state of paring down. It also helps that we’re moving in about two months!
Carol Ann MacArthur says
Number 13 cracks me up! I have 6 pairs of scissors just in my sewing room and they all have a specific, useful purpose. I mentally counted 30+ pairs of scissors in various parts of our home and garden. Scissors are staying put. However, there are waaay too many linens and towels, books and magazines that need to go.
Love this list.
Thanks
Marianne Guzzar says
Me too..bought a set for my kitchen on qvc and love them. Now they chanced the design and it hurts to use they’re too wide for my arthritis. Also I have 4 scissors in my organized kitchen packed with things drawer. I keep a lot of things here and I always go to it you never know when you need a little flashlight I have a few of those scissors everything you can imagine and I like it that way. I do admit I do not keep any of those packets that come with food lol. But I tend to hoard. I know I need help with organizing but I haven’t been bringing decorative items in my home even though I live so close to so many stores I have to put blinders on. I need nothing it’s just me and my husband now after losing my son. It’s been hard but organizing will help my journey, decluttering my mind. Good luck everyone
SS says
Thanks and good for not getting tempted to buy new items. Best Wishes
Lisa Puleo says
Any good ideas for tons of photos?
Kathy says
Old towels and blankets if not stained or torn are good for needy people.
Smb says
Old towels are always needed by veterinary clinics and the local humane society.
Sandra says
My dogs bath towel is now the towel I use for my daughters dog that stays and visits on occasion. My dog I had for 16 years, towel is still in use.
Barbara Mongillo says
Bring to animal shelters
Edith Norvell says
And animals!
Jackie Foreman says
Hi. I have loads of photos in boxes purchased a scanner and digitizing them. Also preserves old photos and you can enhance old photos. All on memory sticks and in safe place
Joyce says
From past discussions with my sisters, no one was really interested in old photos of our family, including me. They are more concern about photos of their families. So I choose not to pay to have them scanned nor did I want to spend a lot of time scanning them myself. I just took pictures using my phone of around 30 pictures and sent to my sisters. Since no one wanted the originals, all were tossed. It’s been 2 years. Even I have not looked at those pictures.
Yoly says
Which scanner did you get photos?
Is there a scanner for negatives?
Rose Milne says
Yes..I had similar issue.
Sending them to a company who bulk scans to digital.
Judy says
What is Bulk scan to digital?
Catherine Tooker says
I just went through mine. I made a pile of just landscapes and tossed them. Family and friends stayed and I’m getting older so I sent pictures of family to the younger ones that are interested in genealogy. I wrote on back who is who from left to right.
Christina says
Pick a few you want for tables or walls. Have the rest digitally converted. Look for an online sale because it can be costly.
You can have all your photos on a flash drive/ computer download.
If you have kids or other relatives who want copies of the flash drive, they can pay for a flash drive.
I did this and got rid of 4 boxes of photos. Gave copies to my kids..which they appreciated.
Duzntmatr says
Put them on disc.
Cynthia says
I had all of mine digitized to thumb drive. I made a collage of special photos for display and threw away all the other photos that were digitized. They are in labeled folders in the thumb drive so I can find the ones I want quickly. I often use my roll around picture frame with the thumb drive.
Gaynor Thomas says
Jackie Foreman says Re Photos
Helen Horoky says
We took important photos out of albums and made a collage of them, inserted them into several 18″ x 24″ photo boards and mounted them on the wall in our games room. People migrate to them, as no-one takes time to flip through cumbersome photo albums anymore.
Michele O says
First declutter them and be selective, keep only the ones that are most important, ones you would take again. Next get a photo copier and transfer the negatives and or photos to your computer. Then you can organize them by person or event etc. Make digital photo albums and use a USB to give copies to any family or friends who might want them. Also make a back up copy of all your photos and keep it in safe place. You can also use Shutterfly type places to make actual books. Lastly if you don’t want to store them onto your computer, after you declutter, organize them into photo albums.
Laura says
Scan the photographs and save them on your computer, and the cloud. Then you don’t need to keep all the paper photographs, just the ones you want to display.
Jessie says
I’m decluttering now and have been working on photos. Some like to scan and digitize them but if you’re like me and you want the physical copies to look at during family gatherings, here’s an option. I’ve been going through every one and removing many, like those that are just a blur where you can’t make anything out. Or pictures of random people I don’t know from before my time. Or, for example, pictures of animals from a zoo trip that happened before I was even born. Some pictures need kept but not by me. Those are being split up and sent to their more appropriate homes.
Pam Shankle says
Nursing home like to have clothing for some they do not have family to supply. Old bedding towels rugs blankets good for animal shelters and veterinarian to use. Nursing home like to have some stuffed animals and dolls for patients
Jackie says
Thank you for the tips!
Deborah Hutchinson says
My friend volunteers at our local thrift shop. She told me that folks drop off bags and bags of what should be trash. At some point, you need to throw things away and not overwhelm places trying to sell legimately usable items because you are unable to make a decision. Some landfills do have resources for recycling clothing and other household items. Please consider what you do donate. Perhaps, if the local consignment store wouldn’t accept the item to sell, then it needs to go to recycling. Don’t dump on local volunteer run organizations.
MJ says
Excellent comment
Joyce says
I agree. It makes one feel good that they are not throwing something in the trash but passing on to someone who might buying it from a thrift store when they really should have trashed it.
Deborah says
My friend volunteers at our local thrift shop. She told me that folks drop off bags and bags of what should be trash. At some point, you need to throw things away and not overwhelm places trying to sell legimately usable items because you are unable to make a decision. Some landfills do have resources for recycling clothing and other household items. Please consider what you do donate. Perhaps, if the local consignment store wouldn’t accept the item to sale, then it needs to go to recycling. Don’t dump on local volunteer run organizations.
Bonnie E Nelson says
That was a great list of 23. It inspires me to pick one and do it. As it is was suggested, go slow; I do not have to do the whole list all at one time. In regards to books, there are some little free libraries set up in my neighborhood where I walk. I will take a couple of books with me and donate them. But I do keep books that are sentimental to me; they make me happy just to see them in my book shelf.
Does anyone have a strategy for going through and discarding old photographs and jewelry. I have a lot of both -of my own and what was passed down to me. I do not know where to start.
Sonia says
Cleaning items…old mops, brooms, rags, cleansers and polishes.
Kathy says
Photos can be in your phone in categories. Take a picture of each photograph. Give paper copies to a you get family member to have and enjoy.
Jackie Foreman says
Digitizing. I am in process scanning and enhancing and then store on flash drive.
Jeanie Loveland says
Iam working on getting rid of stuff! Thank you for the list! Jeanie Loveland
Mary Hicks says
Old towels, sheets, blankets etc. are always needed at your local animal shelter.
Susan Carnley says
Thanks for that reminder. Things like that are often thrown out by organizations that resell donated items.
I believe that it is much easier to get rid of things I do not need if I can pass them on to a person or place that can use them.
Kathy says
I agree. I hate adding to landfills. Thank you for providing ideas to re-purpose things.
Mary says
Thanks…never thought about giving those things to the animal shelter. Thanks great idea.
Jackie Foreman says
Great idea. Thank you
Daisy says
Usually they do NOT want sheets or comforters. Towels and woven blankets should be in good condition. Check with the shelter first to see what their actual needs are to avoid leaving them with the task and expense of sending your junk to landfill.
Cheryl Combs says
I wash everything right before I take them to the animal shelter. That way they don’t have to wash them and they are ready to put out!