Today I’m sharing with you 101 things to throw away or donate because I truly believe that in order to declutter and better organize your home you must be open to letting go of items in your life you no longer love, use or need. Because let’s face it, they are just taking up much-needed storage space!

One of the absolute best ways to de-clutter your home is to get rid of EVERYTHING, yes everything, you no longer use or need. Stop looking at items in your home and thinking “Well I may use it one day” because chances are if you haven’t used it for over 12 months or more, it’s unlikely you will use it again any time soon. There are exceptions like power tools in your garage that are in fine working condition. But for the most part, a lot of the items on this list are straight up things that you just need to get rid of so that you can embark on a life of less clutter and more happiness at home.

Read on to see the full list! Let’s get started.

101 Things To Throw Away or Donate Right Now

1 – Things To Donate

1. 1. old magazines
   2. books your kids have out grown
   3. old text books
   4. knick-knacks that you’ve put away
   5. art prints that are gathering dust
   6. empty picture frames
   7. puzzles with one or two missing pieces
   8. VHS tapes you no longer watch
   9. DVDs you no longer watch
   10. CDs you no longer listen to
   11. duplicate kitchen gadgets
   12. cardboard boxes and packing materials
   13. plastic grocery bags
   14. clothing that no longer fits
   15. gently worn shoes
   16. gently used belts and other accessories
   17. unneeded hats/scarves/gloves/mittens
   18. broken or mismatched jewelry (can be used for crafts)
   19. unused dishes/silverware
   20. pots and pans you no longer need
   21. bakeware that’s taking up space
   22. unused glassware
   23. small appliances that are gathering dust
   24. out-grown baby gear
   25. out-grown bicycles
   26. camping equipment you no longer use
   27. curtains that don’t match your updated color scheme
   28. old formal wear
   29. gifts you’ll never use
   30. silk plants/flowers
   31. extra storage containers
   32. aquarium and supplies that go along with it
   33. clean plush toys
   34. trial-size toiletries
   35. unexpired food
   36. lamps and light fixtures
   37. extra party supplies
   38. toys your kids have outgrown
   39. table linens that aren’t worn
   40. large working appliances
   41. unused gardening tools and supplies
   42. holiday decor you no longer like
   43. extra school supplies
   44. extra or unused craft supplies
   45. old cell phones
   46. old computers
   47. extra bedding
   48. old records
   49. used homeschool curriculum

2 – Things to throw away

1. blurry photos
2. unnecessary duplicates of important paperwork
3. old business cards
4. old phonebooks
5. old day planners/calendars
6. manuals to electronics you no longer own
7. outdated software
8. 7+ year old tax records
9. outdated reward and credit cards
10. old take-out menus
11. 3+ year old bank statements
12. 2+ year old bills
13. checks for closed accounts
14. mostly-used notebooks
15. dried-up pens and markers
16. expired prescriptions
17. expired over-the-counter medications
18. expired health supplements
19. expired pet meds
20. expired make-up
21. expired cleaning supplies
22. expired paint
23. brooms with limp bristles
24. dried out nail polish
25. expired spa products
26. 3 month old toothbrushes
27. burned out light bulbs
28. holey clothing
29. wire hangers
30. shoes with holes
31. worn out towels
32. flat pillows
33. worn-out blankets/bedding
34. old keys
35. dead batteries
36. zero-balance gift cards
37. broken furniture that can’t be fixed
38. burned-down candles
39. broken electronics that can’t be fixed
40. rusty/broken tools
41. address labels/stationary from a previous address
42. old tires (recycle)
43. old oil  (recycle)
44. glass jars (recycle)
45. plastic containers (recycle)
46. almost dead plants
47. mismatched socks
48. empty toilet paper/paper towel rolls
49. broken dishes
50. board games with missing parts
51. old combs and brushes
52. old maps and atlases

Decluttering your home can make you feel so free, like a huge weight has been lifted off your shoulders. To learn more about minimizing clutter and letting go of items you truly do not need; have a read of this post on how to start living minimally.

Of course, this isn’t a set-in-stone list and you can also throw away many more items. Virtually anything in your home can be tossed or donated when you’re trying to get a grip on clutter.

A few of the things on the “throw away” list may end up being candidates for the “donate” list. Some items like glass jars, mismatched socks, and empty toilet paper rolls can often be saved for crafting with the kids but if it’s taking up too much space or you can’t find a place to store these items in, then let them go.

In order to keep your home as clutter-free as possible, the best approach is to only keep items you need, use and love. Everything else really needs to be questioned.

What other items can you add to my things to throw away or donate list? Let me know in comments!

Happy decluttering friends!