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
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- old magazines
- books your kids have out grown
- old text books
- knick-knacks that you’ve put away
- art prints that are gathering dust
- empty picture frames
- puzzles with one or two missing pieces
- VHS tapes you no longer watch
- DVDs you no longer watch
- CDs you no longer listen to
- duplicate kitchen gadgets
- cardboard boxes and packing materials
- plastic grocery bags
- clothing that no longer fits
- gently worn shoes
- gently used belts and other accessories
- unneeded hats/scarves/gloves/mittens
- broken or mismatched jewelry (can be used for crafts)
- unused dishes/silverware
- pots and pans you no longer need
- bakeware that’s taking up space
- unused glassware
- small appliances that are gathering dust
- out-grown baby gear
- out-grown bicycles
- camping equipment you no longer use
- curtains that don’t match your updated color scheme
- old formal wear
- gifts you’ll never use
- silk plants/flowers
- extra storage containers
- aquarium and supplies that go along with it
- clean plush toys
- trial-size toiletries
- unexpired food
- lamps and light fixtures
- extra party supplies
- toys your kids have outgrown
- table linens that aren’t worn
- large working appliances
- unused gardening tools and supplies
- holiday decor you no longer like
- extra school supplies
- extra or unused craft supplies
- old cell phones
- old computers
- extra bedding
- old records
- used homeschool curriculum
2 – Things to throw away
- blurry photos
- unnecessary duplicates of important paperwork
- old business cards
- old phonebooks
- old day planners/calendars
- manuals to electronics you no longer own
- outdated software
- 7+ year old tax records
- outdated reward and credit cards
- old take-out menus
- 3+ year old bank statements
- 2+ year old bills
- checks for closed accounts
- mostly-used notebooks
- dried-up pens and markers
- expired prescriptions
- expired over-the-counter medications
- expired health supplements
- expired pet meds
- expired make-up
- expired cleaning supplies
- expired paint
- brooms with limp bristles
- dried out nail polish
- expired spa products
- 3 month old toothbrushes
- burned out light bulbs
- holey clothing
- wire hangers
- shoes with holes
- worn out towels
- flat pillows
- worn-out blankets/bedding
- old keys
- dead batteries
- zero-balance gift cards
- broken furniture that can’t be fixed
- burned-down candles
- broken electronics that can’t be fixed
- rusty/broken tools
- address labels/stationary from a previous address
- old tires (recycle)
- old oil (recycle)
- glass jars (recycle)
- plastic containers (recycle)
- almost dead plants
- mismatched socks
- empty toilet paper/paper towel rolls
- broken dishes
- board games with missing parts
- old combs and brushes
- 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!
Couldn’t agree more! What a great list!
Thanks Carrie 🙂