Have you ever heard anyone say, “I’m so sad I decluttered my home!” Yep, me neither.
That’s because there’s an undeniable satisfaction that comes from opening drawers, looking under beds, and digging into back closets to discover forgotten old treasures (and lots of junk). Over time, houses start to collect mystery gadgets and half-used products that seemed essential once upon a time. It’s time to stop tolerating the silent chaos.
For example, I started knitting a DIY mat in 2017. I never finished it, and I don’t think I will, but it’s still folded in a drawer somewhere. It needs to go. Parting with things can sometimes be a struggle; I know you feel good about that three-quarters-used candle. However, if you haven’t used it in the last 2 years, will you ever?
In the end, there’s a surprising amount of stuff we can live without and not feel like we’re missing anything. Here’s a roundup of the things in our homes that, once they vanish, won’t leave a trace of nostalgia in their wake, like my unfinished mat.
Finding the Best Tips Out There
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Decluttering is always a good idea, but it can be hard to know where to start. If you get overwhelmed before even starting, you won’t make it very far before tapping out. We searched the internet for the best ideas from top home sites and organizing blogs, including Unexpectedly Domestic.
Which of these items is best to declutter ultimately depends on your goals and preferences, to read through and see which one fits best for you
1. The Mystery Keys
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Every home has a key (or a whole keychain) of unknown origin that jingles ominously in a drawer, maybe on an unmarked ring. They might belong to an old shed, a bike lock from five years ago, or perhaps a car that no longer exists.
Their purpose is elusive, yet they stick around, waiting to unlock… something. Mystery keys are almost purely symbolic—small tokens of things we thought we might need someday but never actually do. They take up space and are rarely worth the intrigue.
2. The Unmatched Sock Collection
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Despite good intentions, the unmatched socks almost never make it back to their partners. Some are forlornly waiting for that one grand reunion that, deep down, we know will never happen after the sock monster has well and truly made off with their partner.
Sometimes we keep them for crafting ideas or emergency cleaning rags, but they still remain untouched. Getting rid of them brings relief instead of loss, with the drawer or top of the dresser now freed up for pairs that actually match.
3. The Pile of Old Magazines
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Old magazines can be oddly hard to part with. Perhaps we kept them for a recipe, a design idea, or the one article we never finished reading. They stack up fast, creating little towers that hint at a more fashionable, productive past.
Tossing them will give you a strange relief rather than regret. Your space will feel refreshed, and the nostalgia will vanish like mist in the sun. Remember, you can read most of your magazines online anyway.
4. The Stacks of Takeout Menus
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Who can resist a glossy stack of takeout menus conveniently piled by the fridge or in a drawer? They promise culinary adventure but often just sit around getting in the way. The reality is that everything is online now, and those paper menus are obsolete.
Once they’re recycled, no one goes looking for them. We’re left with cleaner counters and a streamlined kitchen—no more shuffling through menus to figure out what to eat.
5. Unused Spices and Condiments
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Chances are very high that you only use three or four of your spices, yet your pantry is bursting at the seams with spice jars. There’s nutmeg from six years ago, that curry powder we swore we’d use lurking in the back, with nothing but faded labels to remind us they exist.
After purging the expired spices, there’s a sense of newfound freshness. Old spices barely add flavor, have lost their potential vitamin punch, and only clutter up the space. With them gone, the kitchen feels sharper and more usable.
6. The Exercise Equipment That’s Gathering Dust
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There’s a certain guilt attached to unused exercise gear, like the resistance bands or kettlebells we bought in an optimistic moment. But more often than not, these items are shoved under beds or into closets, forgotten in favor of simpler workouts.
It’s OK. You can let them go now; we won’t judge. There doesn’t need to be more guilt-inducing reminders of that workout regime that never quite took off (hopefully, because you found something you liked better). Instead, we’re left with reclaimed space and fewer silent accusations hiding in the corners.
7. The Unfinished Craft Projects
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Craft projects start with excitement and visions of handmade splendor, and then they get abandoned. My daughter is the queen of starting a project and then leaving the mess everywhere on the table, never to return. From half-knitted scarves to scrapbooking supplies, they wait in drawers, unfinished and unloved, reminding us of a fleeting enthusiasm.
They can be donated, recycled, or tossed to make more room, and the feeling is one of release, as we accept that some hobbies were never meant to last. And no one ever wonders, “Where did that half-made wreath go?”
8. The Spare Plastic Containers
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It starts innocently, with a few plastic containers (from yogurt, Cool Whip, etc.) saved “just in case.” Before long, you’ve got a teetering stack with mismatched lids that could be used to meal prep for a small army. They multiply silently, hogging valuable storage space.
Trim them down to the essentials. Try switching to glassware that won’t leech plastic into your food if you’re feeling motivated. No one will miss the avalanche risk or the 15-minute search for the right lid. A neat, minimalist set feels like luxury, and those extra containers are out of sight, out of mind.
9. The Obsolete Remote Controls
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These days, half of the remote controls in your house are redundant. Yet they linger—one for the TV, another for an old DVD player, even one for a sound system you haven’t used in years. They sit in a drawer, lifeless, adding zero value.
Clearing them leaves your drawer noticeably more organized. With universal remotes and app-controlled systems, those extra buttons won’t be missed for a second.
10. The Freebie Mugs
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Remember the freebie mug from a conference? Or really anything you got for free that you never really used? (Buttons, reusable bags, junky frisbees, etc.). We stack these in the back of our cupboards, but they’re rarely the ones we reach for in the morning. They stay, taking up space but holding little sentimental value.
Get rid of unused mugs or broken cups to make your cupboard look cleaner and feel lighter. You can replace them with a few mugs that will actually be used and loved.
11. The Drawer of Assorted Cables
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There’s a tech spaghetti drawer in almost everyone’s house where old USBs, HDMI cables, and old aux cords live together, mostly forgotten. Every time we open it, we wonder if we’ll need one of these mystery cables someday, yet we rarely touch them.
You’ll not think about them once they’re gone. Technology moves quickly, and these cords become useless faster than we realize—there’s no need to hold onto the charger for your 2008 flip phone. Just let it go!
12. The Ancient Toiletries
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Back in the depths of bathroom cabinets, we might find half-empty bottles of old perfumes, lotions, and expired sunscreen. We really can’t explain why we will have that crusty bottle of nail polish, yet it happens!
The cleared-out bathroom cabinet feels fresher and more spacious, with only items that we actually enjoy and use. Check the expiry dates on your toiletries and toss any that is becoming a health hazard.
13. The Forgotten Gift Wrapping Supplies
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Between holidays, birthdays, and special occasions, many of us amass mountains of gift wrap (a great way to recycle!). Crumpled tissue paper, tangled ribbons, and a few gift bags too wrinkled to use—they occupy space we never seem to reclaim.
Clearing out the wrapping corner, or at least being realistic about what you’ll actually use, is liberating. We no longer have to battle with heaps of wrinkled paper or tangled bows. If needed, we know where to find fresh supplies without the weight of a disorganized stash.
14. The CD and DVD Collections
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Remember the days when CDs and DVDs were prized possessions? Now, they’re relics from a bygone era. They sit in drawers or dusty shelves, taking up space while streaming services provide instant access to everything from music to movies.
The old stacks might carry some nostalgia, but no one’s reaching for them during movie night. Get rid of them and use digital collections. These lighten the load, allowing us to keep only what’s truly timeless without the clutter of scratched discs and empty cases.
