31 things to declutter this year
I love decluttering. There’s just something about clearing out the things you no longer use that makes a home feel lighter, calmer, and easier to live in.
But decluttering also gives me a little wake-up call when it comes to my spending habits.
Every time I find something I bought because I thought I would use it, only to discover that it has been sitting untouched for months (or years!), I’m reminded that spending less isn’t just about finding a good deal. It’s also about buying fewer things that don't add value to my life in the first place.
That’s one of the biggest lessons decluttering has taught me: a bargain isn't a bargain if you don't actually use it.
If you want a more peaceful home and a reminder to be more intentional about what you buy, this list of 31 things to declutter is a great place to start.
You don't have to tackle everything at once. Pick five things and spend 15 minutes getting rid of them. Or challenge yourself to work through the entire list over the course of a month.
And don't be surprised if you find even more things to declutter once you get going. One cleared out drawer has a funny way of making you notice the next one!
31 things to declutter:
1. Expired or Unused Makeup
Go through your makeup bag and get rid of products that are old, dried out, or that you simply never use. If you haven't reached for that eyeshadow in years, you're probably not suddenly going to start wearing it.
2. Old VHS Tapes, DVDs and Other Media
If you have a collection of movies or shows you never watch anymore, ask yourself whether you really need to keep them. Some may be worth digitizing (like old photos) or passing along, while others can simply go.
3. Old Cell Phones and Electronics
That drawer full of old phones, chargers and outdated gadgets doesn't need to stay there forever. Look into your local electronics recycling program to dispose of unwanted electronics responsibly.
4. Expired or Very Old Spices
Open your spice cupboard and check what you actually use. If you have three jars of the same spice, or one that has been sitting there for years, it's time for a little clean up. Here's an article with details about how long spices last.
5. Broken Electronics
Have you been keeping a broken DVD player, stereo, appliance or gadget because you might fix it someday?
If "someday" has been several years, it's probably time to let it go. Recycle electronics according to your local guidelines.
6. Worn Out Bras and Underwear
Some things simply reach the end of their useful life. If they're stretched out, damaged or uncomfortable, they don't need to take up valuable drawer space.
7. Excess Reusable Bags
Reusable shopping bags are handy, but have you noticed how easy it is to accumulate far more than you need? Keep the number you realistically use and pass along the extras where possible.
8. Ragged Towels and Washcloths
Keep a few old towels for cleaning, pets or messy jobs, but you probably don't need a giant stash. Cut up what can be used as cleaning rags and let the rest go.
9. Clothes That Don't Fit
Your closet doesn't need to be a storage unit for every size you've ever worn. If something no longer fits and you don't realistically plan to wear it, consider donating or selling it.
Related: 7 Simple Ways to Declutter Clothes.
10. Unused or Duplicate Kitchen Utensils
Six wooden spoons? Three can openers? A kitchen gadget you bought for one recipe and haven't touched since?
Pull everything out of the drawer and keep the things you actually use.
11. Books You Won't Read Again
Books can be difficult to declutter, especially when we feel like we're supposed to keep them forever.
If you've read it and know you won't read it again, or you didn't enjoy it in the first place, consider passing it along to someone who will.
12. Single Earrings
If you've been holding onto one lonely earring for years, waiting for its missing partner to magically appear, it's probably safe to let it go.
13. Single Socks
Check your odd-sock collection. Match up what you can and give yourself permission to get rid of the socks whose partners have mysteriously disappeared.
14. Unloved Toys
Kids don't need to keep every toy they've ever owned. Broken, outgrown and forgotten toys can be donated, recycled or discarded as appropriate. It's time to let other kids enjoy them now!
15. Unused Sports Equipment
Sports equipment can take up a lot of space. If your child has outgrown their skates, hockey gear or soccer equipment, or you've discovered that a particular sport wasn't for them, sell or donate what you no longer need. Same goes for any sports equipment you won't use anymore.
16. Things That Belong to Someone Else
Do you have a pile of borrowed books, casserole dishes, containers or other items that belong to friends and family?
Return them! You'll clear out your home and make someone happy to have their items back all at the same time.
17. Old Paperwork
Go through your filing cabinet, desk drawers and paper piles. Shred documents you no longer need and recycle unnecessary junk mail and paper clutter.
Just be sure to check current document retention recommendations before getting rid of anything important.
18. Mismatched Food Storage Containers
You know the cupboard: containers without lids, lids without containers and approximately 47 tiny containers you never use.
Match everything up and get rid of the orphans. It's also time to donate the containers you never use.
19. Old or Unused Linens
Sheets that don't fit any of your beds, worn out pillowcases and too many blankets can quietly take over a linen closet.
Keep what you actually use and let the rest go.
20. Blurry or Duplicate Photos
If you have boxes of printed photos, go through them and remove the blurry, badly exposed or duplicate pictures.
You don't need five nearly identical photos of the same birthday cake.
21. Empty Ink Cartridges
If you've been saving empty ink cartridges with the intention of recycling them, now is a good time to finally deal with the pile. Check local recycling programs or retailers that accept them.
22. Freezer Food You Won't Eat
Take a look inside your freezer. If something is freezer-burned, unappealing, spoiled or has been sitting there so long that nobody remembers what it is, it's time to clean it out.
A less crowded freezer also makes it much easier to see what you already have.
23. Dried Out Pens
Grab a piece of scrap paper and test your pens. Toss the ones that don't work, leak or just don't write nicely.
You'll be amazed at how satisfying a tidy pen cup can be.
24. Manuals You Can Easily Find Online
You probably don't need a drawer stuffed with instruction manuals anymore. For many products, the manufacturer's website has the manual available online.
Keep anything important that isn't easily replaceable, but consider recycling the rest.
25. Spare Change
Check the couch cushions, junk drawers, laundry room and that random dish where everyone dumps their coins.
Gather it all together and put it toward something useful. Your savings, a specific goal or even a little treat.
26. Craft Supplies You Aren't Going to Use
Craft supplies add up quickly! Go through your stash and be honest about what you're actually going to use.
If you've been saving something for a project you've been "meaning to do" for five years, it may be time to pass it along to someone who will enjoy it.
27. Leftover Paint
Do you have cans of paint sitting in the garage from projects you finished years ago?
Keep a small, clearly labelled amount for necessary touch-ups if appropriate, but get rid of old or unwanted paint through your local household hazardous waste or paint recycling program. I've also had great success giving away paint I won't use in my local Buy Nothing Facebook Group!
28. Unused Personal Care Products
Check your bathroom cabinets for old lotions, perfumes, hair products and toiletries you don't like or never use.
If you've been avoiding it for months because you don't actually like the product, that's a pretty good sign that you don't need to keep it.
29. Loyalty and Rewards Cards
Clean out your wallet and phone. Remove expired loyalty cards, empty gift cards and memberships you no longer use.
If a store has moved its rewards program to an app, you may be able to get rid of the physical card entirely.
30. Old or Unused Pet Toys
Your pets probably have favourites too! Toss toys that are damaged or unsafe and donate or pass along anything that's in good condition but never gets played with.
31. Boxes
If you're keeping a giant pile of boxes "just in case," take a good look at how many you actually need.
Keep a reasonable number of useful shipping or moving boxes and recycle the rest. You'll be surprised how much space this can free up.
A Little Decluttering Can Make a Big Difference
You don't need to declutter your entire house in one weekend to make a difference.
Start with one drawer. One shelf. One cupboard. Pick a few things to declutter and see how much lighter the space feels afterward.
And here's the part I love most: decluttering can change the way you shop.
When you see how many things you bought that you didn't use, love or need, it becomes a lot easier to pause before buying something new.
Instead of asking, "Is this a good deal?" you might start asking, "Do I actually need this?"
That little question can save you a surprising amount of money over time.
What things to declutter would you add to this list? And what's the first thing you're going to tackle?
