Are you looking for an easy solution to clear out your clutter? If yes, then you’re at the right place!
Check out our list of 50 things to throw away for instant decluttering.
Over half of Americans (54%) feel overwhelmed by clutter. Additionally, 78% don’t know how to handle it or find the process too complex, resulting in clutter accumulation that fills up your home and workspace [1].
I believe this issue might escalate your stress levels and it can reduce your productivity. Since clutter leads to stress, it might damage your health and happiness.
You might benefit from learning how to organize, declutter, and adopt a clean space, clean mind approach to life.
That is why I have compiled a list of 50 things to help you with swift decluttering.
So, keep on reading.
Table of Contents
Get Your Space Clean Quick With These 50 Things to Throw Away for Instant Decluttering
Starting to declutter can be tricky when you’re overwhelmed with where to start. You might regard many things in your home as precious, but they aren’t as useful as you think.
Yet, if a tidy home is your goal, you need to know how to start decluttering seriously.
So, here is a ready list of 50 things you probably don’t need and can discard without delay.
1) In the Living Room
You can create a tidier and more relaxed living area by dumping the following items that usually build up.
- Old magazines
- Used batteries
- Duplicate photos
- Outdated electronics
- Old newspapers
- Obsolete chargers or cables
- Damaged or scratched CDs/DVDs
- Obsolete electronics manuals
2) In the Kitchen
You can simplify your cooking and dining experience by eliminating the surplus items below for a more efficient and enjoyable kitchen space.
- Expired coupons
- Mismatched food containers and lids
- Unused dishware
- Expired or unused pantry items
- Excessive plastic bags
3) In the Bedroom
Improve your bedroom ambiance by clearing out these disturbance-creating items.
- Worn-out bed linens
- Unused alarm clocks
- Damaged eyewear
4) In the Bathroom
Maintain a neat bathroom by removing these items you rarely notice but cause clutter.
- Expired make-up
- Expired Medications
- Old toothbrushes
- Dried-out nail polish
- Stretched-out hair ties
- Unused empty or near-empty cleaning supplies
5) In the Closet
You can optimize your wardrobe and dressing experience by removing these items from your closet. You can choose what you love and wear it more easily.
- Worn-out clothing
- Ill-fitting clothes
- Uncomfortable shoes
- Broken or unused jewelry
- Damaged or stained clothing
- Broken or unused hangers
- Holed socks or underwear
6) In the Garage
Transform your garage into practical storage and workspace by removing these items that often create mess and clutter.
- Old paint cans
- Damaged car gadgets
- Broken appliances
- Unwanted gifts
- Unused sports equipment
- Unused gardening supplies
- Broken or too old furniture
7) In the Children’s Room
Encourage your kids to keep their rooms neater and develop healthy organization habits by clearing out the items that overcrowd their rooms.
- Outgrown toys
- Unused school supplies
- Too small clothes that you can pass on
- Outdated software or games
8) Holiday Decorations
Minimize holiday storage clutter by focusing on the decorations that spark your happiness.
- Broken ornaments
- Christmas lights that don’t light up
- Old greetings or postcards
- Broken appliances
9) Others
You should ensure a clean and clear living space by frequently dealing with these easily piled-up items.
- Broken or leaky pens
- Unused craft supplies
- Old calendars
- Neglected repair items
- Outdated paperwork
- Useless freebies
Free decluttering checklist:
50 Things to Throw Away for Instant Decluttering Checklist
50 Things to Throw Away for Instant Decluttering
What is the 50 rule for decluttering?
The 50% rule in decluttering is to keep your closets, under-bed storage, and kitchen cabinets roughly 50% full.
If you follow this rule, you will maintain clean spaces and provide room for new belongings.
Meaning, if you have a closet with 10 items, you should only hang up 5 new items. The rule of 50% full should apply to other storage spaces too.
However, despite the 50% rule’s effectiveness, your needs and situations should guide you too.
What is the 20 rule decluttering?
The 20 rule decluttering, often called the 20/20 rule, is a hack to simplify removing items you keep in the “just in case” category but probably won’t use.
The Minimalist hypothesis advises you to discard items that cost less than $20, and you can replace them within 20 minutes from your current location [2].
The rule suggests asking yourself two questions about an item:
- Can I replace it for $20 or less?
- Can I replace it in 20 minutes or less?
You can safely declutter the item if the answer to both questions is yes.
What is the 12 12 12 method?
The 12 12 12 method is a decluttering technique, suggesting:
- 12 items to throw away
- 12 to donate
- 12 back in order
This system presents simple steps to clean spaces but is not a magic bullet.
In my experience, starting with a few things is easier than with my entire home. In Simply Spaced, Monica Leed recommends the “S.P.A.C.E.” method: aim at one zone and build minor attainable goals to clear out your home well.
Don’t attempt tackling all at once if you have an extra bedroom filled with boxes of unused clothes.
Instead, review and throw away clothes that no longer serve you.
Then, decide if you’ll give away the leftover items or place them back in your closet or drawer.
Joshua Becker, who advocates for minimalism and writes books, associates with this rule.
I haven’t read it, but try the book if this topic draws you in. I believe it’s worthwhile.
50 Things to Throw Away for Instant Decluttering (FAQs)
How to make yourself throw things away?
If you struggle to start decluttering, try these:
• Set a goal
• Consider the gains of a clutter-free environment
• Turn it into a game
• Treat it as an entertaining project and not a demanding task
• Concentrate on a single area
• Do not take on all responsibilities at once
• Avoid distractions
How to decide what to throw away?
Begin with obvious junk: outdated papers, unused bags, and empty containers. Review your items individually. If you didn’t use it last year, it’s time to discard it
If in doubt, ask yourself these questions:
• Is it a duplicate?
• Does it fit in with my lifestyle?
• Will I use it again?
What are things to throw away when moving?
Items to discard before moving are:
• Unused outfits
• Books finished with no intent to reread
• Furniture that doesn’t suit your new home
• Things beyond fixing or mending
• Items that are too heavy to move
• Expired or invalid papers such as old bills and receipts
• Unused old medications
What to Do Next?
You can simplify decluttering by starting what I’ve covered in this article. Set a roadmap and follow through.
It gets simpler with every try. You’ll get to a point where it’s not that hard to throw away things anymore.
Like Marie Kondo, who first started from zero. You’ll start to notice a difference in your life as you declutter.
Also, be an inspiration to others and share your story by leaving a comment.
If you’re looking for more help with decluttering and organizing, check out my other blogs:
