31 Household Items to Throw Away Right Now!

31 Household Items to Throw Away Right Now

Clutter is something that can quickly overwhelm your home. It is easy to let things keep slipping into your house until you suddenly feel overwhelmed with the amount of stuff everywhere.

Today I am going to talk about those pesky items that are in everyone’s homes. I am hereby giving you permission to purge the extras and unwanteds, so that your home can become a haven instead of a headache. 

Interested in more decluttering advice? Click here for a guide on decluttering without getting overwhelmed. Let’s get started! 

31 Household Items to Throw Away

That Box of Cables

You haven’t needed them in all the years it has been sitting in the back of your closet. Toss it!

Extra Office Supplies

I help on to four different stacks of post it notes through  FIVE moves. Don’t ask me why, I rarely even use post its! I put them out during a garage sale with a bunch of mechanical pencils, erasers, and pens, and they were sold in the first thirty minutes! My point is, there is someone out there that can use it. Don’t let it sit in your house going unused. 

Toys or Equipment You’ve Been Meaning to Fix

hose with a leak? Spatula that broke into two pieces? Toss it. It’s not worth the hassle. 

Duplicates of Anything

Do you need three santa themed place settings? Or four salt and pepper shakers? Probably not. Stop using your home as a storage facility and get rid of it!

Ratty Bath Towels

if they aren’t even covering your backside, you can donate them to a local animal shelter or use them as cleaning rags, but don’t let them take up space in your linen closet. 

Clothing You Haven’t Worn in Three Years 

Unless you have had kid back to back to back, there isn’t much reason to hold on to them. And even if you have, you might want newer, trendier, or just differently styled clothes than what you wore three years ago.

Chipped or Cracked Dishes

Don’t accidentally feed your family glass or porcelain instead of getting new (or gently used) dishes. 

Expired Medicine

This is just sound advice all around.

Board Games With Missing Pieces

If it has been missing the last three times you’ve played and makes the game more tricky to play, you can let it go. 

Decor That no Longer Fits Your Style

Unless it is an heirloom piece or quite valuable, you don’t need to hold on to decor that no longer fits your style. But that Hobby Lobby sign isn’t going to become more appealing sitting in the back of your closet. 

Unsupportive/Falling Apart Shoes

You should not be sacrificing your feet for shoes. Buy new ones, toss any that are falling apart, and for goodness’ sake, sell or donate any that hurt your feet. 

Toys Your Child has Outgrown

You can check out my post on how to declutter kids toys. It is totally okay to get rid of toys that are no longer serving your family.

Rusted, Bent, or Broken Tools

I kept a garden trowel that was bent and twisted for two years before I finally got a new one. And I was cursing myself for not doing it sooner. The new trowel makes my gardening time so much easier. Tools that are past their prime CAN still be useful, but if they are making your work more difficult, it’s time to recycle them. 

That Piece of Furniture That is Always on Your Bad Side

we’ve all got that one item. It could be a credenza you always hip check when walking by, a dresser with squeaky drawers and uneven legs, a chair who’s coils poke you whenever you sit in it. Whatever the item is, fix it or get rid of it. Don’t settle for ‘good enough’.

Baking Sheets That are Warped or Rusted

seriously, no one wants to eat rust. Common household items such as pans can be upcycled if you are leery of throwing them out. Use them underneath potted plants on your patio, or to store small parts in the garage that might slip through wire shelving.

Extra Linens That Never Make it On To a Bed

they’re just taking up space, physically and mentally.

Organizational Items That Didn’t Work Out

we’ve all got those lazy Susan’s that are too large for the intended space, or stacking trays that are just a little too small to help organize your cleaning supplies. If they are not a ticket helping you stay organized, get rid of them. And get something you can actually use. 

Old Nail Polish

if it’s dried, tacky, or never been used, get rid of it!

Expired Makeup

we all have that one ton of eye shadow that’s been camped out in our makeup bag since pre-husband. If you haven’t used it up by now, you’re probably not going to. Plus, all makeup has an expiration date. Don’t keep putting expired things on your skin. 

Work Out Equipment You Haven’t Touched Since the Pandemic

The equipment is sitting, taking up space. Why are you keeping it? Household items bought during a phase that will (most likely) never happen again have served their purpose. Donate to someone who will actually use them.

All Those Too-Small Bits of Wrapping Paper & Ribbon

seriously, when are you going to use a three square inch Hula Santa bit of wrapping paper? Let your kids use it for coloring paper and then toss it. 

That One Bra That isn’t Doing You Any Favors

you know the one. It’s stretched out, not really comfortable, and you keep it because it used to be your favorite? Break free of the love hate relationship and get yourself a bra that works for you, rather than you trying to work it. 

Random Keys With no Locks

we’ve all got a random key (or ten) laying around our house. If you don’t know what it goes to, toss it in the trash. If, by some miracle of miracles, you find it’s mate, you can worry about it then. 

Items Used for a Single Event

did you buy taco themed serving dishes for your daughters birthday, only to have them sit in the back of your pantry for three years? Donate them so that they actually have a chance of being used. 

Those Extra Boob Pads

you know, the bra/bathing suit inserts that come out in the wash and never fit inside quite right again? Toss them. Because they are so small, household items such as boob pads get tossed in a drawer and forgotten, only to take up mental space the next time you need to get something out of that same drawer.

Ripped or Stained Clothing

this includes undergarments! I am giving you permission to buy yourself new underwear or your husband some new undershirts!

Those Baby Shower Gifts Your Kid Never Used

did a certain sound machine or swaddle not work out? Toss it and don’t feel guilty! Babies are notoriously picky, so if it is taking up space and not being used, get rid of it! It is easy to feel guilty when household items are/were gifts. But the purpose of a gift is the intent behind it, not the actual use. Pass it on to someone who can make use of it.

DVD’s You Haven’t Watched in Years

I get that some movies might be sentimental, but if you have a copy or 27 Dresses that you’re never going to use, don’t let it collect dust. Donate it to someone that will cherish it. 

Lumpy and/or Uncomfortable Decorative Pillows

If your couch time is less enjoyable because of the worn out pillows on it, consider replacing them. These household items are easy to come by, so do yourself a favor and get rid of the ones that are no longer serving you.

Houseplants That Cause Your More Grief Than Joy

If you spend copious amounts of time trying to keep a certain houseplant alive, it is time to consider getting rid of it. Give it to a friend, maybe they’ll have better luck. I have tried for YEARS to get my burro’s tail to grow. I’ve moved it all around given different amounts of sunlight, tried different watering schedules, different fertilizers, and I’ve come to the conclusion that this particular plant and I just need to part ways. 

All Those Extra Traveling Mugs & Water Bottles

If you have a family of four, you do not need 16 water bottles. Even if you have specific bottles for specific purposes, do you really need four per family member? Donate them to someone who will use them!

Decluttering is something that takes continuous effort, so don’t be afraid to stop and come back. If it is not serving a purpose, do not let it continue to take up space in your house or your mind!

Are there household items that seem more prevalent in your home? Let me know down below! You can also check out my Pinterest page for more decluttering ideas!