Your home can quickly fill up with items that don’t serve much purpose anymore. Over time, it’s easy to hold onto things that quietly take up space without adding value to your daily life.
Knowing which common objects are just wasting valuable room can help you create a more organized and comfortable living space. Clearing out these items can make your home feel less cluttered and more functional for you.
Almost empty shampoo and lotion bottles
You might be holding onto nearly empty shampoo and lotion bottles without realizing how much space they take. Instead of tossing them, you can cut them open or use a bottle emptying kit to get every last drop.
This way, you won’t waste product or clutter up your shelves. It’s a small step that helps keep your space tidy and your items fully used.
Unopened mail piling up
You might not realize how much space unopened mail takes up. Piles of bills, advertisements, and junk mail can quickly fill tables and counters.
Try sorting your mail as soon as it arrives. Recycle what you don’t need and keep important papers organized in a designated spot.
This simple habit can stop mail from becoming clutter and free up room in your home.
Old makeup past expiration
You might be holding onto makeup that expired months or even years ago. Using old products can cause skin irritation or infections because bacteria grow over time.
Throw away anything past its expiration date, especially liquid or cream products like foundation and mascara. Powders may last a bit longer but still lose quality.
Clearing out expired makeup frees up space and keeps your routine safer and fresher. It’s a simple way to make room for products you actually use and trust.
Clothes unworn for over a year
If you haven’t worn an item of clothing in over a year, it’s likely just taking up space. You might be holding onto them out of habit or hoping they’ll fit again someday.
Try sorting through these clothes and decide if you really need them. Letting go frees up room and makes your wardrobe easier to manage. You can donate or recycle items to give them a new purpose.
Outdated computer parts
You might have old computer parts like motherboards, RAM, or hard drives taking up space. Many people keep these hoping to reuse them, but often they just pile up unused.
Storing outdated components can clutter your area and make it harder to find what you really need. If parts aren’t working or outdated, consider recycling them to free up room.
Keeping a few useful items like storage drives is practical, but try to avoid holding onto every piece “just in case.” It helps keep your space tidy and organized.
Mismatched Tupperware lids
You probably have a drawer full of lids without matching containers. These lids take up space and make it hard to find what you need.
Try sorting through your collection and toss lids that don’t have a matching bowl. You’ll free up room and make your storage more organized.
Keeping only complete sets helps you store food more efficiently and keeps your kitchen clutter-free.
Expired pantry food
You might not realize how much space expired pantry food takes up in your kitchen. Old spices, canned goods, and packaged items can linger long past their prime, cluttering your shelves.
Checking expiration dates can help you decide what to toss. Removing these items frees up space for fresh, useful ingredients you actually want to use. It also helps keep your pantry organized and reduces food waste.
Vintage wine crates
Vintage wine crates might seem like a charming way to store bottles, but they often take up more space than necessary. If you’re not carefully using them for storage or decoration, they can clutter your room.
These crates usually hold six to twelve bottles, but their shape and bulkiness make them hard to fit into tight spaces. Consider whether you really need them before letting them occupy valuable room.
Unused decorative wooden cheese boards
You might have wooden cheese boards that look beautiful but rarely get used. They often end up taking up space on shelves or counters without serving their purpose.
These boards can be made from acacia wood or bamboo, blending style with function. However, if you’re not regularly hosting gatherings, they become more decoration than useful kitchen tools.
Consider whether keeping them adds value to your space or if donating or repurposing them might free up room you need.
Broken or duplicate kitchen utensils
You might have kitchen utensils that are broken, rusty, or simply not working well anymore. Holding on to these only takes up space and can slow you down when cooking.
Duplicate utensils are another common issue. You don’t need three spatulas or five whisks. Keep the ones you use most and free up room by donating or recycling the extras.
Old takeout containers
You probably have old takeout containers stacking up in your kitchen. While they seem handy, many aren’t designed for repeated use and can take up more space than needed.
If you keep them, try repurposing for storing dry goods like spices or grains. Just be mindful of the type of plastic, as some can leach chemicals over time.
Consider recycling containers labeled with a recycling number, or slowly let go of excess ones to free up your space.
Stacked laundry baskets in the tub
You might think stacking laundry baskets inside your bathtub saves space. However, it actually blocks an important area you could use for other purposes.
Your tub is meant for bathing or quick cleaning tasks, and filling it with baskets limits those options.
Instead, try using vertical or stackable baskets designed to take up less floor space. This way, your laundry stays organized without taking over valuable spots in your home.