You might not realize it, but holding onto certain items can make your space feel cluttered and disorganized, even if everything looks mostly in place. Understanding what things you’re keeping out of habit can help you create a cleaner, more organized environment.
It’s easy to accumulate stuff that seems useful or just hard to let go of. Taking a closer look at these items can help you clear out the unnecessary and simplify your daily life.
Old mail and unopened bills
You probably have a pile of old mail and unopened bills sitting somewhere. Keeping them around can make your space look messy and overwhelming.
Sort through these papers regularly. Toss anything you don’t need, like outdated ads or junk mail.
For important bills or documents, create a simple filing system. This keeps things organized and easy to find when you need them.
Expired coupons and vouchers
Holding onto expired coupons just clutters up your space. They don’t save you money once they’re past the date, so keeping them only creates unnecessary mess.
Try setting up a simple system to track expiration dates. Toss out coupons you won’t use soon to keep things tidy and easier to manage.
When you organize regularly, you avoid last-minute digging and save time at checkout. It helps you stay on top of what’s actually usable.
Used tissues and receipts
Keeping used tissues around makes your space look messy, even if you don’t mean it to. Toss them as soon as you’re done to keep things tidy and fresh.
Receipts pile up quickly and create clutter. Go through your bags or drawers and toss the ones you don’t need. Keeping only important receipts helps you stay organized.
Random cables and chargers with no devices
You probably have a drawer or box filled with cables that don’t match anything you own. Keeping them just in case can create clutter and make finding what you need harder.
If a charger or cable doesn’t fit any current device, it’s okay to toss it or recycle. Holding onto random cords only makes your space look messy and disorganized.
Empty or half-empty water bottles
You probably have a few water bottles lying around that are either empty or only half full. Keeping them takes up space and makes your area look cluttered.
Instead of holding onto them, toss out the empty ones or combine the small amounts into one bottle. It’s a simple way to clear up room and keep things looking tidier.
Clothes that don’t fit or haven’t been worn in a year
You probably have clothes sitting in your closet that don’t fit or that you haven’t touched in over a year. These items take up space and make your wardrobe look cluttered.
Holding onto them “just in case” often means your closet looks disorganized. Clearing out these pieces can help you see what you actually wear.
Letting go of clothes that don’t fit or aren’t your style anymore can make getting dressed easier and your space neater.
Broken or missing remote controls
If you’ve got broken or missing remote controls lying around, it makes your space feel cluttered and chaotic.
Keeping old or non-working remotes only adds to the mess. Toss or recycle any that don’t work.
For the ones you do use, pick a spot to always keep them. This way, you stop searching all over the place every time.
Stacks of magazines and newspapers
You might think holding onto magazines and newspapers shows you’re informed. But piles can quickly make your space look cluttered and messy.
If you’re not reading them soon, they’re just gathering dust. Consider recycling old issues instead of letting them build up.
Keeping only current or favorite editions helps keep your space neat. It also makes it easier to find what you actually want to read.
Old cosmetics and skincare products
You might be holding onto old makeup and skincare that you never use. These items can expire and lose their effectiveness over time.
Keeping expired products can also cause skin irritation or infections, so it’s better to toss them out.
Check your stash regularly and get rid of anything past its prime. This will make your collection look cleaner and easier to manage.
Random single socks without pairs
You probably have a stash of single socks lying around, saved because you think the other one will turn up. But keeping these unmatched socks adds clutter and makes your space feel messy.
Try sorting through them and decide which to keep for dusting or small chores. Toss the rest. This simple step can make your sock drawer feel more organized instantly.
Expired food in the fridge or pantry
You might be holding onto expired food without even realizing it. Old items take up space and make your kitchen look cluttered.
Checking the dates on your pantry and fridge items regularly helps you toss what’s past its prime.
Keeping expired food can also mess with your meal planning and waste money. Clear out what’s no longer good to make room for fresh stuff you’ll actually use.
Unused workout gear gathering dust
You probably have workout clothes or equipment you haven’t touched in months. Keeping those old clothes or gear just takes up space and adds to visual clutter.
Old workout clothes can hold sweat and bacteria, so they’re better off gone. If your dumbbells or treadmill are just collecting dust, consider donating or selling them to clear up room.
Duplicate kitchen utensils
You probably have more spoons, spatulas, or knives than you actually need. Holding onto duplicates clutters your drawers and makes it hard to find the right tool when you need it.
Keeping just one or two of each utensil simplifies your kitchen setup. It also helps you stay organized and makes cleaning up quicker. Think about donating extras or storing rarely used ones elsewhere.
Unsorted kids’ toys everywhere
Having toys scattered all over the place can make your whole space feel chaotic. When toys aren’t put away, it’s easy to lose track of what you have or get overwhelmed by the mess.
Using same-size storage bins or totes can help. Swap out toys monthly to keep things fresh and reduce clutter.
Sorting toys into categories and keeping only what’s needed makes cleanup faster. Keeping a system in place helps your space look tidier without much effort.
Unnecessary plastic containers
You probably have plastic containers without lids tucked away. Without lids, these containers lose their main purpose and just end up taking space.
Keeping containers that don’t stack or fit properly adds to the clutter. Toss or recycle those you don’t use, especially if they are damaged or mismatched.
Organizing containers by size and purpose can clear up a lot of space. Only keep what you actually use regularly to avoid a messy collection.
