Cleaning out your childhood home can feel overwhelming, especially when faced with piles of old belongings and memories. It’s a time to decide what holds real meaning and what you can let go of without regret.
Knowing what to salvage helps you keep important memories and items that truly matter. This guide will help you identify those pieces worth saving as you sort through years of your past.
Family heirlooms
When sorting through your childhood home, focus on family heirlooms that hold real meaning for you. These might be jewelry, old letters, or furniture passed down through generations.
Keep items you feel comfortable displaying or sharing with family. If some pieces don’t fit your style, consider updating or refinishing them to match your home.
Respect your own wishes and those of other family members when deciding what to keep or pass along.
Baby dresses
Baby dresses often hold special memories for you and your family. Keeping a few of these dresses can remind you of important milestones and sweet moments from early childhood.
You don’t need to save every outfit, just a select few that have sentimental value. Protect them by storing in a keepsake box or a breathable fabric bag to avoid damage.
Old family photo albums
You’ll find a lot of memories tucked inside old family photo albums. Keep the albums that tell your family’s story clearly and include important moments you want to remember.
It’s helpful to limit the number you save. Choose albums you or others can reasonably go through in an hour. You can let go of extra duplicates or blurry pictures.
Consider adding a simple family tree or notes to the albums. This can help future generations connect with those memories more easily.
Handwritten childhood letters
You might find letters written to you or by you during childhood. These letters capture moments and feelings that photos can’t always show.
Keeping them can help you revisit your past in a personal way. Reading your own handwriting brings back memories clearly and closely.
Even if you don’t keep every letter, holding on to a few special ones preserves a unique part of your story. These letters can be small treasures among your keepsakes.
Favorite childhood books
You might find a special connection to the books you loved as a child. These stories often hold memories that are comforting and familiar.
Keep a few of your favorite titles, especially those with worn pages or personal notes inside. They remind you of who you were and what you enjoyed.
Even if you don’t plan to read them again, these books can be treasures to pass on or simply keep as mementos.
Grandma’s recipes
When you come across your grandma’s handwritten recipes, hold on to them. They carry family memories and flavors you might want to recreate one day.
These recipes can include special treats or even traditional remedies like legiyam, a soothing syrup for coughs and digestion.
Keeping these recipes lets you preserve family traditions and share meaningful meals with your loved ones.
Yearbooks with notes
Yearbooks are more than just photos and signatures. If yours include personal notes from friends or teachers, those add sentimental value you might want to keep.
You can revisit memories and see how relationships changed over time by reading those messages. If you decide to keep them, store them carefully to preserve the handwriting and paper quality.
Trophies and awards
You might want to keep a few trophies or medals that hold special memories. These can remind you of your achievements and past experiences.
If you have many, consider repurposing some as fun family awards or gifts. You can also donate trophies to organizations or recycle them if they no longer feel meaningful.
Sorting through them can help you decide what to keep, what to gift, and what to let go, making your space feel clearer without losing important moments.
Vintage toys
When you find vintage toys while cleaning out your childhood home, they can bring back simple memories. Take time to clean them gently, especially if they’ve been stored in a basement or garage.
Look for toys that are still intact and not broken. These often have more nostalgic or even collectible value to you or family.
If toys have battery compartments, check for corrosion before deciding to keep or toss them. Sometimes a little care can make them last longer.
Old postcards
You might want to keep old postcards that have personal messages or memories tied to them. They remind you of places you’ve been or people you cared about.
Consider repurposing postcards by turning them into decorative elements, like for scrapbooks or junk journals. This way, they can continue to bring joy without taking up too much space.
If some postcards don’t hold meaning, it’s okay to let those go. Focus on the ones that truly matter to you.
School art projects
You might want to keep some of your school art projects to remember your creative moments. Choose a few pieces that really stand out to you or hold special memories.
If you have a lot, consider taking photos of the artwork and saving them digitally. This way, you keep the memories without the clutter.
You can also use some projects as unique gift wrap or cards for friends and family. It gives the artwork a new purpose and spreads the joy.
Grandpa’s watch
You’ll often find Grandpa’s watch tucked away in a drawer or box. It’s more than just a timepiece; it holds stories and moments from the past.
Keeping it lets you hold on to a tangible piece of family history. Even if it no longer works, the watch can remind you of Grandpa’s presence and the time you shared together.
Poems you wrote
You might find some of the poems you wrote as a kid tucked away in old notebooks or scraps of paper. These simple verses capture moments of your childhood like nothing else can.
Keeping them lets you hold on to your early thoughts and feelings, reminding you how you saw the world back then. They are small time capsules of your creativity.
Even the rough or unfinished poems have value—they show your growth and the beginnings of your voice. Don’t overlook these pieces when you clean out your childhood home.
Kids’ drawings
You can keep some of your children’s drawings by framing and hanging them. This turns clutter into meaningful decor.
Consider making a scrapbook to store artwork in one place. It keeps memories safe without taking up much room.
Sharing drawings with family members can also spread joy. Encourage your child to write a note to go with each piece for a personal touch.
Favorite childhood blanket
Your favorite childhood blanket holds more than just warmth. It carries memories and comfort from years past.
Even if it’s worn or torn, you might find it hard to let go. You can keep it as a keepsake or repurpose it into something meaningful.
Consider turning it into a small pillow, a stuffed animal, or even a cozy pet blanket. This way, your memories stay alive while giving the blanket new use.
Old comic books
When you find old comic books, take a moment to look through them carefully. They can hold sentimental value and might even be worth something.
Even if you don’t plan to sell them, keeping some can bring back memories and add character to your space.
If some covers or pages are damaged, try to handle them gently to preserve what’s left. You never know when a hidden gem might turn up in one of those boxes.
Baby shoes
Baby shoes are small but carry big memories. You can keep a pair that represents a special milestone or moment in your childhood.
They often serve as a sweet keepsake of your early years and growth. Storing them carefully can preserve their condition and meaning.
If you’re short on space, consider keeping just one pair or photographing the collection before letting some go. This way, you keep the memory without the clutter.
