250+ Things to Throw Away

I’m on a decluttering binge this year. I’ve had ENOUGH of too much stuff. You know when you just get to that point? Where every time you try to shove more stuff into a cupboard where it doesn’t fit, or trip over those extra storage tubs in the Walk-In-Robe that you haven’t got around to putting away, or waste time looking for something because it’s lost in all the clutter, a little something inside you gets more and more impatient and frustrated until finally you’ve just had ENOUGH? Yep. That’s me too.

It always amazes me how much STUFF we manage to accumulate. We’ve moved house seven times in our 15-year marriage, and each time we have a massive cull and, usually, hold a garage sale as well. For our last move, we filled an entire double garage wall-to-wall with stuff to sell. It was an epic garage sale, and I got rid of HEAPS of stuff. We also sold lots of furniture, and made thousands of dollars all told. Anything left over went to charity.

And yet even still, we ended up with a storage unit full of boxes and furniture that won’t fit into our temporary, smaller house… and a messy garage that we can’t seem to tame… and I am struggling on a daily basis with too much stuff in my cupboards and drawers.

I know I’m not alone in hating clutter, but feeling unable to tame it. So I thought I’d get really practical today. I tend to be fairly ruthless when I do a cull, because I love the feeling of relief and space and simplicity that comes from paring back possessions. It gives me a real rush. The more garbage bags I manage to fill, the lighter and more accomplished I feel at the end. But I know not everyone feels this way. For some, getting rid of stuff is a real challenge. You know you have too much and you WANT to pare back, but you don’t know how to start or what to toss.

You know you have too much & you WANT to pare back, but you don't know how to start or what to toss. This is your list!Click To Tweet

That’s what this post is all about. I sat down and listed out all of the things I toss when I go through my home. Use this as a guide, and you’ll find yourself burning through the cupboards and drawers as you metamorphose from packrat into decluttering goddess.

Now, when I say “throw away”, I’m admittedly being a bit dramatic. I’m not advocating sending perfectly re-usable items into the world’s landfills. Items can be sold, donated, recycled or tossed. I have different bags for different categories as I sort. But once something is bagged, it does not come back inside your home.

Tackle one zone at a time, instead of little bits here and there, and the sense of accomplishment you’ll feel will skyrocket your motivation.

Let’s get started!

Pssst – want the printable version? You can download the full set of checklists as a PDF file using the box at the top of this post!

1. Excess caps
2. Novelty hats
3. Old belts
4. Handbags you haven’t used in the past year, or bags that are cracked / damaged
5. Broken luggage
6. Duffel bags and backpacks that don’t get used
7. Excess pyjamas (keep a maximum of 3 pairs for summer and 3 for winter)
8. Uncomfortable or ill-fitting bras, and lingerie you never wear
9. Stained or holey clothing (if you haven’t mended it yet, you’re never going to)
10. T-shirts that have lost their shape
11. Clothes that don’t fit. Keep one inspiration outfit and toss the rest.
12. Clothes you don’t wear regularly: if you constantly pass it over when selecting your outfit, you don’t love it enough to keep it.
13. Clothes you wouldn’t buy if you were shopping today: things that are out of fashion, things that don’t flatter your body shape, things you never really loved or have grown tired of
14. T-shirts with faded, worn or cracking print
15. Old bridesmaid dresses (will you wear it again?)
16. Scarves you never wear
17. Shoes you don’t wear regularly or that are marked or broken
18. Uncomfortable shoes that you avoid because they give you blisters
19. Too-high heels
20. Uncomfortable jeans
21. Scratchy jumpers (sweaters)
22. Clothes made of cheap synthetic fabric that make you sweat
23. Clothes that cut into your underarms
24. Dresses with hemlines that are too short and make you feel self-conscious
25. Clothes you don’t wear because they’re dry clean only or require special care
26. Excess gym clothes: keep one week’s worth
27. Socks without a pair
28. Swimming togs that didn’t get worn last season
29. Novelty items such as Christmas T-shirts
30. Highschool jerseys (it’s time to move on)
31. Dozens of ties if you don’t actually need to wear a tie to work
32. Single earrings, earrings missing their backs, cheap earrings that make your ears sore
33. Jewellery you haven’t worn in the last year, jewellery that was given to you that you don’t like, anything that needs repair, costume jewellery that is looking worn or tarnished, anything that looks cheap or tacky
34. Stockings with runs
35. Your wedding dress. It’s bulky to store, you’ll never wear it again and you have beautiful photos to remember your special day.
36. Hangers from the dry-cleaners
37. Flimsy wire or plastic hangers – get a set of sturdy wooden ones and toss the rest!
38. Broken watches
39. Old prescription eye-glasses
40. Out-of-fashion sunglasses

Did that feel good? Awesome! Now you have a simplified wardrobe of clothes you actually love, that fit you beautifully and flatter your body shape. You’re on a roll. Let’s keep going.

1. Sample bottles from hotels
2. Expired makeup: anything cracked and crumbling
3. Makeup you haven’t used in the past 6 months
4. Mascara older than 6 months (due to risk of eye infections)
5. Dried out bottles of nail polish
6. Perfume you don’t wear
7. Hair curling irons you never use
8. Hairdryer attachments you don’t use
9. Old toiletry bags
10. Gifts-with-purchase – those miniature sized beauty products that you never use and just add clutter
11. Duplicate grooming products (eg nail scissors, nail files, brushes and combs)
12. Used-up bottles of lotion
13. Novelty “gift” products such as face masks or foot scrubs that you haven’t used in the past year
14. Multiple bath products such as bath salts, bubble bath and bath bombs. How often do you have a bath, anyway? Keep your favourite couple of items and replace them if / as needed.
15. Crumbled bath bombs
16. Hair product you haven’t used in the past 6 months
17. Dusty candles
18. Duplicates of everyday supplies. Keep one each of what you use daily, and replace it when it’s finished.
19. Extra dental floss dispensers
20. Excess scented body lotions. Keep one.
21. Stretched-out hair elastics
22. Shower caps with loose elastic
23. Old contact-lens cases
24. Old toothbrushes
25. Cakes of soap if you don’t actually use them (we use body wash instead)
26. Kids bath toys that are mildewed
27. Squeezy bath toys with holes (they get mouldy inside and can’t be cleaned). In future either don’t buy these at all, or use a hot glue gun to fill the hole as soon as you purchase the toy.
28. Broken scales
29. Mouldy sponges or loofahs

1. Duplicate utensils
2. Novelty appliances you haven’t used in the past six months (eg slushy maker, crepe maker)
3. Broken appliances
4. Unused jars
5. Multiple serving platters
6. Plastic containers / Tupperware that are missing their lids
7. Cracked containers
8. Excess baking dishes (cull it down to the essentials – how many can you fit in your oven at once?)
9. That mortar and pestle you never use
10. Old recipe books
11. The cheap pans that burn your food
12. Wonky tongs that don’t meet in the middle
13. Anything rusted
14. Excess egg rings (keep three and move them as your eggs cook – less washing up that way)
15. Chipped plates / crockery
16. Novelty mugs (get rid of those excess mugs!! How many cups of coffee is it possible to drink per day, anyway?!)
17. Extra salt and pepper shakers
18. Specialty shaped birthday cake tins that you’ve used once but will never use again (consider hiring next time)
19. Excess salad bowls
20. Expired herbs and spices
21. Lunch boxes with broken zippers
22. Excess stubby coolers
23. Divided plates and containers that don’t stack and are difficult to store
24. Expired coupons
25. Takeaway menus you never use
26. Chopsticks if you don’t actually use them
27. Travel mugs that leak
28. Bottles of liqueur that have been in the back of your pantry forever
29. Wine decanters if you never use them
30. Multiple cooler bags – keep two sizes and toss the rest
31. Twist ties – how many do you really need?
32. Rubber bands – as above!
33. Freezer bags if you always use find yourself using containers instead
34. Christmas themed serving-ware: instead of storing something that will only be used one day a year, use a nice platter year round
35. Plastic shopping bags – limit to one bag full and cull the rest
36. All those extra attachments for your food processor / juicer / mixer etc that you never use and that just add clutter to your cupboards.

1. Excess sheets. You don’t need more than 2-3 sets per bed.
2. Old towels
3. Unused table linen
4. Anything stained or holey
5. Kids hooded towels or baby towels that they’ve grown out of
6. Baby quilts
7. Crocheted doilies or anything that is not your style
8. Extra pillows. Get rid of any that are lumpy, thin, stained or uncomfortable. If you wouldn’t give it to a guest or use it yourself, why are you keeping it?
9. Old quilt covers that you’ve hung onto since upgrading to a new one
10. Too many extra blankets. If it’s freezing, you’ll use the heating anyway.

1. Toys they no longer play with
2. Cheap rubbishy toys from Happy Meals and party bags
3. Battery-operated toys where the battery compartment has corroded
4. Toys missing parts (eg the remote control car with no remote)
5. Multiples such as tea sets – keep one favourite
6. Toys that are too bulky to store, and don’t get used enough to justify the space they take up
7. Stuffed animals – keep one or two favourites and toss the rest
8. Toys they’ve outgrown (eg baby and toddler toys)
9. Technology they’ve outgrown or no longer use (eg Leap Tags, kiddy tablets)
10. Games with missing pieces
11. Clothes they’ve grown out of
12. Excess clothes. If you’ve been given lots of hand-me-downs, cull the ones you don’t need – you don’t have to keep everything you’re given. What do they actually wear?
13. Clothes that are faded, stained or holey
14. Outgrown shoes
15. Colouring and activity books they’ve completed
16. Broken chalks, crayon nubs and dried-out felt pens
17. Bulky 3D constructions from cartons and cardboard tubes – display for a few days, then take a photo
18. Dress-up costumes that no longer fit or don’t get used
19. Old sets of trading cards that have lost their appeal
20. Discarded collections of rocks, shells etc
21. Puzzles with missing pieces
22. Baby powders, oils and creams you were given as gifts that you won’t use
23. Pram accessories you never use such as foot warmers or rain covers
24. Duplicate baby supplies
25. Bulky and unnecessary baby goods such as the baby bath – use a bath rest inside the big bath instead
26. Baby bassinet once baby has moved into a cot (crib)
27. Cot (crib) bumpers – they’re against SIDS safety recommendations
28. Nappies (diapers) in the size they’ve grown out of
29. Baby items you no longer need once the baby stage is over

1. Cords that don’t fit any known electronics in your house
2. Duplicate cords
3. Chargers for items you no longer use
4. Old phones and tablets (sell or recycle them)
5. Out-of-date calendars
6. Old diaries / day planners
7. Scrapbooking supplies you no longer use
8. Old receipts
9. Old bills (take your banking online to stop unnecessary paper coming into your home in the first place)
10. Duplicate office supplies such as hole-punches, staplers and rulers – keep one of each
11. Outdated business cards
12. Pens that are out of ink
13. Stubby pencils
14. Sticky note pads (keep one or two)
15. Old paperwork you no longer need to keep on file
16. Old notebooks
17. Excess paperclips / thumb tacks
18. Anything that doesn’t work (the broken-down scanner, photocopier etc that’s gathering dust in the corner)
19. Old photo albums. Can you amalgamate them? – streamline those bulky albums by scanning favourite photos into photo books?
20. Empty albums
21. Film canisters
22. Packets of old negatives
23. Old school work from when you were a kid
24. Essays you wrote in university
25. Old textbooks
26. Resources from a job you no longer work (eg teaching resources, company manuals)
27. Old name badges
28. Bags and lanyards from past conferences
29. Conference packs and notes that you’ll never refer to again
30. Books you’ve never read
31. Books you read and didn’t love
32. Old magazines (clip any favourite images, and toss the rest)
33. Old newspapers
34. Travel brochures
35. Unused puzzle books
36. Promotional goody bags from expos, trade fairs etc
37. Letter openers (have you ever actually used one?)
38. Stamps or mailing stickers personalised with your old address
39. Kids artworks and school memorabilia. Cull the excess and display the favourites in a memory box system like this.
40. Gift books of the sentimental or “coffee table” variety that serve no purpose once read
41. Old birthday and Christmas cards. Keep a handful with meaningful messages in a memory file, and toss the rest.
42. Half-finished craft projects
43. Redundant technology such as floppy discs, cassettes and video tapes
44. Redundant electronics such as VHS players and cassette players
45. Old electronics you’ve kept since upgrading (includes TVs, laptops, stereos, computer monitors)
46. Outdated computer software
47. DVDs you’ll never watch again
48. X-Box or Playstation games your kids don’t play or have outgrown
49. Phone books (the majority of people search online for local businesses now)
50. Remotes that don’t match with anything
51. That CD collection that has been replaced by your iPod
52. Extension leads – keep only what you need and use
53. Electronic gadgets you don’t use or that don’t work
54. Instruction manuals for appliances you no longer own
55. Trophies from when you were a kid – photograph them and move on
56. Old sheet music
57. Board games you don’t play
58. Multiple decks of cards
59. Mailing tubes and boxes you’ve been hanging onto for years “just in case”
60. Incoming invitations and school paperwork: write down the information in your planner (or scan and store in Evernote) and toss the paperwork

1. Cleaning products you don’t use
2. Out-of-date medicines and vitamins
3. Expired sunscreen
4. Junk mail
5. Home decor items that don’t match your new home
6. Leftover themed party supplies from that birthday party you threw two years ago
7. Empty boxes: shoeboxes, product packaging boxes, nappy (diaper) boxes
8. Unused picture frames
9. Excess coasters
10. Knick-knacks you don’t love that are just collecting dust
11. Cheesy travel souvenirs
12. Potpourri – just don’t even
13. Unused oil burners or tea-light candle holders
14. Gift bags that are creased or worn
15. Spare change – use it up for lunch money or take it to the bank
16. Keys of unknown origin
17. Keyrings that are not being used
18. Excess vases
19. Old posters
20. Fridge magnets – you don’t need a whole collection
21. Old baskets that you’re keeping “just in case”
22. Packing boxes, bubble wrap, paper and packing tape left over from your last move
23. That teddy bear signed by the kids in your graduating class – photograph it and move on
24. Shoe polish kits – keep one
25. Leftover curtain rings and hooks after you’ve finished hanging your curtains
26. Ugly decor items you’ve never liked
27. Unwanted gifts
28. That unused instrument you haven’t played since high school and likely never will again
29. Therapeutic devices (crutches, slings etc) that are no longer needed
30. Old X-rays

1. Old paint (to dispose of it properly, paint it onto sheets of newspaper and then throw out)
2. Empty or near-empty spray cans
3. Rusty tools
4. Power tools that don’t work
5. Unused flower pots that are just collecting cobwebs
6. Gardening gloves without a pair
7. Bikes you don’t use or that the kids have outgrown
8. Duplicate or broken sporting gear
9. Blow up swimming pools that leak
10. Outdoor toys (such as the water play table) the kids have outgrown
11. Unused bulky recreation gear such as kayaks, surfboards, boogie boards, ping pong table. Be honest with yourself and keep what you actually use – sell or give away the rest.
12. Leftover building products such as tiles
13. Leftover hardware supplies from a finished project
14. Dried out super glue / construction adhesive
15. Hardware gizmos you can’t identify
16. Broken drill bits
17. Swimming flotation devices that are unsafe or the kids have outgrown
18. Air beds that leak
19. Old camping gear that you don’t need since you’ve upgraded (or never use)
20. Fairy lights that don’t work

Phew – how did that feel?! I’ll be posting updates of my decluttering progress over the weeks ahead. I can’t wait to share what I’ve been up to!

Let’s chat: What else would you add to this list? What do you find the hardest to let go of?