31 Things to Throw Away Today and Declutter for Good
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If you are looking to tidy up your home and keep it that way, throwing out things that you will never use is a must. In my opinion, you should never waste valuable space on items you don’t truly need.
Below is a list of 31 things that you should throw away today and declutter for good. Getting rid of these items will set you on the road to a neat, tidy, and uncluttered home!

1. Old Cords
Source: @chisvingroup
Do you have a ton of cords at your place? I can relate and find cord clutter to be the absolute worst!
Going through your cord collection and getting rid of old ones will help you keep your collection under control. If you are really looking to up your cord storage game, consider getting a good organizer like this.
2. Shoes That are Worn-Out or Don’t Fit
Source: @rotten.shoes
I am a shoe enthusiast! If you are the same way, regularly getting rid of worn-out or ill-fitting shoes will help you save space.
I personally go through my shoes once every few months. Making decluttering your shoes a regular part of your organizing routine will help you keep a tidy closet and will give you more room for new shoes!
3. Old Nail Polish
Source: @callejafairey
Nail art is one of my favorite creative outlets, which of course means that I have tons of different bottles of colorful polish! If you also have a large nail polish collection, throwing out old nail polish is an excellent (and super-fast) decluttering task.
Opened nail polish generally has a shelf life of 18-24 months, while unopened bottles can be kept for about 3 years. If you need a good organizer for the polish that you are keeping, I love this one, which can fit 48 bottles!
4. Broken or Mismatched Food Containers
Source: @tidyspace.tidymind
Food containers can quickly get messy and disorganized. If your Tupperware drawer or cabinet is looking chaotic, toss out broken or mismatched containers and lids ASAP.
This is a great way to add some instant organization to your kitchen!
5. Condiment Packets
Source: @lacitysan
Do you have condiment packets from old take-out orders that you never use? Throw these out immediately to save yourself valuable space!
6. Pens with No Ink
Source: @mountainofink
Don’t you find it be seriously annoying when you try to use a pen only to find that it has run out of ink? Cut down on this frustration by taking a half hour to test out and throw away any pens that no longer work.
And if you need a good organizer to help you keep your pens easily accessible, I love this one!
7. Old Linens
Source: @apersonal_organizer
In my opinion, linens should always feel relaxing and a bit luxurious. Old, worn linens do just the opposite.
Throwing out old linens is a great way to save space in your linen closet while giving yourself the pampered experience you deserve!
8. Product Manuals
Source: @msyinglingreads
I used to save all product manuals in a folder, but then I never ended up looking at them! Most product manuals nowadays can be found online, so there is no reason to waste space on them.
Throwing away manuals for products you no longer have or use is a no-brainer. For anything that you really want to keep on hand, you can create a digital copy with a scanner.
If you need a good scanner, I love this one!
9. Burnt Out Candles
Source: @madame_janet64
I love fragrant candles. They are one of those little luxuries that just bring me so much joy!
One thing that frustrates me about candles is how large they are. They truly take up so much space.
If you have a large candle collection, throwing away burnt-out candles is an easy way to free up much-needed storage space.
10. Mismatched Socks
Source: @bukkalevy
Do you find it difficult to keep pairs of socks together? I do too, especially when it comes to kid’s little socks!
If you have misplaced one sock out of a pair, do yourself a favor and throw the other one out. And if you need a good way to keep your socks organized and your pairs together, I love Honeycomb organizers like this!
I promise that it will make a world of a difference when it comes to maintaining an organized, clutter-free sock drawer.
11. Underwear with Holes
Source: @spark_joy_london
You deserve to have nice things that are in good condition, and this includes your undergarments. Take a few minutes to throw out any old underwear with holes!
12. Takeaway Cutlery and Containers
Source: @sustainable_chill
Is your kitchen overcluttered with plasticware and containers from old takeout orders? Recycle these ASAP to save space in your drawers and cabinets.
As a bonus, it is better for your health to stay away from plastic utensils and storage containers!
13. Old Lip Products
Source: @armadiodisabry
Do you like to take excellent care of your lips? I am the same way and have lots of lip masks, moisturizers, and of course, lipsticks and glosses.
Lip products can lose functionality and change consistency as they get old. Throw out old lip products now because you shouldn’t be using them anyway!
14. CD’s and DVD’s
Source: @geekinoutwithethan
Do you still have CD’s and DVD’s that you never use? Get rid of these to save space.
You can toss them in the recycling or donate them. If you have a few that you want to keep, you can organize them in a storage container like this.
15. Worn-Out Pillows
Source: @charlesridley1986
Worn-out pillows aren’t comfortable. They also take up tons of room so throwing them out will be a space-saver for sure!
16. Old or Unused Hobby Items
Source: @declutterwithsarah
I love to try new hobbies, but of course, don’t stick with all of them. If you are the same way, you might have closets, drawers, and cabinets filled with old hobby items that you are never going to use.
Donate these to someone who will put them to good use!
17. Excess Hangers
Source: @houseofcolour_crystalblin
I love to keep a clean, tidy, and minimalist closet. If you are the same way, you might have too many hangers in your closet
Free up space by throwing unneeded hangers away!
18. Business Cards
Source: @the_magpies_stash
Business cards are another thing that you can get rid of immediately. I used to go to a lot of networking events and collected so many of these.
You can save the contact information in your phone and say goodbye to those cards once and for all.
19. Fridge Magnets
Source: @ankitab1993
I have a few favorite magnets that will always have a place on my fridge. If you have too many magnets, choose your favorites and toss the rest out!
20. Old Cleaning Supplies
Source: @abbsolutelyorganized
Did you know that cleaning supplies expire? They usually last about 1-2 years and can become less effective if you use them past their expiration dates.
Cleaning products also come to tend in large and bulky bottles, so getting rid of old ones will save you a lot of space!
21. Broken or Tarnished Jewelry
Source: @littlebit_ofeverythin
I used to have a box full of broken, tarnished jewelry in my closet. The hope was that I would eventually get around to restoring them, but of course, I never did.
Throwing them out freed up space in my home and my mind!
22. Broken Hair Ties
Source: @scunci_anz
I love to wear my hair in a ponytail and have tons of hair ties. The broken ones are useless and if you have any of these lying around, you should throw them out ASAP.
23. Out of Date Décor
Source: @cwhome_charlotte
If you have outdated décor or furniture that you no longer love, this is your sign to get rid of it. You don’t need to keep things that are never coming back into style!
24. Old or Worn-Out Swimsuits
Source: @bare.bikinis
I used to have a drawer full of swimsuits but only wore my two favorites. You deserve to look and feel your best at the pool or beach, so throw out your old, worn-out swimwear, and keep only what you truly love!
25. Travel Soaps and Shampoos
Source: @vacation_home_amenities
Do you have an under-sink area filled with travel soaps and shampoos that you are never going to use? Throwing these away is a super easy and quick decluttering task that will help you maintain a neat and tidy space!
26. Cookbooks
Source: @booklarder
I love to cook but always find my recipes online. If you are the same way and have a dusty collection of old cookbooks, get rid of them!
Donating these is a great way to declutter these!
27. Dead Houseplants
Source: @that_one_plant_guy
Houseplants should be all about adding light and life to your space. If you have ones that are past their prime, throw them out today!
28. Old or Expired Pet Products
Source: @eatsleepclean
As a pet lover, I love to make sure that my furry friends always have fun treats, but it is important to keep an eye on those expiration dates. Consuming old or expired products can be dangerous for animals, so throw out anything questionable as soon as you can.
29. Expired Coupons
Source: @faithly.nl
Do you ever hold onto coupons that you never end up using? Go through your coupon folder or drawer today and throw out the ones that have expired.
This will free up space and make it easier to find the ones that you want to use!
30. Old or Broken Sports Equipment
Source: @strongtie
Old or broken bikes, bats, golf clubs, and more can be thrown out ASAP. Taking a half hour to do this freed up so much space in my garage!
31. Old Gardening Supplies
Source: @dollartree
I have my favorite gardening supplies, and I’m sure you do too. If you have old shears, rakes, gloves, and more, get rid of them to free up space in your garage or shed.