10 Things You Can Get Rid of Right Now

If your home feels like it’s slowly being swallowed by “useful stuff,” you’re not imagining it. Clutter is sneaky: it
shows up as good intentions (“I’ll fix that”), future versions of you (“I’ll wear that again”), and
tiny decisions you didn’t want to make today (“Where do I even put this?”).

The fastest way to feel instantly lighter isn’t buying bins, labels, or a “life-changing” storage ottoman. It’s removing
the low-hanging clutter that steals time, space, and sanity. This article is built for momentum: ten categories you can
purge right nowwithout needing a full weekend, a moving truck, or emotional speeches to your sock drawer.

A 5-Minute Decluttering Mindset That Keeps You Moving

Before we jump into the ten things, borrow a couple of decision shortcuts that professional organizers love because they
reduce “thinking fatigue”:

• The 90/90 idea: If you haven’t used it in the last 90 days and won’t use it in the next 90, it’s a
  strong candidate to go.
• The 20/20 idea: If you can replace it in 20 minutes for around $20 (or less), keeping it “just in case”
  is usually clutter wearing a disguise.
• The “second sweep”: Do a quick round for obvious stuff, then come back later for a second passafter the
  first win makes you braver.

You don’t need to be ruthless. You just need to be honest. Your home is not a museum for expired sunscreen and mystery
cords.

1) Expired Food and “Mystery” Condiments

This is the easiest win because it’s not personalyour expired salsa is not offended. Check the fridge door first (the
condiment retirement community) and then the back corners where leftovers go to become folklore.

What to toss immediately

• Leftovers that have been sitting long enough to earn a first and last name
• Half-used sauces you “might” use again (but haven’t since the last presidential administration)
• Expired dairy, produce that’s gone squishy, and anything with obvious mold

What to do instead

Make a “use-this-first” shelf for items that are still good but need attention. It’s basically a VIP section for food
you actually want to eat before it becomes science.

2) Papers You Don’t Need (And Receipts That Don’t Love You Back)

Paper clutter is loud without making a sound. It turns surfaces into stress. The fix: stop treating every piece of paper
like it’s a historic document.

What to shred or recycle

• Old utility bills you can access online
• Expired coupons and random manuals (most are searchable online now)
• Receipts for items you can’t return and won’t deduct

Keep the important stuffjust don’t hoard it

Some documents do need retention (especially tax-related records). If you’re keeping sensitive documents, store them
intentionallythen shred what you don’t need so personal information isn’t sitting around in paper form.

Pro move: create one “action folder” for things that require a response. Everything else gets filed, scanned, shredded,
or recycled. No more paper piles pretending they’re a system.

3) Expired Medications and Old First-Aid Items

Your medicine cabinet shouldn’t look like a time capsule from three colds ago. Expired medication can lose effectiveness,
and old products clutter the space you need for what you actually use.

What to remove

• Expired prescriptions and over-the-counter meds
• Half-used ointments you don’t recognize
• Old sunscreens, creams, and anything that smells “off” or has changed texture

Dispose safely (don’t guess)

In the U.S., the preferred option is usually a drug take-back program or mail-back options when available. If you don’t
have access to those, follow official guidance for at-home disposalespecially for medications that can be dangerous if
accidentally ingested by kids or pets.

Quick safety note: Don’t flush medication unless it’s specifically on an official flush list and take-back options aren’t
available. When in doubt, take-back beats improvising.

4) “Less-Than-Functional” Kitchenware

If you have a drawer that jams because it’s stuffed with utensils you hate, you’re not organizedyou’re just storing
frustration.

What to ditch

• Warped plastic containers with missing lids
• Peelers that barely peel, spatulas that melt, and can openers that require a pep talk
• Gadgets that only do one weird thing (unless you truly use that one weird thing)

What to keep

Keep the versions you actually reach for. One excellent chef’s knife beats three “fine” ones that make chopping feel like
a chore.

5) Extra Mugs and Water Bottles You Don’t Even Like

Many of us have a cabinet full of “perfectly good” mugs that we never choose. They’re not helping; they’re crowding the
mugs you love and making your mornings more chaotic.

Try this quick test

Pull out every mug and bottle. Pick your favoritesones you’d be happy to use daily. Keep a realistic number for your
household. Donate the rest (as long as they’re in good shape).

If you’ve ever spent 90 seconds looking for a lid that fits, congratulations: you’ve been personally victimized by
bottle clutter.

6) Mystery Cables, Dead Chargers, and Random Tech

Cables multiply the way socks disappear. And unlike socks, a “maybe this fits something” cord is not a meaningful
relationship.

What to do right now

1. Gather all cords and chargers into one pile.
2. Match each to a device you currently own and use.
3. Recycle or responsibly dispose of the rest (don’t toss e-waste in regular trash if local guidance says otherwise).

Keep it from happening again

Label the cords you keep (a small tag or tape works). Store them in one small box. “Cable spaghetti” is not a storage
strategy.

7) Junk Mail, Catalogs, and Pre-Screened Offers

Junk mail is clutter that arrives with confidence. The fastest declutter here is two-part: remove the piles you already
have, and reduce what shows up tomorrow.

What to toss today

• Old catalogs you never ordered from
• Credit card offers you didn’t request
• Flyers and coupons that expired last year (or last season… or last decade)

How to reduce future junk

In the U.S., there are official opt-out options for prescreened credit and insurance offers, and mail preference
services that can reduce promotional mail. You can also refuse unwanted mail in certain situations and contact senders
directly to remove your address.

Bonus: fewer paper piles means fewer chances your personal information gets scooped up from the trash.

8) Clothes You Don’t Wear (And “Aspirational” Outfits)

Closet clutter is emotional clutter. It’s also practical clutter: too many choices make getting dressed harder, not
easier.

The honest closet checklist

• It doesn’t fit comfortably right now (and it hasn’t for a long time).
• You don’t feel good wearing it.
• It’s damaged beyond easy repair (stains, holes, stretched-out elastic).
• You keep it only because it was expensive.

Specific example

If you own five black T-shirts but always wear the same two because they’re softer and fit better, the other three aren’t
“backup.” They’re clutter with a graphic design.

Tip: keep a donation bag in your closet. When something stops working for you, it goes straight inno drama, no second
guessing, no pile on the chair.

9) Bathroom Extras: Old Toiletries, Makeup, and Samples

A bathroom packed with half-used products creates decision fatigue: too many options for a five-minute routine. Also,
products expire, and old makeup/skincare can irritate skin.

What to remove

• Products you tried once and didn’t like
• Duplicates of things you already have open
• Old makeup, crusty brushes, dried-up hair products
• Hotel minis you’re “saving” like they’re rare collectibles

Keep it realistic

You only need what you can actually use before it expires. The rest is clutter disguised as self-care.

10) The “I’ll Fix It Someday” Pile (Broken Stuff and Orphans)

This category is responsible for a shocking percentage of household clutter. Broken items don’t just take up space;
they take up mental bandwidth. Every time you see them, your brain whispers, “You should deal with that.”

What qualifies

• Items you’ve meant to repair for months (or years)
• Things missing essential parts (the “orphan” pieces with no matching item)
• Stuff that costs more to fix than replace

A kinder way to decide

Give yourself a short deadline: if you can fix it in the next 7–14 days, schedule it. If not, recycle, donate if
appropriate, or dispose responsibly. Keeping broken things is not being “practical.” It’s just storing guilt.

Don’t Turn Donations Into Someone Else’s Problem

Donating is fantasticwhen the items are clean, functional, and safe. Many thrift organizations can’t accept certain
categories (like hazardous materials, some baby gear, or broken appliances). When something isn’t donation-worthy,
choose recycling or proper disposal instead of passing the burden down the line.

Quick “Right Now” Declutter Plan (15 Minutes)

1. 5 minutes: Trash and recycling sweep (junk mail, empty boxes, obvious garbage).
2. 5 minutes: Fridge door + one shelf (expired condiments and leftovers).
3. 5 minutes: One drawer (cables, utensils, or bathroom extraspick the most annoying one).

That’s it. You don’t need a perfect plan. You need a win you can feel immediately.

of Real-Life Decluttering Experiences (The Kind That Make You a Believer)

The first time most people try a “get rid of things right now” list, they expect it to be about stuff. It’s not. It’s
about energy. A friend once told me she didn’t mind the clutteruntil she realized she was doing tiny emotional labor
every time she walked past it. A pile of unread mail wasn’t just paper; it was a daily reminder that something was
unfinished. A basket of unmatched socks wasn’t just laundry; it was a recurring argument with reality. When she cleared
those two areas, she described it like turning down background noise she didn’t know was playing.

Another common experience: people start with the “unemotional” zonesexpired food, empty containers, broken pensbecause
it feels safe. That’s exactly why it works. Quick wins build trust in the process. Once you’ve tossed a science-project
yogurt and recycled a stack of catalogs, your brain gets evidence that decluttering is not a tragedy. It’s relief.

I’ve also seen the “cord pile effect” change people’s minds fast. Someone will swear they need every cable they own, then
they dump them onto the floor and realize half of them don’t match a single device in the house. The moment they label
the keepers and recycle the rest, they stop wasting time hunting for the right charger. It’s a small fix that pays rent
foreverlike the opposite of clutter.

The closet is where emotions show up. People often discover they’ve been keeping outfits for a version of themselves that
doesn’t exist anymore: the job they left, the size they were years ago, the style they tried once, the event they never
attended. Letting go of those pieces can feel weirdly grown-uplike admitting, “This isn’t me.” But what comes next is
usually better: getting dressed becomes easier, and mornings become calmer. It’s not about having less; it’s about having
fewer decisions that don’t help you.

One of my favorite patterns is the “second sweep.” People declutter once and feel proud, then a day later they notice
another layer of stuff they’re suddenly ready to release. It’s like your home and your brain sync up: once a space looks
clearer, you can actually see what doesn’t belong. That’s why “right now” decluttering is so powerfulit starts a loop.
Less clutter makes better decisions, and better decisions create less clutter.

The best part? You don’t have to become a minimalist, a super-organized person, or someone who owns exactly three forks.
You just need to stop storing things that actively make your life harder. Decluttering isn’t a personality. It’s a
practice. And the first practice session can be fifteen minutes long.

Conclusion

If you only remember one thing: you’re not getting rid of “stuff.” You’re getting rid of frictionthose tiny daily
hassles that pile up and make your home feel heavier than it needs to be. Start with the easiest category on this list
today. Then do a second sweep tomorrow. Your space will feel better, and future-you will quietly high-five you while
finding the right lid on the first try.