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Hey There, Home

Learn to Decorate. Love Your Home.

75+ Things You Can Quickly Get Rid Of Today (Printable Checklist)

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free decluttering checklist 75 things you can get rid of today

Inside: How to keep clutter from coming back! Use the free printable checklist to quickly purge and declutter your home.

A few years ago I was absolutely fed up with the clutter that we’d accumulated and worked really hard to change the way I think about what I own. That mental shift started me on a path to less clutter and more mental clarity.  But the reality is that decluttering your home is an ongoing process that needs to be visited regularly.

And even though I have a solid method to declutter any space big or small, every quarter or so I do a quick sweep of our house and quickly gather up all those things that seem to trickle into our home over time and get rid of them.

And I’ve been taking notes and created a checklist of over 75 things you can get rid of today, that I’ll share with you today. Plus, you can grab your printable copy of this checklist here.

free declutter checklist 75 things you can get rid of today

I tried my best to separate the list out by room so you can sweep each room in about 15 minutes or less, but of course some items could be anywhere so anytime your working through the list of a specific area, check the general section too to make sure you don’t miss anything in that room!

free declutter checklist 75 things to get rid of today

Things you can get rid of in your kitchen:

  1. Duplicate pans/ serving dishes: Do you really need four glass cake pans? I’m pretty sure two will be all you need at one time, and the one time in the next 5 years you need more than that, you can borrow one from your neighbor. Keep the ones in the best condition and only the amount you’d need at one time.
  2. Unused or duplicate utensils: Same goes for utensils. You’ll never need 7 spatulas at one time and you probably don’t need 8 pie servers.
  3. Condiment packets: Unless you use these in the kid’s lunches regularly, get rid of them. And the next time you get takeout tell them exactly how many packets of sauce or ketchup you need so you don’t end up with a ton of extra and have to waste them.
  4. Plastic silverware: I’m talking about the random ones that ended up in your drawer when you ordered takeout. Toss ’em and again, next time you order take out and won’t need the utensils, don’t take them or tell them you don’t need them. Mother earth will thank you.
  5. Take out menus: You can find most of this info online these days so there’s really no need to keep take out menus laying around.
  6. Excess coffee mugs: You don’t have to keep every free mug you’ve ever gotten and I know you have your favorites so if you don’t use a mug regularly, donate it!
  7. Souvenir cups/ glasses: Same goes for those souvenir cups and glasses. They usually don’t get used much. Take one and use is for a dog food scoop, and recycle the rest.
  8. Magnets: I know they were free, but that doesn’t mean you have to keep them.
  9. Mismatched food storage containers: I will never know how lids to my food storage containers disappear into thin air, but they do. And once that happens the container becomes almost useless and always gets passed up. It’s time to recycle those mismatched food containers. (You could also keep a few and use them as drawer dividers in your junk drawer.)
  10. Vases: Every time you get flowers or win the centerpiece at an event you end up with another random vase. But if a vase has sat unused in your cupboard for over 6 months, it’s time to say goodbye.
  11. Expired food: I know this one feels so wasteful, but if you have expired food, toss it.
  12. Food and snacks that don’t get eaten: Story of my life. My kids want to try a new kind of crackers and don’t like them so they sit in the pantry… ugh. If there are foods or snacks that get passed up, take them to your local food bank or homeless shelter before they expire.
  13. Frozen food that can’t/ won’t get eaten: When’s the last time you looked in the very back or the very bottom of your freezer. Do you even know what’s in there? I bet there are some things that you know you’ll never eat or have been in there far too long. Be sure to toss these close to trash day so you don’t stink up your trash can!
  14. Old or never used spices: Did you know that some spices go bad? If it’s been so long you can’t even remember which recipe you used it in or the contents have become one solid mass, toss it.
  15. Bottles of cleaner you don’t like/ use: You bought it, but it didn’t work. Keep only what you actually use and like.
  16. Unused cookbooks/ recipes: If there’s only one recipe in an entire cookbook you use, make a copy of it and get rid of the book. It takes up too much space. And that low-fat cookbook you’ve never opened, donate that one too.
  17. Stained tablecloths/ place mats: Things like this aren’t meant to last forever, so if it’s worn out and you’d be embarrassed to put it out when you have company over, it’s time for it to go.
  18. Chipped dishes: I know you’re holding onto these cause they might complete a set, but if you’re always avoiding using it and wouldn’t put it out when you have friends over, let it go. It’s not worth the space it’s taking up and you’ll never have to worry about putting it out on accident.
free declutter checklist 75 things to get rid of today

Things you can get rid of in the bathroom:

  1. Never used hair products: Trying new hair products is exhausting because half the time they don’t live up to your expectations and end up sitting around. The space you get back when you get rid of them will be worth the money you “wasted.”  Donate them to a women’s or teens shelter.
  2. Toiletries you don’t like: Same goes for the deodorant you tried but didn’t like or the toothpaste you can’t stand the taste of.
  3. Old towels: You deserve to dry off with a nice towel like you enjoy when you’re in a hotel. Give those old towels to your local animal shelter. Fido will love the soft place to lay.
  4. Old makeup: Okay maybe keep a few things on hand for Halloween related makeup, but toss anything else that you don’t wear, don’t like, or smells weird.
  5. Hotel toiletries: I’ll say it again. Just because it’s free doesn’t mean you need to keep it. There will be more at the next hotel you stay in, I promise.
  6. Expired sunscreen: This stuff is no good anyway so there’s no sense in feeling gross and greasy for a sunscreen that isn’t protecting you from the sun.
  7. Expired or unused medication: Be careful here. Some of this stuff is harmful to the environment and we don’t want it to end up in the wrong hands. For more information on how to dispose of medicines properly or how to find a safe take back location you can visit the FDA’s website here.
  8. Soaps and perfumes you don’t like the scent of: If you don’t wear it, get rid of it.

Things to get rid of in your bedroom & closet:

  1. Socks with holes or no match: They’re useless and they can make you crazy when you’re trying to get dressed in the morning. Get them out!
  2. Earrings without a match: Okay not if it has value, but if it’s costume jewelry it has no use without its mate.
  3. Costume jewelry you don’t wear/ isn’t your style: I know it’s hard to let go of our 20 year old selves but we are better and wiser now, so let these things go.
  4. Clothing that doesn’t fit or isn’t your style: This is another hard one, I know. But if you do it, it will be one of the most rewarding and freeing things you do all year. Promise.
  5. Uncomfortable or worn out underwear or bras: If you pass it up regularly, it has no place in your drawer. You deserve to be comfortable and not tugging at your undergarments all day long.
  6. Extra buttons: They usually come in their own little baggie and are so cute. But when’s the last time you actually used one? That’s what I thought. You could donate them to a place that could use them as craft supplies.
  7. Worn out purses, bags, hats, wallets: Why do we keep these things? We replaced them for a reason, so let’s cut the ties!
  8. Shoes you don’t wear: You probably don’t wear them because they aren’t comfortable, so you’ll probably continue to avoid them. Instead of avoiding them, donate them.
  9. Old bedding, blankets, pillows: This stuff can take up so much space, but your local homeless or animal shelter is in great need of these things all the time.
  10. Souvenir t-shirts: Back to the free stuff we think we need to keep. No. You. Don’t.
  11. Clothing with stains/ holes: Okay maybe keep one set of “painting clothes” as I call them, but the rest can go.
  12. Rarely worn outerwear: Do you really need 3 heavy coats? Again there are so many people in need of these items. Keep your favorites and let the rest go.
  13. Wire hangers and plastic garment bags from the cleaners: If you’re keeping only your best stuff, keep it nice by hanging it on a nice hanger and get rid of these ones.
free declutter checklist 75 things to get rid of today

Kids stuff to get rid of:

  1. Broken toys: I know it was their favorite, but they pass it up because it doesn’t work anymore. If it doesn’t get used, it needs to go.
  2. Games with missing pieces: You can’t play a game without the necessary pieces so why are you holding onto this?
  3. Clothes that don’t fit: It makes it a lot easier for a kid to get them self dressed if everything in their drawer fits them. That’s less work for you, and more independence for them. It’s time to create a system for clothes that don’t fit, cause it’s an ongoing issue.
  4. Filled up coloring books: These probably never get looked at anyway.
  5. Old books: Keep a few of their favorites but if they don’t get read anymore, donate them to a local school,  in home day care, or children’s program
  6. Art/ school work: You don’t have to keep every single piece of art that your kid makes. Keep a few milestone or special pieces then take a photo of the others and make a memory book on a site like Shutterfly.
  7. Broken crayons: Just like your uncomfortable underwear, if they avoid using them, they need to go.
  8. Dried out markers: Because there’s absolutely no reason to keep these.
  9. Goodie bag/ kid’s meal toys: Get rid of this junk that never gets played with, always gets dumped out of the bin when they’re looking for something else, and hurts when you step on it. Oh, and promise to never give this stuff out. Make your next party favor consumable, and other moms will thank you 🙂

More things you can get rid of today:

  1. Unread or unused books: Books can take up a ton of valuable real estate in your home. If you were going to read it, you would’ve by now. And if you haven’t read it in forever, maybe it’s time to donate it!
  2. Magazines and newspapers: You don’t need to keep these. If you have to keep certain pages or clippings, create a single binder and tear out what you need.
  3. Receipts: Only keep receipts for things that are still under warranty. The return date is probably long gone.
  4. Broken pens or pens you don’t like to use: Goes back to the whole if you avoid using it, get rid of it idea.
  5. Unused random cords: These pop up way more often than we realize. Every gadget these days has its own cord and as soon as the gadget is not used or broken we seem to hold onto the cord. Why?
  6. Old electronics and remotes: If you don’t get rid of these things, you’ll end up feeling like you live in an electronics graveyard real quick.
  7. Expired coupons: It’s best to keep all your coupons in one folder and go through it regularly to get rid of the old ones.
  8. Manuals: Most of the instructions for things can be found online now not to mention… how often have you ever needed these?
  9. Doubles of printed photos: Such a waste of paper! Get rid of these and then vow to only make doubles of the photos you will actually mail off to great aunt Bertha.
  10. Old calendars/ planners: I’ll be honest, I used to keep old calendars for when I’m making my kid’s yearly photo books. But now I take a photo of the month and put it in the digital folder with that month’s photos so when I go to create their book it’s all in one spot and I have less clutter!
  11. Cards with no sentimental value: ‘Nuf said.
  12. DVD’s that don’t get watched: Most of these titles can be watched on Amazon Prime or Netflix these days. And yes they may cost you 3.99 to rent once a year but what is 8 square feet of your house worth?
  13. CD’s: Same. You can upload these right onto your computer and play them with all your smart devices now.
  14. Product packaging: Are you guilty of keeping the boxes to your gadgets or even your shoes for no apparent reason? Stop it.
  15. Craft supplies for crafts you’ll never get to: I know we have the best intentions, but if you haven’t gotten to it, you probably never will. Donate this stuff to your local boys and girl’s club.
  16. Old/ unused membership/ club cards: Most of these places will take your phone number so there’s no need to lug around all those plastic cards.
  17. Expired insurance/ credit cards: We put the new ones in our wallet, but when’s the last time you took out the old ones?
  18. Pet toys your pet never plays with: Animal shelters will gladly take these.
  19. Old paint: Especially if you don’t even know what room it’s for. Be sure to look up your local paint disposal location. You can’t just put this stuff in the trash. It’s not good for your future great grand kids.
  20. Gifts you received but don’t like: I know this may make you feel guilty but they’ve never asked you why you haven’t worn it or displayed it and you don’t have to tell them it never left the box. You certainly enjoyed and appreciated the gesture but you need to make space for mental clarity, not have reminders of guilt laying around.
  21. Excess materials from home projects: This one gets me every time. What to do with the leftovers from home renovation projects? Contact your local Habitat for Humanity Restore. They take a lot of this stuff.
  22. Old cleaning rags: You don’t need more than 5 of these on hand. Keep the best ones, let the rest go.
  23. Old keys: You aren’t going to figure out what it opens.
  24. Old cell phones and all their accessories: This stuff needs to be recycled properly or if you clear all your info off of your old phones, some shelters for women and children will take them.
  25. Dead batteries and burnt out lightbulbs: Gather these up and the next time you run to home depot drop them in the proper recycling container at the front of the store.
  26. Shopping bags: Keep what you need, recycle the rest and start using reusable bags!
  27. Bottles or containers with just a little product left: A lot of times these can be combined with the newer bottle. Either way they’re taking up room. Recycle them.
  28. Holiday décor that hasn’t been put out in 2 years: Our style changes. Don’t feel bad about that cause there’s no sense in storing things for 11 months out of the year that never get used. That’s just silly!

Whew! Take decluttering one room at a time and you’ll be amazed at how good you feel afterward!

Make it easy and grab your printable version of this decluttering checklist by clicking below!

free declutter checklist 75 things to get rid of today

RELATED:

The Mental Shift That Has Me Decluttering Like Crazy

5 Ways To Teach Your Kids To Declutter

3 Critical Decluttering Mistakes I know You’re Making

How to Reduce Paper Clutter

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Filed Under: Declutter and Organize

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15 minutes is all it takes to… Clean out a draw 15 minutes is all it takes to…  Clean out a drawer, a cabinet, or quickly flip through your closet and grab a small bag of items you don’t need or want…  …and the impact of 15 min. rapid fire decluttering sessions adds up quickly, even after just a couple days!  Last night I cleaned out two drawers while the oven was preheating for dinner (did you see me in action on stories?) They were two drawers near our drop zone where things started to get stuffed and one of the drawers I use daily since I keep my notebook with the weeks meal plan, to-do lists, etc so it was driving me nuts that it was getting to be a chaotic mess.  So I set my timer for 15 min. to tackle it and not only did I get that one drawer done, I got the drawer next to it done and everything that didn’t belong in the drawers put away in its proper place!  The moral of the story is, you don’t have to set aside entire afternoons to clear the clutter and get organized. It can be done ones 10-15 min. session at a time.  So that’s what I’m doing. I’ve committed to a short decluttering session every day for the next week or so.  Join me! Give me a thumbs up if you’re in!  #declutter #declutteringtips #decluttering #takebackmyspace #organizedspaces #organization #organizingtips #homeorganization #clearouttheclutter #cluttercontrol
Just when I thought I couldn’t take any more of Just when I thought I couldn’t take any more of what 2020 has had to offer it’s continued to come in full force. The Rona 😷 has officially infiltrated our home (my husband has it) which put me into panic mode 🥺 trying to get everything for Christmas totally ready and all my biz stuff wrapped up for the year knowing I’ll probably get sick too.⁠
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Then to top it off something broke with our sprinklers in the front yard and they wouldn’t shut off. Thankfully I noticed right away and my amazing gardeners came over to help fix it but with the sun going down and not having all the parts they needed, and a bigger problem than we thought we have been without water. —They came back first thing this morning though (did I mention they’re awesome) and fixed everything up so I get to turn the water back on in about an hour and oh man is it going to feel good to take a shower (and a deep breath).⁠
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So far me and the kids don’t have any symptoms so I’m staying focused and getting all my to-do’s done so I can go into next week ready to enjoy Christmas in total quarantine and have time to get sick if that’s what’s coming my way.⁠
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It’s the weirdest thing to be planning to get sick, but it’s where I’m at! Hahaha!⁠
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Hope you are all staying healthy (and sane)!⁠
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The view of our tree from every room downstairs is The view of our tree from every room downstairs is my favorite!
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Today I want to tell you why I started sticking to Today I want to tell you why I started sticking to a color palette in my own home.⁠
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It wasn’t just because it allowed me to make quick decorating decisions, work with decor I already owned, and stay within my budget.⁠
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✔️It's because color is the fastest way to create a look that flows from one room to the next and make my home feel really good.⁠
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My home definitely didn’t get to where it is today overnight, but if I had to narrow it down to THE ONE THING that catapulted me in the right direction with my decor it’s when I finally figured out COLOR. ⁠
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A thoughtful color scheme can create a nice flow from one room to the next, which is great, but color is also scientifically proven to affect your mood. ⁠
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WHEN YOUR HOME FEELS GOOD, YOU FEEL GOOD!⁠
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Let me ask you...👇🏼⁠
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💭How do you currently feel in your home and how do you want to feel?⁠
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Think about it for a second.⁠
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💭Is the way your home feels now holding you back from the way you want to feel, things you want to do, or people you want to spend time with?⁠
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I know there’s a bigger reason behind creating a beautiful home you love.⁠
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And I bet it has nothing to do with impressing guests.⁠
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Maybe for you it’s creating a space to really recharge, spend more time with family and friends, or to inspire more creativity.⁠
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So what is it for you? Tell me in the comments.⁠
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P.S. I'm hosting a free color class on Thursday! You can RSVP by clicking the link in my bio or go to colormadeclear.com/color⁠
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I read this morning that you are the culmination o I read this morning that you are the culmination of the 5 people you spend the most time with...⁠
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...hmmm...does that mean I act like a 7 and 10 year old cause lord knows we've been together A LOT lately? 🤣🤣🤣⁠
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But really, joking aside, are you intentional about who you surround yourself with?⁠
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Do they light you up, inspire you, and teach you things?⁠
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As uncomfortable as it is sometimes, I'm a huge fan of surrounding myself with those who know how to do things I want to learn. (And of course I'm a huge fan of spending time with people who I can share my know how with too.) ⁠
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So now the question is, who are you becoming?⁠
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Just something to marinate on today...⁠
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Today I woke up and felt filled to the brim with g Today I woke up and felt filled to the brim with gratitude. 💖 I wanted to say thanks to you guys, my followers, my community, my loyal students and customers. Balancing everything (kids at home, life, business) this year has been challenging, but there's been so much growth and without you this little 'ol business of mine wouldn't be here. So cheers to you!⁠
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My whys right there👆🏽 . We're evolving into My whys right there👆🏽 . We're evolving into a new phase where these two are helping out more and more around here and I'm loving that they take a certain pride in our space. ✨⁠
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Of course we've got a set up that allows lots of play, messes, and "chill time" as my 7 year old calls it...⁠
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...and although they may not be able to pin point it, I can tell that they too feel really good in our home and keeping it organized and feeling good, makes them feel good. ⁠
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Creating a home you want to be in takes time, but with smart choices and a little patience it can happen.⁠
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💖How do you want your home to feel?⁠
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#decortips #decoratingtips #hometips #tips #tips4decor⁠
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