75+ Things You Can Get Rid Of Today (Free Decluttering Checklist)

Decluttering your home doesn't have to feel overwhelming. If clutter keeps creeping back in, sometimes all you need is a simple reset - and a clear plan.

A few years ago I was absolutely fed up with the clutter in our home. That frustration led to a powerful mental shift that changed how I think about what I own - and ultimately helped me create a home that feels calmer and more manageable.

But the reality is: decluttering isn't a one time project -it's an ongoing process that needs to be revisited regularly.

So even though I have a solid method to declutter any space, every 3-4 months I do a quick sweep through our house and get rid of all those things that seem to trickle in and add up to clutter over time.

That’s why I created this decluttering checklist of 75+ things you can get rid of today - so you can quickly reset your space with ease.

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The Ultimate Decluttering Checklist (By Room)

How to use this decluttering checklist

This decluttering checklist is designed to help you move quickly through your home without getting stuck. You can go room by room or jump to the areas that feel the most overwhelming. The goal isn’t perfection - it’s progress. Even 15 minutes can make a noticeable difference.

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!

Why quick decluttering works

One of the biggest mistakes people make when decluttering is thinking they need hours of uninterrupted time. In reality, quick decluttering sessions are often more effective because they reduce decision fatigue.

When you focus on simple, obvious items - like duplicates, broken items, or things you never use - you build momentum fast. That momentum is what turns decluttering from something you avoid into something that actually feels doable.

Kitchen decluttering checklist

Duplicate/unused items

• 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 if ever you need more than that, you can borrow one. Keep the ones in the best condition and only the amount you'd need at one time.
• Unused or duplicate utensils: Same goes for utensils. You'll probably never need multiple spatulas, ladles, and pie servers at one time.
• Condiment packets: Unless you use these regularly, get rid of them. And the next time you get takeout tell them how many packets you need so you don't end up with a pile of extras and have to waste them.
• Plastic silverware: You know - the random ones that ended up in your junk drawer when you ordered takeout. Toss 'em and again, next time you order take out, tell them you don't need them (unless you actually do). Mother Earth will thank you.
• Takeout menus: Most menus are online so there's really no reason to hold on to takeout menus.
• 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!
• Souvenir cups/ glasses: Same goes for those souvenir cups and glasses. They usually don't get used much. Take one if you must and recycle the rest.
• Magnets: I know they were free, but that doesn't mean you have to keep them.
• 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).
• 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 six months, it's time to say goodbye.

Expired food

• Expired perishables: I'm talking about refrigerated items long past their expiration date and produce that died in the crisper (rely one your senses here - does it look, taste, smell "off" - if so, toss it). Most shelf stable items in your pantry last indefinitely so long as the can isn't dented or swollen.
• Food and snacks that don't get eaten: Story of my life. My kids want to try new snack food and don't like it so it sits in the pantry… ugh. If there are foods or snacks that get passed up, take them to your local food bank before they expire.
• Frozen food that can’t/ won’t get eaten: When's the last time you looked in the very depths of your freezer? Do you even know what's in there? I bet there are some foods 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!
• Old or never used spices: Did you know that some spices lose their potency over time? If it's been so long you can't even remember which recipe you used it in or the contents have faded or clumped together, toss it.

Worn out/unused items

• Bottles of cleaner you don’t like/ use: You bought it, but it didn't work. Keep only what you actually use and like.
• Unused cookbooks/ recipes: If there's only one recipe in an entire cookbook you use, make a copy of it and donate the book. It takes up too much space. And that low-fat cookbook you've never opened, donate that one too.
• Worn tablecloths/place mats: If it's worn out, stained or torn, and you'd be embarrassed to set it out for company, it's time for it to go.
• Chipped dishes: I know you're holding onto these cause they might complete a set, but if you've always avoiding using it, let it go. It's not worth the space it's using and you'll never have to worry about putting it out at a formal dinner by accident.

bathroom Decluttering Checklist

Unused or expired bathroom products

• Never used hair products: Trying new hair products is exhausting because when they don't live up to your expectations, they just 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.
• 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.
• 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.
• Old makeup: Maybe keep a few things for Halloween-related makeup, but toss anything that you don't wear, don't like, or smells weird.
• 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.
• Expired sunscreen: This stuff loses effectiveness so there's no sense in feeling gross and greasy for a sunscreen that isn't protecting you from the sun.
• 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.
• Soaps and perfumes you don’t like the scent of: If you don't wear it, get rid of it.

bedroom And closet Decluttering Checklist

Clothing and accessories you don't wear

• Socks with holes or no match: They're useless and can make you crazy when you're trying to get dressed in the morning. Get rid of them!
• Earrings without a match: If it's costume jewelry, it has no use without its mate.
• 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.
• 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.
• Uncomfortable/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.
• Worn out purses, bags, hats, wallets: Why do we keep these things? We replaced them for a reason, so let's cut the ties!
• 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.
• Souvenir t-shirts: Back to the free stuff we think we need to keep. No. You. Don't.
• Clothing with stains/ holes: Maybe keep one set of "painting clothes" as I call them, but the rest can go.
• 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.

Unnecessary/extra clutter

• Wire hangers and plastic garment bags from the cleaners: If you're keeping only your best clothes, keep them nice with sturdy hangers and garment bags and get rid of the cheap, flimsy ones.
• Extra buttons: They usually come in a cute little baggie but when's the last time you actually used one? That's what I thought. Donate them to a place that could use them as craft supplies.
• Old bedding, blankets, pillows: These things can take up so much storage space, but your local homeless or animal shelter is in great need of them all the time.

Kids stuff Decluttering Checklist

Broken, used up, or no longer functional

• Broken toys: I know it was their favorite, but they pass it up because it doesn't work anymore. It needs to go.
• Games with missing pieces: You can't play a game without the necessary pieces so why are you holding onto this?
• Filled up coloring books: These probably never get looked at anyway.
• Broken crayons: If they are unusable or the kids avoid using them, they need to go.
• Dried out markers: Because there's absolutely no reason to keep these.

Outgrown or no longer used

• Clothes that don’t fit: It's much easier for a kid to get dressed by themselves when everything in their clothes drawer fits. 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.
• Old books: Keep a few of their favorites but if they don't get read anymore, donate them to a local school or library, in home day care, or children's program.
• 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 photos of the rest and make a memory book on a site like Shutterfly.
• 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 🙂

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More things you can get rid of today

Paper clutter you don't need

• 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!
• Magazines and newspapers: You don't need to keep these. If you have to keep certain pages or clippings, create a binder and tear out what you need or scan it.
• Receipts: Only keep receipts for items that are still under warranty.
• Expired coupons: Keep all your coupons in one folder and go through it regularly to get rid of the old ones.
• Manuals: Operating manuals and instructions can be found online not to mention… how often have you ever needed these?
• 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.
• Old calendars/ planners: I used to keep old calendars for my kids' yearly photo books. But now I take a photo of the month and put it in a digital folder with that month's photos so when I create their book, it's all in one spot and I have less clutter!
• Cards with no sentimental value: 'Nuf said.

Old electronics and tech clutter

• 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?
• 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.
• DVD’s that don’t get watched: Most of these titles can be watched on a streaming service these days. And yes, it may cost you a few bucks to rent the movie once a year, but what is eight square feet of storage worth?
• CD’s: Same. You can upload these onto your computer and play them with all your smart devices now.
• Old cell phones and all their accessories: Old phones need to be recycled properly. If you clear all your info off of them, shelters for women and children might take them.
• 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.

Unused household items and extras

• Product packaging: Are you guilty of keeping the boxes to your gadgets or even your shoes for no apparent reason? Stop it.
• 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.
• 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.
• Old/ unused membership/ club cards: Most of these places will take your phone number so there's no need to hold onto all those plastic cards.
• Expired insurance/ credit cards: We put the new ones in our wallet, but when's the last time you took out the old ones?
• Pet toys your pet never plays with: Animal shelters will gladly take these.
• 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.
• 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 appreciated the gesture but you need to make space for mental clarity, not have reminders of guilt laying around.
• 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.
• Old cleaning rags: You don't need more than 5-10 of these on hand. Keep the best ones, let the rest go.
• Old keys: You aren't going to figure out what it opens.
• Shopping bags: Keep what you need, recycle the rest and start using reusable bags!
• Bottles or containers with just a little product left: Many times these can be combined with the newer bottle. Either way they're taking up room. Recycle them.
• Holiday décor that hasn’t been put out in several years: Styles change. Don't feel bad about that. 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!

Decluttering Gets Easier With The Right Mindset

Once you start letting go of things you don’t use, love, or need, you’ll notice something shift. Decisions get easier. Your home feels lighter. And maintaining it becomes far less overwhelming.

If you’ve ever struggled with letting go, this mindset shift will completely change the way you approach decluttering:

👉 An Easy Mental Shift That Has Me Decluttering Like Crazy!

It’s the exact shift that helped me stop overthinking and finally start making progress and I think it’ll do the same for you.