Want to reclaim space in your home? There's no better time than now for a thorough declutter.
As someone who's helped countless families transform cluttered spaces through hands-on organizing sessions, I know spring cleaning is the perfect reset. Sorting through and donating unused items brings a sense of calm and order that lasts.
The challenge? Knowing where to begin without second-guessing every decision. That's why I've curated this practical list of 100 items to declutter room by room. Ready to get started?
Contents Click here to easily print this guide in PDF.
Decluttering your entire home in one day isn't realistic. Instead, plan ahead: tackle one room per day. From my experience guiding clients, this methodical approach yields lasting results, making your home feel more zen and spacious in weeks.
1. DVDs you haven't watched in two years
2. Extra trinkets. Decorative items are charming, but excess means more dust. Sort and donate a few.
3. Books you'll never reread. Review your shelves and donate favorites to a local charity.
4. Scattered mail
5. Old newspapers. Recycle anything outdated.
6. Old magazines
7. Burned-out candle remnants. If they won't relight, recycle the jars or discard.
8. Empty perfume diffusers
9. Dead or dying plants
10. Board games you no longer play. Donate complete sets to shelters or recycle incomplete ones.
11. Wall decor you don't love. Replace with pieces that truly inspire you.
12. Pet toys ignored by your animals. Donate usable ones to shelters.
13. Object collections. Keep joyful favorites; declutter the rest.
14. Single-use gadgets. Opt for versatile tools instead.
15. Mismatched Tupperware® or lidless containers
16. Takeout boxes and trays
17. Chipped, cracked, or stained glassware and dishes
18. Excess cups and mugs. Donate extras to charity; ditch damaged ones.
19. Surplus tea towels. Repurpose into cleaning cloths or gift them.
20. Specialty dishware rarely used. Keep essentials only.
21. Condiment packets from takeout
22. Plastic utensils
23. Excess plastic bags
24. Stale spices. Replace anything flavorless.
25. All expired food—from pantry to fridge.
26. Food you'll never eat
27. Duplicate reusable bags
28. Overloaded fridge magnets
29. Printed takeout menus—all available online.
30. Unused cookbooks. Recipes abound online.
31. Duplicate tools like extra can openers
32. Ineffective cleaning products
33. Extra glass vases and jars
34. Orphaned or holey socks
35. Ill-fitting clothes. Donate to Relay or similar.
36. Uncomfortable bras
37. Your least favorite shoes (unless work-essential)
38. Clothes unworn in a year
39. Unmended garments
40. Extra hangers
41. Hole-ridden clothes (beyond stylish rips)
42. Promotional swag like tees, caps, shades
43. Scratched sunglasses or glasses
44. Worn-out shoes
45. Needless duplicates
46. Deodorant-stained t-shirts
47. Excess accessories, jewelry, scarves—donate unloved pieces.
48. Single earrings
49. Broken jewelry
50. Limp stuffed animals
51. Supplies from abandoned hobbies
52. Unfinished DIY projects
53. Fabric scraps and ribbons
54. Leftover wrapping paper
55. Excess bubble wrap—keep just enough for a package.
56. Gift tissue paper—recycle it all.
57. Dried-up pens and markers. Test and toss non-writers.
58. Promo notebooks
59. Mystery cables and chargers
60. Obsolete electronics
61. Greeting cards—scan for memories first.
62. Business cards—digitize contacts.
63. Old bills/receipts—scan essentials; see retention guides.
64. Stretched rubber bands
65. Expired coupons
66. Clipboards
67. Extra headphones
68. Duplicate bookmarks
69. Backup calculators—use your phone.
70. Expired makeup
71. Near-empty bottles
72. Product samples—use one daily till gone.
73. Unused lipsticks
74. Soap slivers—recycle or toss.
75. Threadbare towels—repurpose as rags or donate to shelters.
76. Clumped nail polish
77. Unpleasant scents, even gifted
78. Unused creams, lotions, soaps
79. Extra linens/blankets—repurpose old sheets.
80. Cardboard boxes—keep 1-2.
81. Empty packaging—no need for warranties.
82. Broken storage bins
83. Manuals—find online.
84. "Just in case" screws/bolts
85. Unused seasonal decor (2+ years)
86. Broken holiday items
87. Ultra-specific decor
88. Mystery keys
89. Dead batteries
90. Outgrown schoolbooks
91. Dusty instruments
92. Extra frames
93. Photo duplicates
94. Gag gifts collecting dust
95. Broken power tools
96. Rusty tools
97. Duplicate tools—keep the best.
98. Unused sports gear
99. Old paint—repurpose or dispose.
100. Expired chemicals—take to recycling center.
