100+ Things You Should Throw Away, Donate, or Recycle
One a Day: 116 Things to Throw Away, Donate, or Recycle
Image Source: Unsplash / daniellajardim
Cleaning out clutter can be a tough task, especially if you have been letting it build up for a while. Instead of setting aside a huge block of time to take care of months' or years' worth of clutter, take baby steps by throwing away only one type of item a day. And by throwing away, I mean recycling, selling, donating, or — as the last resort — trashing. Here's a list of 116 types of items that will take you about four months to dispose of.
— Additional reporting by Maya Berry
1 Scratched nonstick cookware
Image Source: stocksnap.io
2 Scraps of wrapping paper
Image Source: Popsugar Photography / Blake Smith
3 Boxes
Image Source: Getty / 10'000 Hours
4 Pens that don't work
Image Source: stocksnap.io
5 Magazines
Image Source: POPSUGAR Photography / Mark Popovich
6 Frayed towels
Image Source: POPSUGAR Photography / Sheila Gim
7 Hair accessories you don't use
Image Source: stocksnap.io
8 Tired bras
Image Source: Getty / Allen Donikowski
9 Cooking utensils you have two of
Image Source: POPSUGAR Photography / Sheila Gim
10 CDs for old computer programs
Image Source: stocksnap.io
11 Furniture manuals
Image Source: POPSUGAR Photography / Lisette Mejia
12 Old fortune cookie fortunes
Image Source: Flickr user bambicorro
13 Old t-shirts
Image Source: POPSUGAR Photography / Emily Faulstitch
14 Old folders
Image Source: stocksnap.io
15 Worn-out shoes
Image Source: POPSUGAR Photography / Emily Faulstitch
16 Spare furniture parts you don't need
Image Source: POPSUGAR Photography / Sheila Gim
17 Expired medication
Image Source: POPSUGAR Photography / Sheila Gim
18 Purses you never use
Image Source: POPSUGAR Photography
19 Old pillows
Image Source: POPSUGAR Photography / Emily Faulstich
20 Frequent shopper cards you never use
Image Source: POPSUGAR Photography / Jae Payne
21 Delete email subscriptions from sites
Image Source: Getty / Westend61
22 Delete unwanted music from your iTunes
Image Source: Unsplash / tkolnowski
23 Ripped denim beyond repair
Image Source: Getty / Carol Yepes
24 Stockings with runs
Image Source: stocksnap.io
25 Shoes that don't fit or that you don't wear
Image Source: Unsplash / andrewtanglao
26 Wedding invites
Image Source: Getty / Jill Ferry Photography
27 Old artwork or old children's artwork
Image Source: POPSUGAR Photography / Emily Faulstich
28 Broken Christmas decorations
Image Source: stocksnap.io
29 Old calendars
Image Source: Unsplash / maddibazzocco
30 Broken kitchen equipment
Image Source: POPSUGAR Photography / Sheila Gim
31 Extra tupperware you don't need
Image Source: POPSUGAR Photography / Jae Payne
32 Matchbooks
Image Source: stocksnap.io
33 Old paperwork
Image Source: Flickr user isaacbowen
34 Extra photo prints
Image Source: stocksnap.io
35 Old makeup
Image Source: stocksnap.io
36 Bills you don't need to keep
Image Source: POPSUGAR Photography / Mark Popovich
37 Gifts you don't like
Image Source: POPSUGAR Photography / Blake Smith
38 Cell phone covers you're over
Image Source: Getty / Jeffrey Coolidge
39 Old cell phones
Image Source: Getty / Lola Takes Pictures
40 Papers you have backed up on the computer
Image Source: Unsplash / rainierridao
41 Used and ripped envelopes
Image Source: stocksnap.io
42 Old prom dresses
Image Source: Flickr user jganderson
43 Dried flowers
Image Source: stocksnap.io
44 Little knickknacks (designate a bowl and fill it)
Image Source: POPSUGAR Photography / Mark Popovich
45 Toys your pets don't play with
Image Source: stocksnap.io
46 Old toiletries
Image Source: POPSUGAR Photography / Mark Popovich
47 Stained clothing you can't clean
Image Source: POPSUGAR Photography / Sheila Gim
48 Dried-up nail polish
Image Source: POPSUGAR Photography / Sheila Gim
49 Old wallets that you don't use
Image Source: POPSUGAR Photography / Sheila Gim
50 Books you've already read and don't want to display
Image Source: Unsplash / sharonmccutcheon
51 Leftover change
Image Source: POPSUGAR Photography / Mark Popovich
52 Old and outdated software
Image Source: Unsplash / agkdesign
53 Broken electronics
Image Source: Unsplash / phosleep
54 Expired sauces
Image Source: POPSUGAR Photography / Jae Payne
55 Unused stationery, stickers, and sticky notes
Image Source: POPSUGAR Photography / Mark Popovich
56 Receipts you don't need
Image Source: stocksnap.io
57 Expired food
Image Source: POPSUGAR Photography / Sheila Gim
58 Bobby pins
Image Source: POPSUGAR Photography / Emily Faulstitch
59 The other side of a pair of lost earrings
Image Source: POPSUGAR Photography / Mark Popovich
60 Old or unused hangers
Image Source: Unsplash / christianfregnan
61 Flatware, plates, and glasses that don't match the rest of your collection, plus dingy children's plates you no longer use
Image Source: stocksnap.io
62 Rusty jewelry
Image Source: stocksnap.io
63 CDs
Image Source: Flickr user piddysplace
64 Cards people have given you with no sentimental value
Image Source: Unsplash / anniespratt
65 Random containers and jars
Image Source: POPSUGAR Photography / Mark Popovich
66 DVDs you don't watch
Image Source: stocksnap.io
67 Old underwear or swimwear that's losing its stretch
Image Source: POPSUGAR Photography / Sheila Gim
68 Worn-out bath mats
Image Source: Jill Lynn Photography
69 Expired or sample-size toiletries
Image Source: Getty / Emilija Manevska
70 Wedding favors you don't use
Image Source: SMS Photography
71 Snacks your pets don't eat
Image Source: Getty / © Jackie Bale
72 Hand-me-downs that you're guilt-tripped into keeping
Image Source: stocksnap.io
73 Necklaces and bracelets with broken clasps
Image Source: POPSUGAR Photography / Mark Popovich
74 Old bank statements
Image Source: stocksnap.io
75 Christmas lights that don't work
Image Source: stocksnap.io
76 Broken or old iPhone cases
Image Source: stocksnap.io
77 Outdated electronics
Image Source: stocksnap.io
78 Clothes that don't fit
Image Source: POPSUGAR Photography
79 Freebie or promotional t-shirts you never wear
Image Source: stocksnap.io
80 Expired coupons
Image Source: Flickr user jridgewayphotos
81 Old mail
Image Source: Getty / andresr
82 Old schoolbooks you'll never use again
Image Source: stocksnap.io
83 Kitchen things you don't use
Image Source: POPSUGAR Photography / Julia Sperling
84 Damaged clothing you can't mend
Image Source: ShopStyle Photography
85 Old unused batteries
Image Source: stocksnap.io
86 Extra buttons
Image Source: POPSUGAR Photography / Blake Smith
87 Cables and wires you don't use
Image Source: Getty / Carol Yepes
88 Games that are missing pieces
Image Source: stocksnap.io
89 Old spices
Image Source: POPSUGAR Photography / Sheila Gim
90 Extra and unused coffee mugs
Image Source: Unsplash / chris_j_scott
91 Cell phone accessories you don't use anymore
Image Source: stocksnap.io
92 Worn-out sheets and bedding
Image Source: POPSUGAR Photography / Mark Popovich
93 Ticket stubs
Image Source: stocksnap.io
94 Socks with holes
Image Source: POPSUGAR Photography / Benjamin Stone
95 Wrinkled ribbons and bows for gift wrap
Image Source: stocksnap.io
96 Save-the-dates
Image Source: JEFF + AMBER
97 Scarves you never wear
Image Source: Unsplash / kellysikkema
98 Old towels
Image Source: Getty / Emilija Manevska
99 Computer cords, firewire cables, etc., that you don't use
Image Source: stocksnap.io
100 Hair elastics that have lost stretchiness
Image Source: POPSUGAR Photography / Benjamin Stone
101 Clothing you've outgrown
Image Source: Unsplash / priscilladupreez
102 Empty bottles of cleaning products
Image Source: Popsugar Photography / Tara Block
103 Travel brochures
Image Source: Unsplash / rawpixel
104 Old shopping bags
Image Source: Unsplash / rawpixel
105 Old planners
Image Source: stocksnap.io
106 Unused vases
Image Source: POPSUGAR Photography / Mark Popovich
107 Cards or gifts from exes
Image Source: Getty / Robert Daly
108 Old manuals to electronics
Image Source: Getty / temmuzcan
109 Clothes that are outdated or from college
Image Source: stocksnap.io
110 Old crayons or art supplies, plus markers that have run out of ink
Image Source: POPSUGAR Photography / Emily Faulstitch
111 Extra buttons that come with newly purchased clothes
Image Source: Getty / Alicia Llop
112 Delete emails you don't need
Image Source: Getty / Klaus Vedfelt
113 Address labels for your old house
Image Source: stocksnap.io
114 Magnets
Image Source: Flickr user zone41
115 Junk mail
Image Source: stocksnap.io
116 Old mending buttons for clothing you no longer have
Image Source: Getty / Images say more about me than wo
Pin it!
