9 Things to Get Rid Of if You’ve Been in Your Home for Over a Decade

I remember the relief I felt when my husband and I became homeowners — in part because we had so much more storage. And boy, did we proceed to use every last closet, corner, and cabinet. And just like that, we’ve spent nearly a decade in our home. I’m pretty sure that some of the things in the far corner of our coat closet have been there since we moved in. 

Decluttering is hard — especially when it comes to sentimental items. But that doesn’t mean the items in the “I might need this someday!” category are any easier to purge — even when you come to terms with the fact that you probably won’t ever use them. To lighten the mental load of decluttering, I’ve made a list of household items that you can sell, discard, donate, or recycle if you’ve been in your home for a decade or longer (without losing any sleep over!). The best part? Most of the items on this list don’t need to be replaced, so you can enjoy the additional breathing room in your home.

With the exception of holiday or seasonal items that you truly get joy out of bringing out when the calendar calls for it, it’s high time to get rid of any home decor you’ve kept tucked away instead of enjoying in your space. 

It’s fine if your tastes in wall art, vases, and throw pillows have evolved over time — but unless you’ve got something museum-worthy among your collection, put it in your donate or sell pile.

Have you amassed a collection of atomizers and samples on top of your dresser over the years? Unless you keep your fragrances sealed well and out of sunlight and fluctuating temperatures, that perfume is probably past its prime. 

Most perfumes only last three to five years once opened, but there are some high-end perfumes that can make it to double digits. If yours still smells rather nice and it doesn’t irritate your skin when you spritz it, then feel free to keep it around. (But if you haven’t used it up in that time, will you ever?)

Not all food storage containers are made the same. Sturdy containers are meant to last a long time with proper care, but if you’ve got a cabinet full of sauce-stained bowls and thin, dishwasher-warped plastic lids — or if you can’t find the lids to certain bowls — then it’s time to swap them out in favor of a high-quality set of food storage containers that’ll last you years.

If you want to put your lone containers or lids to good use before getting rid of them, try repurposing them as pantry organizers or spoon rests, respectively. Otherwise, feel free to recycle or donate them!

The digital age makes it easy to do away with filing cabinets altogether, although it’s understandable that you want to keep a hard copy of important documents, like birth certificates, marriage licenses, and home deeds. But when it comes to past bills, tax statements, expired insurance policies, and other outdated paperwork you simply don’t need, feed them to a shredder.

Remember, even the IRS says you can get rid of tax returns past the three-year mark in most situations, so don’t let indecision get in the way of a paperwork purge. If you need extra help sorting through paper clutter, follow these tips.

There’s nothing wrong with having access to a fun, scary, or glittery wardrobe when the dress code calls for it. But if you or your kids no longer fit into an outfit, or if your Halloween costumes are more musty than scary, it’s safe to donate them or repurpose them into something you will wear.

The same goes for children’s sports uniforms, whether it’s cheer, gymnastics, or baseball. If they can’t fit into them and there’s no chance they can be passed down to the next generation, donate them to kids who will give them a new life.

I’m guilty of buying yarn and other craft supplies that once briefly captivated me, but then the feeling faded away. While it’s true that craft trends have a way of returning, your interests and availability to explore them have likely marched on. 

Take your craft donations to a local scout troop, school, art store, or community center and call it a day. 

If you truly needed those chargers, they’d be in daily use, not coiled up in a shoe box in your closet. You might not even have the device they pair with anymore! 

Go ahead and bring those cords, cables, and wires to a local electronics recycling center or a technology store that will recycle them for you, like Best Buy. There are even some retailers that have a trade-in program so you can get cash or tech in return (that you’ll actually use).

Nothing marks the passage of time more sweetly than a child growing up. It’s bittersweet, and it’s tempting to hang on to things like strollers, toys, tiny outfits, and shoes to preserve the memories. 

But if the children who once used these items are now in their tweens, teens, or beyond, it’s time to send them off to get a second life elsewhere.

If you didn’t open it and use it by now, you probably never will. This goes for everything from dishware to bedding to shoes. 

The good news is that if any of it is still in the sealed original packaging, you have a decent chance of selling it. If not, donate or gift it to someone who will use it.