6 Things Everyone Needs to Get Rid of from 2020

Back in 2020, COVID-19 lockdowns united many people on a universal level in one of the most unprecedented, unpredictable years of modern time. As people quarantined, many found ways to stay busy or get creative; but now, over six years after the start of the COVID-19 pandemic, so many of those items purchased out of panic or boredom are just collecting dust.

If you bought any of the following things in 2020, consider this permission to part ways for good by selling, donating, or throwing them away. 

Way in the back of your pantry are perhaps a handful of canned goods that were part of your lockdown haul. You may have bought these just-in-case (I still have a few cans of old chicken noodle soup!), but six years later, it’s probably time to get rid of them. 

Unopened low-acid canned goods such as stews, beans, and corn typically last between two and five years, so if you got them back in 2020, it’s likely they’re more than a year expired. If your 2020 canned goods haven’t reached their expiration date, move them to the front of your pantry so you actually use them or donate them to a local canned food drive.

From sourdough kits to knitting supplies, at-home hobbies and crafts were all the rage in 2020. Staying busy and exploring creative outlets sometimes meant spending money on a kit that you might have only used a handful of times (or never).

If these kits remain unused or lightly used, consider selling or donating them. Letting them go can help you feel unburdened while also decluttering your space. 

Believe it or not, many cleaning products do expire. While they may not go bad in the same way food does, they lose their potency and cleaning power.

Sprays, detergents, and even disinfectants typically have a shelf life of about two years. Whatever cleaning products you purchased in bulk in 2020 that are sitting on a garage shelf or under your kitchen sink should probably be thrown out ASAP (just remember to dispose of them correctly). 

Personal protective equipment (PPE) can include masks, gloves, face shields, alcohol gel or spray, shoe covers, and more. While it’s good sense to keep a small stock of masks and gloves, it may be best to donate any excess PPE that you aren’t using as frequently as in the first couple years of the pandemic. 

You can donate these unused items to your local free clinics, homeless shelters, nursing homes, nonprofit health organizations, and animal rescues. 

Much like hobby or craft kits, puzzles and board games were a fun way to pass the time during lockdown. Inevitably, they became obsolete in many households after a year or two as people spent less time at home.

If you’re not hosting a regular (or semi-regular) game night and your puzzles and games have been collecting dust, it’s probably best to donate them to a children’s hospital, family shelter, local schools, libraries, or retirement homes to give them a second life. 

Like so many others, I ordered an expensive stationary bike during 2020 only to use it for a few months and never look at it again. It took me nearly three years to get rid of it — I have since joined a spin class that keeps me totally accountable, and I actually want to go.

While I felt silly and even a bit shameful that I didn’t use it as much as I thought I would, I knew I wasn’t alone. Even if you haven’t used your stationary bike, treadmill, walking pad, or dumbbells in six years, it’s never too late to let them go and move on from an era that changed the world.