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Introduction:
Clutter can creep up on even the most organized among us. Whether it's an overflowing junk drawer, expired items in the fridge, or an old stash of gadgets and receipts, knowing what to toss—and what to keep—can simplify your life and reduce stress. This guide lays out 14 common things you should almost always throw away, and 10 things you might be surprised to learn you should hold on to.
Ingredients: (in this context, think of these as key categories of household clutter)
Expired food and condiments
Broken electronics
Single-use plastic containers
Worn-out clothes and shoes
Old beauty and hygiene products
Dead batteries
Unmatched socks
Old receipts/manuals
Junk mail
Stretched-out hair ties/rubber bands
Dried pens and markers
Unused cables and cords
Expired medicine
Obsolete paperwork (unless sensitive)
Preparation: How to Sort and Decide
Set aside one hour with three boxes: Keep, Toss, and Unsure.
Tackle one category or drawer at a time—don’t try to do it all at once.
Use the “One-Year Rule”: if you haven’t used it in a year and it doesn’t serve a legal, financial, or sentimental purpose, it probably needs to go.
Presentation and Storage Tips:
Use clear containers to easily see what you’ve stored.
Label boxes for seasonal items, tech accessories, or sentimental keepsakes.
Use vertical space with stackable bins or hanging organizers.
Shred sensitive documents instead of throwing them in the trash.
Donate gently used items to charity instead of tossing them.
Variants:
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