9 Things Pro Organizers Say You Can Toss Right Now—and Not Even Miss

Cords and Cables

Pretty much every rechargeable item comes with its own cord—but likely, you already own the cord necessary to charge it. USB-A (flat and rectangular) and USB-C (rounded rectangle) are common cables you don’t need to amass. 

"If you don’t have or know what device the cord or cable goes with, then it's time for it to go," says professional declutter Tracy McCubbin. Any specific charging cords, like unique USB-B cords, can be labeled with a label maker to help identify what they belong to.

"If you ever find the machine that needs that mystery cord, you'll be able to buy a new one for cheap off of eBay," adds McCubbin.

Paperwork

Files used to be hefty physical items with a dedicated cabinet, but now a file is an easily clickable digital item. ”So many people keep paperwork that is available and easily accessible online,” says McCubbin. “Shredding the paperwork you have and opting to access it online will clear so much clutter.”

If you don’t have a digital copy of important paperwork, scanning it or taking a photo of it and uploading it to a secure folder is a great way to save space and ensure you have what you need in case of emergency.

Books

Have a book on your shelf that you haven’t read for years? Decades? Maybe it’s time to pass it on. "There are only so many hours in the day," says McCubbin. "Let go of the books you are never going to read. If someday you decide you do want to read that book, check it out at your local library."

Consider leaving unread books in a Little Free Library or gifting a book to a friend if they may like it better.

Reusable Tote Bags

You actually don’t need dozens of reusable bags to carry your goods and clutter your space. “They are given to you at the store," reminds McCubbin. "You can get rid of three-quarters of them and you won’t miss a single one."

Consider using new and good-condition canvas bags as gift bags as a sustainable solution. Some thrift stores and grocery stores will also accept them as donations.

Outdated Technology

How often do you watch your collection of Friends DVDs? Do you even have the technology to play them? Unless you actively use or collect them, McCubbin suggests unloading CDs, DVDs, VHS tapes, and other outdated tech. They’re likely just taking up space.

Duplicative Clothing Items

Amassed ten pairs of black pants? An excessive amount of white shirts or floral blouses? Let your closet breathe! McCubbin recommends unloading multiples of clothing items, just keeping what you wear or like the most.

Apps and sites like Poshmark and ThredUp can help you sell your gently used clothing and ship them out to new closets, or you can donate clothing in good condition to various organizations.

Identical Kitchen Tools

Have three can openers? A bottle opener in every drawer? Do an audit of your kitchen. If you have an array of tools that all serve the same purpose, time to pare down. Unless you find yourself frequently needing four wooden spoons at once (recipe testers get it), you likely won't miss them.

Old Formalwear and Halloween Costumes

Items you’ve worn once and will never wear again—like a bridesmaid dress or Halloween costume—can also go. You’ll free up some closet space and be able to better see what you actually enjoy wearing.

Uni-taskers

They may have seemed like clever purchases at the time, but items that serve only one singular purpose are typically redundant and often go unused. "Think of things that only do one thing," encourages McCubbin. "For example, a mushroom scrubber in the shape of a mushroom or a cherry pitter." While cute, it may no longer be as useful as you once thought it would be.

"You have other items in your kitchen that you can use for those tasks," says McCubbin. "These are just taking up space."