We all do it. Hold on to items in the hopes that one day they will become useful. But if that day is still yet to come for you, you’re not alone. Because fundamentally, holding on to something you haven't used in months, maybe even years, is just clutter.
I like to call this particular type ‘just in case’ clutter. You can have the best intentions behind keeping something, holding on to it ‘just in case’ it finally comes in handy. But if it’s not being used, it’s no longer serving a purpose and it no longer deserves a place in the home. Sounds harsh, but that's effective decluttering for you.
Just in case clutter is still just clutter. And your home deserves better. To help you determine what is necessary and what is simply wasting your space, here are my top picks for the ‘just in case’ clutter you need to chuck today.
Old cables and chargers
Easily top of my list when it comes to ‘just in case’ clutter are old cables and chargers. Most of us have a drawer full of mystery wires that once belonged to a phone, tablet or laptop we no longer own – yet we continue to keep them, just in case they suddenly become useful. The truth is, brands have now started streamlining their charging systems, rendering more and more of that drawer completely useless.
Start by matching each cable or charger to a device you still use. If you can’t identify it or you haven’t needed it in the past year, it’s probably safe to let it go. Keep essential spares, but avoid holding on to multiples of the same cable or chargers for gadgets that have long since left your home.
Don’t put unwanted cables and chargers in your general waste. They often contain materials that can be recovered. Instead, take them to an electrical recycling point or a local household recycling centre. Just make sure you check that the cable is genuinely unwanted first – discovering it was the only charger for an old but still useful device is a particularly irritating form of decluttering regret.
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Clothes that no longer fit
It’s easy to keep clothes that no longer fit because you’re convinced you’ll wear them again one day. But if an item has been sitting untouched in your wardrobe for years, it’s just making you feel bad. It’s taking up valuable space for some future version of yourself, rather than serving the person you are now.
Be realistic about what you’re likely to wear again. Keep a small, manageable ‘maybe’ pile if your size is changing, but give yourself a deadline to review it. Anything you still haven’t reached for by then can be donated, sold or recycled, depending on its condition.
Holding on to one or two meaningful pieces is perfectly reasonable. Keeping an entire wardrobe of clothes that are uncomfortable, unsuitable or no longer your style, however, only makes getting dressed more of a headache than it already is.
Unused kitchen gadgets
From bread makers and spiralizers to novelty appliances bought on a whim, kitchen gadgets can quickly take over valuable cupboard space. If you haven’t used something in the past year, ask yourself whether you are realistically going to reach for it again.
Be honest about how often you actually cook and whether the gadget makes life easier. If it is awkward to clean, difficult to store or only useful for one very specific recipe, it may not be earning its place. Donate or sell anything in good working order, and take broken electrical items to a recycling point.
Old paint tins
It might sound specific or even niche, but old paint tins are surprisingly common residents of sheds, garages and understairs cupboards. We keep them in case a wall needs touching up, then forget about them until the paint has dried out, separated or become unusable.
Keep tins that are clearly labelled and still match paintwork in your home, particularly if you have an ongoing decorating project. You could also decant a small amount into an airtight jar, if you only need them for touch ups, as there's no need to keep massive metal tins lying around. Anything else can usually go. Check your local council’s guidance before disposing of paint, as some household recycling centres accept leftover tins while others have specific rules. Never pour paint down the sink or drain and leave tins to dry out only if local guidance says this is suitable.
Expired toiletries and beauty products
Bathroom cupboards are often full of products we bought with good intentions but never quite got around to using. Old moisturisers, hair products and makeup can deteriorate over time, particularly once they have been opened, so holding on to them ‘just in case’ is doubly pointless.
Check the period-after-opening symbol – usually shown as a small open pot with a number followed by an ‘M’ – to see how long a product should be used after opening. If anything has changed smell, colour or texture, or is well past its recommended use-by period, it’s time to let it go. Be especially cautious with products used around the eyes, such as mascara and liquid eyeliner, as these can collect bacteria.
Even with products still in date, be honest about what you're using and what you’re not, and ask yourself why that is. Is it because you’re saving it for a special occasion? Or because you know it doesn’t quite work with your skin, but the price tag is guilting you into keeping it? Letting it decay and gather dust is just as wasteful as chucking it, so move it on either by throwing it away or passing it on to a friend or family member who might actually use it.
Broken items waiting to be repaired
We’re all guilty of keeping broken items with the intention of repairing them one day. The problem is that ‘one day’ can easily turn into six months, then a year, then another. Meanwhile, the item continues to take up space and gather dust.
If something has been waiting to be repaired for more than six months, be honest about whether you are genuinely going to fix it. Consider the cost of the repair, how often you would use the item and whether replacing it would be more practical. If it’s worth saving, set a date to deal with it; otherwise, donate it for parts, recycle it responsibly or dispose of it according to the material it is made from – simple as.
Stacks of takeaway menus, leaflets and vouchers
Kitchen drawers and hallway surfaces can quickly become dumping grounds for takeaway menus, delivery leaflets and vouchers and coupons we mean to deal with later. But if the information is available online, or it's a brand you otherwise wouldn’t even shop at, there’s little reason to keep a growing collection of shiny papers.
Recycle anything that is out of date, duplicated or no longer useful, and only keep paperwork you genuinely need. If you’re unsure whether something is important, check before throwing it away – and shred anything containing personal information rather than putting it straight in the recycling.
‘One day’ hobby supplies
Hobbies can be a lovely way to spend our free time, but unfinished projects and unused materials can quickly become clutter that takes over the whole house. Whether it’s fabric, wool, art equipment, sports tools or baking supplies, be honest about whether you are genuinely likely to return to the hobby – or whether you simply like the idea of taking it up again.
If you haven’t used the supplies in years and there’s no specific project you’re planning to complete, it may be time to let them go. Donate good-quality materials to a charity shop, school or community group, where they can be used rather than left untouched in a cupboard. Keep only what you still enjoy and have the time, space and enthusiasm to use.
