You’ve cleared out your closet, wiped down the kitchen counters, and finally sorted through that junk drawer, but more clutter is probably hiding around your home. A few forgotten belongings can take up storage space for years, even if you no longer use them or remember why you kept them.
You don’t need to empty every cabinet to make progress, so start with one of these nine often-overlooked collections. You may find that clearing them out frees up more room than you expected.
Old Phones, Chargers, and Electronics
Outdated phones, tangled cables, and mystery adapters can fill an entire drawer because you think they might come in handy someday. Match the chargers to devices you still own, erase personal data from unwanted electronics, and take the rest to a suitable electronics recycling or trade-in program.
Related: 10 Things You Should Double-Check Before Leaving Your Hotel
Travel-Sized Toiletries and Beauty Samples
Hotel shampoos, tiny lotion bottles, and free cosmetic samples often pile up because each one seems too small to worry about. Check their condition and expiration dates, keep the products you’ll realistically use, and ask local donation groups whether they accept unopened toiletries.
Related: 12 Things You’re Better Off Buying New Instead of Secondhand
Reusable Shopping Bags and Tote Bags
Reusable bags are handy until you’ve collected so many that they fill a closet, car trunk, or drawer by the front door. Keep a practical number you’ll remember to use, then give away clean extras in good condition.
Old CDs, DVDs, and Other Media
Boxes of old movies, music discs, and tapes can sit untouched for years after you’ve stopped using the devices that play them. Keep the recordings you still enjoy, and consider selling or donating playable copies that are taking up storage space.
Related: 12 Things Around the House That Have Uses Beyond Their Original Purpose
Books You’re Never Going to Read Again
Books can fill shelves quickly, especially if you keep bringing home new titles without making room. Set aside duplicate copies, outdated reference books, and titles you know you won’t read again, then donate or pass along the ones someone else might enjoy.
Half-Used Candles
That cabinet full of candles may contain scents you no longer like, gifts you’ve never opened, and jars with barely any wax left. Keep the candles you still enjoy, and consider reusing or recycling suitable containers after removing the leftover wax.
Forgotten Bottles in the Liquor Cabinet
Bottles pushed to the back of a cabinet can sit for years, especially if you rarely entertain or make cocktails at home. Check labels and storage guidance for opened mixers and cream-based liqueurs, and reconsider keeping bottles you don’t plan to use.
Jewelry You Haven’t Worn in Years
Your jewelry box may be holding broken necklaces, single earrings, tarnished costume jewelry, and pieces that no longer suit your taste. Set aside sentimental or valuable items you want to keep, then consider repairing, selling, or donating the rest.
Related: 13 Things You Probably Have at Home That Can Put Kids in Danger
Old Instruction Manuals and Product Paperwork
A drawer full of manuals, warranty booklets, and receipts can contain paperwork for appliances and electronics you no longer own. Recycle documents you no longer need, but keep records tied to items you still use, active warranties, or purchases that may require proof of ownership.
Start With One Overlooked Spot
You don’t have to empty every drawer and cabinet to make your home feel less crowded. Choose one collection, keep what you use or care about, and find a new home for the rest before moving on to another area.
