Professional Organizers Agree You Should Toss These 5 Things ASAP

Nothing feels quite as good as a thorough home decluttering session. Ridding yourself of excess around the house does more than just lighten your load physically—it can transform the way you feel and function within your space. While there are certainly some spots that will need your undivided attention for days on end (like the overflowing basement where Christmas decorations mingle with extra boxes of pasta and sports gear), there are other categories that pro organizers agree are low-lift, high reward. 

To help you tidy your home one spot at a time, we asked professional organizers to give us ideas for what to reorganize (and, in some instances, toss) whenever you have a free moment. From the black hole that is your medicine cabinet (do you really need three half-full bottles of Tylenol?) to your overflowing mug collection, you officially have permission to toss these five things. 

Duplicative Paperwork

Keeping detailed files is always a good idea, especially when it comes to your home and health. That said, paperwork can pile up—literally—and almost everything can be found online these days if necessary. “Get rid of any paper documents that you can access online, whether that’s appliance manuals, past bills, recipes you’ve cut out from magazines, or receipts,” suggests Holly Blakey, the professional organizer and stylist behind Breathing Room Home. “It all just piles up and creates mental clutter.”

Expired Medications

It’s easy to lose track of medications that have expired, especially if you don’t find yourself reaching for them frequently. Emily Mass, professional organizer and owner of Spaces by Emily, suggests combing through your medicine cabinet occasionally to toss anything that is past its prime, including medications, sunscreen, ointment, and those bandaids that are barely sticky any longer. 

Any Half-Functional Cookware

Kitchens can be black holes of chaos, especially where food storage containers are concerned. “As a professional organizer, I am officially giving you permission to let go of that lidless Tupperware container left behind after a dinner party many months back,” says Jennifer Johnson, owner of The Orderly Space. While you’re at it, toss anything else hiding in your cabinets that is less than functional, like the nylon spatula that looks a little melted or the food processor that can barely chop a tomato. 

Excess Water Bottles and Mugs

Let’s face it: We all have far too many mugs and water bottles, and the pros we talked to agreed that many should find their way to the recycling bin or a donation center. “Water bottles and mugs are almost always seen in excess,” says Blakey. “Everyone has too many—we can all realistically function with less, so don’t be afraid to be a bit ruthless and get rid of ones that aren’t your favorites.” Translation: You shouldn’t be able to leave half your collection in your car or on your nightstand and still have somewhere to put your coffee every day of the week. Cut down your Stanley squad. 

Clothes You Don’t Love

For many of us, our closets are highly personal, which makes organizing them—and getting rid of them—pretty difficult to do without investing your emotions. Still, your wardrobe is a prime opportunity for purging, and the pros we spoke to encourage you to look at your clothing collection with a keen (and discerning) eye. “Statistically, we only wear 20% of our closet,” says Blakey. “This leads to choice paralysis in the morning when trying to get dressed—it’s also difficult to see everything you own, so people often end up buying more of what they don't need. A good closet purge is such an incredible opportunity to create space in your home and head.”