26 Things to Declutter in 2026
Are you ready to hit the ground running and make 2026 at the year you FINALLY get your clutter under control? Here are 26 things that are super fast and easy to declutter. Keep reading or check out the video here to declutter right along with me! Here's what I'm getting rid of in 2026!
Want a little extra motivation while you declutter this year? Inside Get Organized HQ Insiders, we tackle organizing in simple 10-minute wins just like this — with checklists, weekly challenges, and support to help you keep going. You can learn more here.
1. Expired Skincare Products
If it goes on your skin, then it needs to be in date! Check the expiration dates on sunscreens, lotions, etc. Sunscreen always has an expiration date. Other skincare product don't always have a date, but if it smells funny, or if the consistency or texture has changed, toss it!
2. Food Storage Containers
If it doesn't have a lid, toss it! You're looking for a 1-1 match here for everything.
3. Water Bottles
If it's smelly, moldy, discolored, or missing parts, it's time to go. My rule is one bottle and one backup per family member.
4. Spices
You can combine duplicate spices. Give everything the sniff test. If it still smells potent, I keep it, but if it doesn't smell like much, then it isn't going to flavor your food the way you want it to. If you can check expiration dates, that helps, too. And if you really want to go the extra mile, start writing the date you opened the spice on the container so you can keep track of how old they are!
5. Dead Bulbs & Batteries
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Keep a box for recycling dead bulbs and batteries, and empty it quarterly!
6. Candles You Never Burn
If you aren't going to use the candle this year, it's time to let it go. Smell the candle, and if you don't love it, you shouldn't keep it! My rule is that I can only keep four candles at a time– one per season.
7. Vases
Do you have multiple bouquets in your home at once? Yeah, me neither, LOL! And it seems like when flowers do come, they often come with their own cheap vase. I keep my top 3 vases and donate the rest!
8. Homeless Throw Blankets
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I LOVE snuggling up in a blanket on the couch. But it seems like throw blankets multiply at my house. My rule is one throw per sitting area plus one extra for a guest. Choose your favorites to keep!
9. Undershirts, Camis, and Tank Tops
If any of these are stretched out, worn, or discolored, they need to go. Also get rid of any that just don't fit right. If you wouldn't reach for it to wear, it has no place in your closet. This is one area where I will replace an item if needed. If the black tank I wear under everything is all worn out, I'll buy a new basic black tank.
10. Shoes
If they hurt, pinch, or otherwise don't fit right, they must go! Pain=Pass! If there's something you can do to fix the problem (like heel protection), then go straight to amazon and get it ordered. If you don't do it NOW, then you never will!
11. Socks Without a Mate
If you don't have a mate to a sock, then your washer probably really did eat it, LOL! Another way to solve this problem is to buy socks that are all the same. I do this for my kids. Matching them up is sooo much faster when they're all the same, and when they lose socks as kids do, it's just not as big of a problem.
12. Free T-Shirts
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How do we all end up with so many free T-Shirts from events or marketing? If you wouldn't buy it, don't keep it just because it was free! I do keep a couple to wear when doing something particularly messy, but most people don't need any more than a couple of these!
13. Single Earrings
Odds are you won't find the match…it's sad but true. If they are particularly sentimental, I would keep it longer just in case. If they are gold or silver, you can sell the metal at a jewelry store or pawn shop to recoup a little money. It's not much, but I keep a little baggie of broken chains, etc., and take it in when it's full.
14. Duplicate Screenshots
Yes– let's declutter our phones! This is a place where we spend a lot of our day! It can feel so much better if things aren't cluttered up with stuff we don't need.
15. Old Boarding Passes, Even Tickets, and Credit Cards
Check your wallet app and get rid of anything expired that you don't need.
16. Unused Apps
If you haven't used it in 90 days, it can probably go! If you need it later, you can always download it again. Having fewer apps makes it so much easier to find the ones you do use.
17. Email Subscriptions
Start going through your inbox or promotions tab and delete five per week (or better yet five per day!). In no time at all, things will start being much more manageable, and you'll notice a lot less junk mail!
18. Burst Photo Duplicates
Delete all the duplicate photos where you took a burst shot of your kid blowing out his candles. You only need one or two, and you can get rid of all the eyes closed shots!
19. Gift Bags and Tissue Overflow
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It is absolutely okay to keep some of these if you reuse them. Get a bin, and once that bin is full, get rid of the excess. It helps keep the stash at a manageable size, and most of us don't need multiple tubs of bags and tissue. Think about how many gifts you give in a year and go from there!
20. Event Swag, Pens, and Magnets
All of this free stuff seems exciting in the moment, but it's not really free if it takes up space in your home! Rethink bringing it into your home in the first place, but if you already have a bunch of this stuff, keep only a few things you love and let the rest go!
21. Borrowed Items to Return
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Keep a bin by the door or better yet, in your car, and put things there that need to go back to other people or to places like the library. We all want to be responsible borrowers when a friend lends us something, and when we return it quickly, it doesn't clutter our homes, and we don't keep it too long or worse, forget about it all together!
22. Manuals and Guides
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Almost all appliance manuals are online now. Odds are that you will never look at it again anyway, but even if you do need it, you can almost always find it online. If you're nervous about tossing it, check online for the manual, and download it into a file for manuals or bookmark it, and then let that paper copy go!
23. Travel Toiletries and Hotel Minis
Most of us grab these since they're “free” and good for travel. But we don't need a huge stash. Keep what you will actually use. Toss the products you don't really like, and then rethink what you bring home from that hotel in the first place!
24. Mystery Keys
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If you don't know what the keys open, toss them!
25. Pet Gear You've Outgrown
Get rid of any pet items that you don't use or that your pets don't like.
26. Auto-Renew Subscriptions
Take a look at your Apple account or check your emails and bank statements for recurring subscriptions. Do you pay for Netflix but not really watch. much TV? Do you get a makeup subscription box, but you're pretty well stocked with makeup backups? Cancel them! You can always re-subscribe when you want to. This helps with both physical and mental clutter, but it also saves you money!
I'm tackling all these things this year. Declutter along with me, and let me know what you'll be getting rid of in 2026! If you think you need a little extra help and motivation this year, check out our Insiders Membership. There are tons of decluttering and home management resources there as well as an online community support group to help you keep going!
Copyright 2026, Get Organized HQ.
cathy Says
travel toiletries- rather than toss them, donate them to a shelter for the homeless or a food pantry ( call to see if your local accepts these) it may be cluttering your home but it may be a blessing to someone in need
Phyllis Werlin Says
I do a lot of decluttering but some things are harder to get rid of than others.
Please also recommend places where folks can donate things like blankets or mini shampoos etc from hotels. We donate blankets to shelters, same with toiletries. Ask at your place of worship. I also use Freecycle and other apps and give items away for free, as long as they are clean and usually not used, or only slightly used. People love free stuff- and as long as it’s Out of my house, yippee! There are used bookstores and some drugstores will take expired meds. Too many pencils and paper? donate to a local school… teachers often have to spend their own money for these.
It makes me feel good to know that someone who really needs my extra things were able to get them cheap or free.
Phyllis
Suzanne U. Says
About 4 years ago my daughter bought sock trees for all of us to use. You put your socks on it after you take them off. It holds about 10 pairs. When it is full, you toss the whole thing in he washer and then in the dryer. When they are dry, you take out each pair individually and put them in the drawer. We haven’t lost any socks since then. And best of all, the washer and dryer no longer get to eat them.
Bernice Says
I already did a pantry decanter of expired baking items, cake/muffin mixes and canned goods. The next thing will be old baking pans and old small appliances that don’t work anymore, then donate the small appliances that still work that I don’t use. There is a lot more but that is where I am starting.
Nancy Says
I just want to tell you how much I appreciate having a transcript to READ instead of a video to watch. I can’t always watch a presentation, but I can usually read one.
Great suggestions and happy new year to you.
Florence Appéré Says
This list is a very useful reminder. I have already decided o declutter my phone, my e-mail inbox, and get rid of the user manuels that have been sitting in a box in the cellar for … years! Since I move here 8 years ago.
Thank you;
Blayne Says
I’d like to follow up. with Nancy’s comment that I prefer to READ than watch a video. Even when I speed up a video, it takes too long. I can read and get what I need/want so much faster. Thanks!
Lynne Says
I started on tote bags. Oh my! I have SO many. I am going to donate 25 to the local charity shop. That way, buyers will get a nice reusable bag rather than a plastic one.
I also have way too many purses and change purses. I will donate many of these to the same charity shop to sell. All the money goes to our Regional Health to purchase items for the hospital.