kitchen drawer full of coffee mugs

7 Common Clutter Problems and How to Solve Them

I have a theory that most of us would be more than willing to let go of the stuff that’s cluttering our homes if we knew these things would serve a worthwhile cause or help someone else—the good things, kitchen things, the highly useful possessions that we just don’t use. Check out these worthwhile solutions for most households’ seven biggest clutter problems.

kitchen drawer full of coffee mugs

 

Common Clutter

1. Vases, baskets, containers

And anything else that held flowers and gifts you have received. If they’re cracked or broken, no one wants them. Toss them.

For the rest, take those which are in “like-new” condition to the closest flower shop to be recycled. You’ll be gratefully received.

Keep this in mind: As you have possession of these things, they may appear to be more valuable and desirable than they really are. Once out of sight, they will become quickly out of mind. Within hours you’ll completely forget what it was you threw out.

 

2. Excess mugs, dishes, bakeware

A cup of coffee on a table, with Bakery and Ceramic

No matter how pretty or potentially useful, if you do not use those items at least once each year, sell them to an antique dealer. Or give them to a local thrift shop or the church’s annual rummage sale.

If you’re fairly certain your items are generally desirable by your neighbors and local community, offer them on your community’s Freecycle.org site.

Knowing someone else will love and use these things should ease the pain of separation.

3. Pots and pans

pots and pans clutter

For new or little used items with high level of desirability (i.e. an Instant Pot you received as a gift but it’s just not you, etc.), resell at sites like eBay, and Facebook Marketplace.

Or offer them to family members, take them to the thrift shop, or see if your church kitchen or camp could use some decent cookware.

Just don’t feel offended if others don’t find your pots as useful and or desirable as you believe they should be.

4. Clothing

stack of clothes for donation

Can’t bring yourself to dump your good clothes into a collection bin? Find an organization with specific needs.

Check out crisis pregnancy homes, battered women’s shelters, and drug rehab centers.

They will be so grateful to get gently used clothing that their clients can wear to job interviews.

Beyond gently worn? Look for recycle options where items like these made of natural fibers (cotton, linen) are turned into industrial rags.

If none of these options apply to your situation? Don’t hesitate. Toss them. Now.

5. Books

bookcase filled with books

Go to Decluttr, input the ISBN number of that book or scan it using the Decluttr smartphone app. Decluttr buys some books but not all books.

For those books Decluttr will buy, print out the prepaid mailing label, and get those books into the mail. Decluttr will send you a check. I’ve done it, and been surprised by how quickly I got paid.

Got textbooks? BookScouter.com specializes in buying and selling textbooks. Same routine: Input the ISBN number at its website. Book Scouter helps you sell textbooks and used books for the most money by comparing offers from over 39 book buyback vendors with a single search.

Can’t sell them? Donate books to your local library. Those the library cannot put on the shelves will help raise funds at the next library book sale.

6. Bibles, religion books, literature

church library booksMake a list of what you have including titles, authors, ISBN, condition, and so forth and applicable.

Lovepackages.org is a great organization to donate Bibles, Christian literature, and teaching materials They ship them overseas to ministries that are so grateful to receive. Puruse the website for more information and donating details.

Call a local church or two and ask if they want them. If not, contact a local nursing home or assisted living community. Or take them to the thrift shop.

These are the best ways to get these items into the hands of those who can use and will appreciate them.

7. Old Furniture

Post your items on CraigsList.org or Facebook Marketplace, to sell items you don’t need and are just taking up space. If you want to give the stuff away, post on FreeCycle.org if your community has a local chapter.

Another option is to join NextDoor.com to connect with neighbors in your local community.

There’s a new interest by millennials in old “brown” furniture. The practice is to take these pieces apart and reinvent them into contemporary pieces. It is quite amazing to see the transformations!

No matter which way you go, if your furniture is generally desirable, it’ll be gone before you know it.

General Organization Tips

Because clutter and organization is a huge problem for many of us, here are my tried-and-true tips to help with the mess:

Everything in its place

Assign a “home” for everything you own, then put things away when you are finished using them. If something doesn’t have a home, perhaps it’s time to rethink that item.

Save it with a photo

If you are having trouble parting with something and you want to save the memory of the item, consider taking a photo of it for future reference. Wait. Don’t dismiss this idea so quickly! This may sound silly at first, but it will fulfill your desire to continue to enjoy it and declutter your life, too.

Organize your kitchen pantry

Group like items together so you’ll know what you have and what needs to go. Discover what’s lurking on your shelves and in your cupboards. If you do not use it regularly, either get rid of it or start using it.

Clear out medsmedicine in a bottle

Go through your medicine cabinets twice a year (January and June are a good schedule) and dispose of all expired over-the-counter medications.

For expired prescription drugs, take them to a local pharmacy that accepts them (many do and they may also accept your expired over-the-counter items as well), then make a list of items you need to replace.

Make sure you guard your ID with a permanent marker or this handy blackout roller stamp.

 

 


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18 replies
  1. Margaret says:

    I am a crafter who creates with broken glass and pottery. Please put chipped and broken items on your local free or no-pay sites and list them as craft supplies. A truly colored piece of glassware looks great in a resin window and pottery makes wonderful mosaics.

    Reply
  2. Robyn W says:

    Empty prescription bottles are gladly accepted by animal shelters and rescues. They use these to send meds home with fosters and adopters.

    Also, we have a FB site for our neighborhood that is called Buy Nothing. It is great for passing along items (as well as food and household supplies) to someone who can use them, and not having to worry about listing items for sale.

    Reply
  3. Judith Kerr says:

    If you ever get permanent marker on something. There Is a way to remove it. Use isopropyl or Heet like what is put in car gas in the winter. It will remove the permanent marker from almost any surface.

    Reply
  4. Jo says:

    Lovepackages.org is a great organization to give Bibles, Christian literature and teaching materials to. They ship them overseas to ministries that are so grateful to receive.

    Reply
  5. DeeDee says:

    Please consider donating those dolls to a women’s and children shelter. Many children are ripped from their abusive homes with almost nothing and a beautiful special doll would be such a blessing.

    Never throw away something that can be donated. Let them decide if it is trash or not is my MO.

    Reply
  6. Terri Walton says:

    Hi, I have a question about how to get rid of something my family has a ton of: old dolls. These are Madame Alexander dolls, “antique” dolls (not valuable), the “limited edition” ones that were advertised in all the women’s magazines in the 70s-90s. My grandmother collected them obsessively. After my grandmother died my mother saved them all in a storage unit, for which we are still paying. My mother just recently died, and I have no idea how to ethically dispose of these. I hate to dump them in a dumpster, but I know that doll collectors, doll shop owners, eBay buyers, etc. no longer want any of them. (My mom tried to find ways to sell them for years.) They are of really no material value at all. I may save one or two as special keepsakes, but we have literally dozens and dozens of these dolls that are in good condition but not valuable. What’s the best way to move these out of our lives? Thank you for any suggestions!

    Reply
    • Pat C says:

      If the dolls are in good condition, what about donating them to a women’s shelter or a non-profit daycare? It would be wonderful if a little girl fleeing a violent home received a doll of her very own.

      Reply
    • patti says:

      Facebook Marketplace seems like a good option. Do you think people might take a few at a time? First you may want to offer for your family to choose their favorites.

      Reply
    • Michelle says:

      You may want to check with crafting groups in your area to see if they’d like them. If not, I personally would just donate them to a nearby thrift store. If no one wants them, at least it would save you the discomfort of being the one who has to toss them out.

      Reply
      • Mary Hunt says:

        Most Thrift stores have taken things up a notch. Those I donate to will not accept anything ripped or stained, and they check before accepting the donation. Maybe they’ve gotten weary of dealing with other’s unserviceable junk?

  7. DENISE HOLTON says:

    Another option is join your local Buy Nothing facebook group. Have updated so many items in my home while gifting to others in need. Also connects people in your area.

    Reply
  8. PJ says:

    Habitat for Humanity ReStore accepts donations of all kinds of things they can use to build houses: flooring, fixtures, tile — stuff you have left over from remodeling. They will give you a tax receipt for the fair market value.

    Reply

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