7 Things Professional Organizers Say You Can Probably Get Rid Of Today

Most kitchens don’t get cluttered all at once. A spare container here, an extra gadget there, a few sauce packets tossed into a drawer, and before long, cabinets are overflowing and finding anything feels like a scavenger hunt.

Professional organizers often say the fastest way to make a space feel calmer isn’t buying more storage. It’s letting go of the things you already own but never actually use, and a few repeat offenders show up in nearly every home.

Food Storage Containers Without Lids

Almost every kitchen has a cabinet filled with plastic containers, and somehow half of them never have a matching lid. These orphaned pieces take up space and make it frustrating to pack leftovers.

Pull everything out, match each container with its lid, and recycle or discard anything without a partner. Keeping a smaller set of containers in a few uniform sizes makes stacking and storing much easier.

Expired Spices

Spices don’t usually spoil in a way that makes them unsafe, but they lose flavor over time. Ground spices tend to fade after a couple of years, while whole spices last a bit longer.

If a jar has lost its color or barely smells like anything, it’s time to replace it. Writing the purchase date on new jars makes it easier to keep track in the future.

Duplicate Kitchen Gadgets

Many people own three vegetable peelers, multiple can openers, or several nearly identical spatulas. Duplicates crowd drawers and make it harder to find the tools you actually reach for.

Keep your favorite version of each item and donate the rest. Single-use gadgets that rarely come out, like avocado slicers or egg separators, are also good candidates to let go.

Takeout Extras

Soy sauce packets, plastic cutlery, chopsticks, and napkins from takeout orders can quietly fill an entire drawer. Most of them sit untouched for months.

Toss packets that have been around for a while and keep only a small handful of utensils for lunches or picnics. Asking restaurants to skip the extras when you order prevents the pile from building back up.

Too Many Coffee Mugs

Mugs tend to multiply through gifts, souvenirs, and promotional freebies. Before long, cabinets are packed with far more than anyone in the house uses.

Choose the mugs you genuinely love and use most often, then donate the rest. A smaller collection frees up cabinet space for items that need it more.

Worn-Out Sponges and Dish Towels

Kitchen sponges can harbor a lot of bacteria, and many cleaning experts recommend replacing them frequently. Stained, fraying, or musty-smelling dish towels can also be retired.

Old towels don’t have to go straight to the trash. Cut them into rags for cleaning jobs around the house or garage, then recycle textiles where possible.

The Plastic Bag Stash

Many kitchens have a bag full of plastic grocery bags tucked under the sink, often growing larger every week. It’s rare to need as many as most people save.

Keep a small number for trash can liners or pet cleanup, and take the rest to a store drop-off bin for recycling. Switching to reusable shopping bags helps prevent the stash from coming back.

Make Decluttering a Habit

Instead of tackling the whole kitchen at once, try clearing one drawer or cabinet at a time. Small sessions feel more manageable and still make a noticeable difference.

Before buying something new, consider whether it will replace something you already own. A quick check every few months keeps clutter from piling up again.