109 Things You Don’t Need: A Declutter Checklist

In our quest for a more organized and sustainable lifestyle, it’s essential to reassess how we interact with our possessions. Shocking clutter statistics reveal that the average American home contains about 300,000 items, leading to a cluttered environment.

Not only that, but a significant number of these household items are seldom used either.

This checklist we prepared aims to explore how reducing belongings can lead to not just more space, but also mental clarity and environmental sustainability.

Each item we choose not to own signifies a step away from unnecessary consumption and a step towards a more thoughtful and environmentally responsible lifestyle.

Remember, every small decision to not acquire or hold onto an unneeded item contributes to a larger impact on our well-being and the health of our planet.

Let this checklist be a guide to a simpler, more fulfilling way of life!

Declutter Checklist of Items You Don’t Need…and What to Use Instead

Item	Alternative	Reason
Air Humidifier	Placing water basins near radiators or using houseplants	Natural solutions, saves electricity
Air Purifiers	Houseplants known for air purifying	Natural solution, adds aesthetic appeal
Aluminum Foil	Silicone Baking Mats, Reusable Covers	Reusable, reduces waste
Bread Maker	Baking bread traditionally in an oven	Saves space, versatile
Cable TV Subscription	Streaming services or digital antennas	Cheaper, tailored viewing options
Cable/Satellite TV Boxes	Streaming devices or smart TVs	More content options, often cheaper
Cotton Balls/Pads	Reusable cotton rounds	Reusable, cost-effective over time
Disposable Air Fresheners	Essential Oil Diffusers or homemade alternatives	Less waste, natural ingredients
Disposable Baking Pans	Metal Baking Pans or Silicone Baking Pans	Reusable, durable
Disposable Batteries	Rechargeable batteries	Cost-effective over time, reduces waste
Disposable Cleaning Wipes	Reusable Cleaning Cloths or Old Clothing Rags	Reusable, reduces waste
Disposable Coffee Cups	Reusable Coffee Cups or bring your own mug	Reusable, reduces waste
Disposable Cupcake Liners	Silicone Cupcake Liners	Reusable, cost-effective over time
Disposable Cutlery	Reusable cutlery	Reusable, durable
Disposable Diapers	Cloth Diapers	Reusable, cost-effective over time
Disposable Floss Picks	Reusable Floss Holder with Refillable Floss	Reduces plastic waste, cost-effective over time
Disposable Hair Nets	Reusable Hair Nets	Reusable, cost-effective over time
Disposable lighters	Refillable lighters	Longer lifespan, cost-effective over time
Disposable Lunch Boxes	Old Containers, Reusable Bento Boxes or Tiffin Carriers	Reusable, reduces waste
Disposable Oven Mitts	Reusable Fabric Oven Mitts or Silicone Oven Mitts	Reusable, durable
Disposable Piping Bags	Metal or Silicone Piping Bags	Reusable, durable
Disposable Plastic Gloves	Reusable Rubber Gloves or Wash Hands Thoroughly	Reusable, reduces waste, saves money
Disposable Plates	Reusable plates	Reusable, durable, reduces waste
Disposable Razors	Safety razor with replacement blades	Longer lifespan, cost-effective over time
Disposable Shopping Bags	Reusable shopping bags	Reduces waste, more durable
Disposable Shower Curtains	Reusable Fabric or Vinyl Shower Curtains	Longer lifespan, easy to clean
Disposable Swiffer Pads	Washable Microfiber Mop Pads or Old Clothing Rags	Reusable, cost-effective over time
Disposable Water Bottles	Reusable water bottles	Reduces waste, saves money
Disposable Wipes	Reusable cloths	Reusable, reduces waste
Dry Cleaning Services	Hand washing delicate items or using a steamer	Saves money, less chemical exposure
Dryer Sheets	Reusable Dryer Balls or DIY Fabric Softener	Reusable, cost-effective over time
DVD/Blu-ray Player	Streaming services or digital downloads	Reduces physical clutter, offers more variety
Electric Can Opener	Manual can opener	Saves space, no electricity needed
Electric Knife	Traditional manual knives	Easier to clean, no electricity needed
Electric Pencil Sharpener	Manual pencil sharpener	No electricity needed, portable
Electric Toothbrush	Manual toothbrush	Less expensive, no electricity needed
Excess Clothing	Minimalist wardrobe, buying high-quality versatile pieces	Reduces clutter, promotes mindful consumption
Excess Cookware and Dishware	Keeping a minimal, versatile set	Reduces clutter, easier to manage
Excess Furniture	Opting for multi-functional furniture	Saves space, promotes a minimalist lifestyle
Excessive Home Décor	Minimalist décor, rotating a smaller number of décor items	Reduces clutter, promotes mindful consumption
Extra Bedding and Linens	Keeping a minimal set and laundering as needed	Reduces clutter, easier to manage
Fax Machine	Email, digital document transfer platforms	Faster, more convenient, saves on paper
Gas-powered Lawnmower	Electric or manual lawnmowers, or lawn service	Lower emissions, quieter
Greeting Cards	Make your own from paper or send virtual cards	Personalized, reduces waste
Gym Membership	Outdoor exercises, home workout routines	Saves money, offers flexibility
Home Ironing Set	Steamer or professional pressing services	Saves space, often faster and easier
Home Printer	Use of digital documents, nearby print shops or library printers	Saves money on ink and paper, reduces clutter
Ice Cream Maker	Food Processor	Multi-purpose appliance
Ice Maker	Ice trays or buying ice as needed	Saves space, no electricity needed
Incandescent Light Bulbs	LED or CFL bulbs	Energy-efficient, longer-lasting
Landline Telephone	Mobile phones or internet-based communication	More versatile, portable
Landscaping Services	DIY landscaping or community gardening groups	Saves money, community engagement, personal satisfaction
Large Freezer	Buying fresh produce and meats in manageable quantities	Reduces food waste, saves energy
Leaf Blower	Rake or manual methods	Quieter, no emissions, physical exercise
Magazines Subscriptions	Online magazines or library access	Reduces paper waste, instant access
Newspaper Subscriptions	Online news subscriptions or free news websites	Instant access, reduces paper waste
Paper Bills and Statements	Electronic bills and statements	Reduces paper waste, easy to organize
Paper Boarding Passes	Mobile Boarding Passes	Reduces paper waste, convenient
Paper Coffee Filters	Reusable coffee filter or mesh strainer	Reusable, cost-effective over time
Paper Envelopes	Reusable plastic folders	Reusable, reduces paper waste
Paper Napkins	Cloth Napkins	Reusable, cost-effective over time
Paper Notebooks	Online Note-Taking Apps or Digital Notebooks	Reduces paper waste, accessible anywhere
Paper Receipts	Email/SMS/Digital receipts	Reduces paper waste, convenient
Paper Tissues	Handkerchiefs	Reusable, cost-effective over time
Paper Towel	Cloth towels or Old Clothing Rags	Reusable, cost-effective over time
Paper Towels	Reusable cloths or rags	Reduces waste, saves money
Parchment Paper	Reusable, silicone baking mats	Reusable, cost-effective over time
Personal Organizers	Digital organizers on smartphones or computers	Accessible anywhere, easy to organize
Physical Books	E-books, audiobooks, or library borrowing	Saves space, portable, often cheaper
Physical Media (CDs, DVDs)	Digital music and movie platforms	Reduces physical clutter, instant access
Physical Photo Albums	Digital photo albums and online photo storage	Saves space, accessible anywhere
Plastic Bags	Reusable grocery bags, mesh produce bags	Reusable, reduces plastic waste
Plastic Bottle scrubbers	Reusable bottle brushes	Reusable, durable
Plastic Bubble Wrap	Reusable Packing Material or Old Newspaper	Reduces plastic waste, reusable options
Plastic Cling Wrap	Reusable Beeswax Wrap or Silicone Lids	Reusable, reduces plastic waste
Plastic Combs	Wooden combs	Durable, biodegradable
Plastic Food Storage Bags	Reusable containers	Reusable, durable
Plastic Pens	Refillable pens	Longer lifespan, reduces plastic waste
Plastic Sandwich Bags	Reusable sandwich wraps/bags	Reusable, reduces plastic waste
Plastic Straws	Stainless Steel or Silicone Straws. Or just skip the straw.	Reusable, reduces plastic waste
Plastic Toothbrushes	Bamboo toothbrushes	Biodegradable handle, eco-friendly
Plastic Water Bottles	Reusable water bottle	Reusable, reduces plastic waste
Plastic Wrap	Beeswax wraps, glass/stainless steel containers, Re-purpose Old Containers	Reusable, reduces plastic waste
Second Car	Carpooling, public transportation, cycling	Saves money on insurance, maintenance, fuel
Shoe Shine Services	DIY shoe shine kits	Saves money, personal satisfaction
Single-function Tools	Multi-purpose tools or multi-function tools	Saves space, more versatile
Single-Use Batteries	Rechargeable Batteries or borrow batteries from other devices.	Reusable, cost-effective over time
Single-Use Coffee Pods	Reusable Coffee Pods, Brew Coffee Traditionally	Reusable, reduces plastic waste
Single-Use Hand Warmers	Reusable Gel Hand Warmers, Warm Water Bottles	Reusable, cost-effective over time
Single-use Kitchen Appliances	Multi-use appliances or manual cooking methods	Saves space, more cost-effective
Single-Use Plastic Containers	Glass or Stainless Steel Containers	Reusable, durable, reduces plastic waste
Single-Use Plastic Freezer Bags	Reusable Silicone Freezer Bags, Old Containers	Reusable, reduces plastic waste
Single-Use Products	Alternative Approaches	Reduces waste, promotes sustainability
Single-Use Shower Caps	Reusable Fabric or Silicone Shower Caps	Reusable, cost-effective over time
Snow Blower	Shovel, manual snow removal or snow removal service	Physical exercise, no emissions, saves money
Space Heaters	Improved insulation or energy-efficient heating systems	More energy-efficient, long-term solution
Specialty Glassware	Multi-purpose glassware	Reduces clutter, more cost-effective
Standalone Alarm Clock	Smartphone alarms or smart home devices	Multi-functional, reduces clutter
Standalone Calculator	Smartphone calculator apps or computer software	Multi-functional, reduces clutter
Standalone Calendar	Digital calendars on smartphones or computers	Accessible anywhere, easy to update
Standalone GPS Device	Smartphone GPS apps	Reduces clutter, multi-functional
Styrofoam Plates	Reusable Plates or Biodegradable Plates	Reduces waste, eco-friendly options
Tanning Salon Memberships	Sun exposure in moderation, or self-tanning products	Healthier, saves money
Tea Bags	Loose Leaf Tea with a Reusable Tea Infuser	Reduces waste, often higher quality tea
Toothpaste Tubes	Toothpaste Tabs or Powder	Reduces plastic waste, easy to use
Traditional Vacuum	Robotic vacuums or broom and dustpan	Saves time, often quieter
Travel Size Toiletries	Refillable Silicone Tubes	Reusable, reduces plastic waste
Wrapping Paper	Reusable Fabric Wraps or Recycled Paper	Reusable, eco-friendly option
Ziplock Bags	Silicone Bags or Reusable Fabric Snack Bags	Reduces waste, eco-friendly options

As we conclude our exploration of the items that are superfluous in our lives, it’s evident that less truly is more.

This journey isn’t just about decluttering; it’s a transformative process towards mindful living and sustainability.

Each item we choose not to own signifies a step away from unnecessary consumption and a step towards a more thoughtful and environmentally responsible lifestyle.

Remember, every small decision to not acquire or hold onto an unneeded item contributes to a larger impact on our well-being and the health of our planet.

Let this declutter checklist be a guide to a simpler, more fulfilling way of life.