DECLUTTERING HABITS THAT SEEM ILLEGAL BUT AREN'T

This post contains affiliate links. If you purchase something using my links, I may earn an affiliate commission at no cost to you.

The Emotional Tug of War With "Stuff"

Sometimes you look around your house and let out the longest sigh and think, how in the world did it all get like this.

Stuff in corners. Piles in drawers. Collectibles that you don't even like that much just seem to grow in numbers. Sentimental things that feel too important to throw away, but at the same time, they're just sitting there. Collecting dust. Taking up space, not only in your home, but in your head too.

Decluttering can sound easy on paper. But the minute you try, you hit a wall. You hold up a gift someone who meant well gave you, or a pair of jeans you swore you'd fit into again. And suddenly you're stuck.

Now it's not just about cleaning up. It's about feelings. Memories. Money. Guilt.

You'll start second-guessing yourself. "Am I allowed to throw this out?" or "What if I need this later?". These keep playing on a loop in your head. And before you know it, you walk away from what you thought was the day you'll finally declutter some stuff that you know needs to be thrown or given away.

The thing is, you're not breaking any invisible rules when it comes to decluttering. You're not breaking any rules when all you want to do is make your home feel better for you.

You're allowed to create space. Without the guilt. And without keeping things just because you're "supposed to".

So, if by any chance you've been holding back, these decluttering habits might just give you that extra motivation and clarity you've been waiting for.

13 Decluttering Habits That Feel Wrong But Are Not

You know those things in your home that are surprisingly hard to get rid of, not because you need them, you don't. But because the thought of letting them go comes with guilt, pressure, or some weird expectation.

These 13 decluttering habits might seem a bit heavy and wrong at first, but they're really not. They're the small, honest choices you make that will make a big difference to your space. And your peace of mind!

Donating Gifts You Don't Use

You're not going to be a bad person if you give away a gift that's still sitting in the box and you've never used. Even if it wasn't sitting in a box, but you've never used it, give it away.

Gifts are meant to be enjoyed, not weigh you down.

If something has been sitting untouched for months or even years, it's really not serving you. Someone else might actually need it or love it. Keeping it out of guilt doesn't honor the gift or the giver.

Getting Rid of Random Cords and Remotes

You know that tangled mess of cords in your drawer? Or are you like me, who has (well, not anymore) a couple of boxes that are full of cords. Why did I keep them? I really don't know, and you probably don't either, because half of them probably don't belong to anything you actually own.

If you don't know what they're for, and you haven't touched them in a long time, you won't miss them.

And if by some miracle you need that one random charger again, you can just find a replacement.

Tossing Out Phone Boxes

Why do we even keep these?

It feels like there's this weird pressure to keep boxes. Especially for phones or tech stuff.

But they're just cardboard, and they take up so much space. So, unless you're planning to sell your stuff later and need original packaging, toss it! You won't regret it. Your closet space is more valuable.

Letting Go of "One Day" Clothes

Let's be honest with ourselves here. We all have that pair of jeans or a dress or skirt stashed away at the back of ur closet that we safely keep for "when I lose weight" or "when I start going out more".

But holding onto those pieces can actually feel like you're holding on to a version of yourself you think you should be, instead of living in the moment and dressing the one you are now.

Choose to free yourself and keep what fits and feels good for you today, and not "one day".

Decluttering Stuff You Actually Spent Money On

Yes, it does sting to toss something expensive.

But keeping it out of guilt doesn't undo the purchase. The money is already spent.

What you want to do now is reclaim your space and your peace of mind. You've already learned the lesson. You're allowed to move on.

Tossing Old Planners and Notebooks

They do feel sentimental, but realistically, are you ever going to flip through those again? Probably not!

A lot of us keep our old planners thinking they're like journals or diaries, but really, they're just to-do lists. And those half-filled notebooks? If you haven't finished them by now, chances are you won't.

Recycle them and make space for things that will actually serve you.

The Simply Spotless Cleaning Planner

Buy Now

Getting Rid of Instruction Manuals

You can find comfort knowing that everything is online now.

You don't need a special drawer full of manuals that you'll never reach for. If you ever need to troubleshoot your blender or coffee machine, you can find the manual in seconds with a quick Google or ChatGPT search.

This is an easy one when you want to declutter quickly.

Recycling Your Kids' Artwork

You can feel so bad throwing away your child's drawing, especially if they're covered in glitter, love, and misspelled words (they're just too cute).

You can, of course, keep some of them, but you don't have to keep every single one of them. Instead, getting snapping. Save them digitally. Pick a few to frame or keep in a folder and let the rest go.

You're not throwing away the memory.

Letting Go of Holiday Decor

You don't have to keep decorations that stress you out.

If you pull something out every year and go, "Arggh, not this again", then maybe it's time to let it go.

Keep what you love. Let go of the rest. You're not ruining Christmas or Easter or whatever. You're just making it feel better.

Ditching Anything You're Keeping Out of Guilt

That ugly vase from your aunt. The rug you hate but was "a good deal". The bookshelf you never liked but feel bad tossing.

If guilt is the only reason something is still in your home, it's taking up for than just space.

You deserve to feel good in your home. Not obligated.

Clearing Out Expired Beauty Products

We all have that shelf of half-used products, like serums, sunscreens, that eyeshadow palette, lipsticks, and hair mousse from five years ago. If it's expired, just throw it already. Even if it was expensive.

Skincare and makeup don't last forever. And using them past their shelf life can do more harm than good.

Broken Things You'll "Fix One Day"

If you have things that have sat around broken for over a year, I hate to break it to you, you probably won't fix them. If you were going to, you would've by now.

Toss it, donate it for parts, or recycle it if you can. But don't let broken things keep holding space in your home.

Letting Go of "Just in Case" Items

We keep so many things "just in case".

Extra tote bags, duplicate of kitchen tools and gadgets, random event stuff. All just in case we need it for whenever and whatever reason.

Most of the time, "just in case" never comes. And even if it does? You'll figure it out. You've done harder things

Declutter Without Guilt

Decluttering isn't just about clearing your space. It's also about permission. Permission to live in a home that feels good to be in.

To let go of things that no longer match the person you are now. To stop carrying the emotional weight of stuff.

These decluttering habits might feel wrong at first, but they're really not. You're not breaking any rules by choosing peace over clutter. You're just choosing to choose yourself.

So the next time you find yourself staring at the drawer of cords or that pile of "one-day" clothes, asking yourself whether you should or shouldn't, remember, you're allowed to let them go.

You don't need anyone's permission. Just your own.

Shop my favorite cleaning products

This post contains affiliate links. As an Amazon Associate, if you purchase something using my links, I may earn an affiliate commission at no cost to you.

If you enjoyed this post, I'd love it if you shared it on Pinterest! Thanks!