Just In Case
Our parents loved to save every little thing. After all, they didn’t know when catastrophe would strike and something would come in useful. But millennials and younger know better than to store everything – it can be a fire hazard, even! Here are 35 things your parents probably kept but you ought to throw away.
Phone Books
Unless you’re planning to build a fort out of Yellow Pages (that could be fun!) it’s time to let them go. Your parents might’ve relied on these for everything, but Google has replaced them entirely, and Google won’t sit around gathering dust either.
VHS Tapes
Even if you still have a VCR stashed somewhere, those tapes are deteriorating by now. Your favorite ‘90s movies are probably on streaming services anyway. Unless it’s a sentimental home video (and you plan to digitize it), it’s time to dump the rest. You can’t give them away these days, unfortunately.
Old Encyclopedias
Why have a shelf full of encyclopedias when you have Wikipedia on the internet? Your parents might well have spent a fortune on them, but they’re probably not even accurate anymore. Unless you're decorating a vintage library, there's no reason to keep them.
Broken Appliances
Your parents might’ve kept that old toaster or blender hoping to fix it someday. Fast forward 20 years, and it’s still sitting there, taking up space. If it’s not working and hasn’t been touched in years, it’s probably cheaper (and safer) to replace it.
Doilies and Lace Tablecloths
Unless you’re going for a very specific vintage vibe, these frilly pieces are just clutter now. Keep one if it’s sentimental, but otherwise, pass them along to other family members or donate to someone who actually wants them. Granny wouldn’t mind.
Plastic Grocery Bags
Your parents might’ve had a whole cabinet bursting with these just in case they ever needed them, but how many do you really need? A few for lining trash cans and that’s about it. Best to take them to your local recycling center and help save the planet.
Old Coupons
Your parents may have sworn by them, but if they expired during the Obama administration, it’s time to let them go. Most stores won’t honor them anyway, so what’s the point? Throw them in the trash and think no more about them.
Chipped China Sets
That floral china with the gold trim might’ve been “the good dishes” to your grandmother, but if they’re chipped or cracked (or even just out of date) there’s no shame in getting rid of them. They’re not worth much anymore, and let’s be honest, you’re not hosting tea parties for the King of England.
Old Greeting Cards
Every birthday, holiday, and graduation used to come with a card, and your parents saved them all. Awww. While sweet, you probably don’t need 30 years of “Happy Birthday, Love Aunt Carol.” Pick a few meaningful ones to keep, then recycle the rest.
Receipts From the ‘90s
Shoe purchases from 1998? A microwave warranty that expired in 2002? There’s absolutely zero reason to be keeping receipts unless you still have the product. Gather them all up, throw them away, and put them out of your mind.
Travel Brochures
These used to be so cool back in the day. Your parents would probably flip through them dreaming of all the places they’d go. But if you’re not actually planning a trip to Colonial Williamsburg in 1994, they’re just collecting dust.
User Manuals for Things They No Longer Own
There’s probably a whole drawer full of manuals for TVs, microwaves, and gadgets that broke or were replaced years ago. If the product’s long gone, there’s no need to hang onto its paperwork. Most manuals are available online anyway.
Souvenir Trinkets From Random Places
Snow globes, tiny spoons, those little thimbles - your parents probably brought home all kinds of cheap tat from places you don’t even remember visiting. Unless it truly sparks a fond memory, it’s just another dust collector. Donate it to a thrift store!
Old Magazines
Stacks of Reader’s Digest, National Geographic, or Good Housekeeping from decades ago might’ve been good for your parents, but they’re just clutter now. Unless you're archiving them for a library (or crafting with them), it's time to recycle.
Drawer Full of Takeout Menus
This was the go-to method for meal planning before apps took over. But now, every menu is online, and half the places in that drawer probably don’t exist anymore. Think of all the other things you could do with that drawer instead!
Rolodexes
Remember when every contact had their own little card on a spinning wheel? Your parents probably do. But in today’s world of smartphones and digital contacts, that Rolodex belongs in a museum, not in your house. Call around and see if anyone will take it.
Random Keys With No Known Lock
There’s always a mystery jar or drawer full of orphaned keys - no labels, no clues as to what they all unlock. Your parents kept them “just in case,” but let’s be real: if you haven’t found the lock by now, you never will.
Empty Gift Boxes and Packaging
Those nice department store boxes used to be golden during the holidays, so your parents saved every last one. But now they’re just stacking up in closets. Unless you gift a dozen things a year, you don’t need an entire stash.
Old Calendars
Some people keep calendars because of the pretty pictures or personal notes. But you should really think about going through them and sorting them out. If there aren’t meaningful memories written on them, throw them away. Take a photo of the cute kitty ones if you must.
Hotel Soaps and Shampoos
You know that drawer your parents had packed with tiny hotel toiletries? Cute, but most of them go unused and expire. If you can find any unexpired ones in there, consider donating them to a local shelter, because you almost certainly won’t use them.
Unused Fabric Scraps
If your parents ever sewed, there’s a good chance they kept every little scrap just in case they ever needed it. But unless you’re a craftsperson yourself, you don’t need all that stuff. Why not donate it to a local craft club or school?
Old Cookbooks
Most of those vintage cookbooks haven’t been actually opened in decades, and some recipes are downright questionable (hello, Jell-O salad from the ‘70s). Keep the ones with sentimental value, but the rest can be thrown away or donated.
Old Perfume Bottles
Your mom might’ve saved every fancy bottle she ever owned, but perfume doesn’t age the way wine does. After a few years, it turns sour, and that’s not good. Unless it's a rare collectible, toss the old perfume bottles away before they stink up the place.
Canceled Checks
Back in the day, people saved every single check for records. But now, they’re totally unnecessary - especially ones from 1985 for $12 at the grocery store. Checks are pretty much obsolete now, so just shred them and be done with it.
Decorative Plates
You know the ones - Elvis, Princess Diana, the bald eagle that everyone seemed to have. Your parents might’ve displayed them proudly, but unless they hold personal meaning, they’re not exactly in high demand. If they’re not your style, don’t feel guilty letting them go to a collector who actually wants them.
Old Towels
You parents might have been some of those people who believed in keeping towels for as long as possible. But you really shouldn’t do that. If your towels are stained, throw them away and get some new ones.
Cassette Tapes
Along with VHS tapes, cassette tapes were the shining modern technology of the ‘90s. But not any more. Everything on the cassette tapes will probably be on the internet anyway, so you can get rid of them without a second thought.
Tupperware Without Lids (or Vice Versa)
That cabinet of mismatched Tupperware was a staple in many people’s kitchens, but you really don’t need all the random pieces without lids. Keep the good sets and recycle the rest. You deserve to have a kitchen free from clutter.
Expired Pantry Items
Venture into your parents’ pantry and who knows what you might find. Cans from 2003? Instant mashed potatoes with a faded label? Your parents might’ve stockpiled food just in case (though just in case for what, they never said), but if it’s long expired or looks like a science experiment, it’s no good to anyone.
Paper Maps
There’s something charming about unfolding a giant road map, but they get much less charming when you’re looking for something in your car and all you can find is maps. Your parents may have relied on them, but your phone does it better and faster.
Old Holiday Decorations That Never Get Used
You know the ones - faded plastic pumpkins, tangled tinsel, and broken Christmas tree lights. If it hasn’t made it out of the box in the last three holiday seasons, chances are it never will. Donate the still-good stuff and throw away everything that’s damaged.
Unused Wedding or Baby Shower Favors
Your parents kept these out of sentimentality, but they probably don’t mean as much to you as they did to them. You probably have photos of the events if you want to hang on to the memories. Why not just donate them?
Stationary Sets
Unfortunately, letter-writing is a dying art. In the age of emails and texts, those nice floral notecards and pastel envelopes rarely come out of the cupboard. If the paper’s yellowing or smells musty, it’s probably past its prime and should be thrown away.
Old Office Supplies
Venture into any office rooms your parents might have had and you’ll probably find boxes of paper clips, dried-out pens, and enough rubber bands to make the biggest ball in the world. But you probably don’t need any of it, so you should throw them away.
Old Toys
Your parents may have saved your childhood toys “for the grandkids” or just because they couldn’t bear to let them go - but if they’re broken, missing parts, or haven’t been touched in 20 years, it’s probably time to throw them away. Maybe keep a special one or two for the sake of memories?
