How to Decide What to Save and What to Throw Away

A practical guide for families to make smart decisions about keeping, donating, or discarding household items.

1. Start with the obvious wins. Begin your sorting process with items that are clearly broken, expired, or no longer usable. This includes broken toys that can't be repaired, expired medications or food, clothes with permanent stains or holes, and anything moldy or damaged beyond repair. These easy decisions build momentum and help everyone get comfortable with the process of letting things go.
2. Use the one-year rule for most items. For clothes, books, kitchen gadgets, and other household items, ask yourself: 'Have we used this in the past year?' If the answer is no, and you can't think of a specific reason you'll need it in the next year, it's probably safe to donate or discard. Make exceptions for seasonal items like holiday decorations, winter coats, or camping gear that you use regularly but not year-round.
3. Apply the joy and purpose test. For items you're unsure about, ask two questions: 'Does this bring us joy or serve a real purpose in our lives?' and 'Do we have space for this without creating clutter?' Items that fail both tests are good candidates for donation. This works especially well for decorative items, books you've already read, and gifts you've never used.
4. Handle sentimental items with care. Sentimental items require special consideration. Create a designated memory box for each family member and limit sentimental items to what fits in that space. For children's artwork and school projects, photograph the pieces before keeping just a few originals. Consider whether the item would be meaningful to the child when they're older, or if it's just meaningful to you as the parent right now.
5. Make decisions about duplicates. Count how many you have of similar items like coffee mugs, towels, or board games. Keep enough for your family's actual needs plus a few extras for guests or backup. For example, you might keep two coffee mugs per family member plus two extras, but donate the rest. The same principle applies to books, toys, and kitchen utensils.
6. Create sorting stations. Set up four clearly labeled boxes or areas: Keep, Donate, Trash, and Unsure. Work through one category or room at a time, placing items in the appropriate pile. At the end of each session, immediately put away the 'keep' items, bag up donations for quick removal, and discard the trash. Items in the 'unsure' pile can be stored in a box for 30 days—if you don't need anything from it, donate the whole box.