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I am 100% guilty of filling up my kitchen with so many items that I think I may use someday. But, 10% of them actually get used. I have a surplus of baking dishes for every kind of treat you can imagine, and just way too many items simply taking up space!
I live in a teeny tiny basement apartment right now, with the kitchen to match, and I’ve really been trying to declutter my life (otherwise I think I’ll end up on Hoarders!)
So in my journey of decluttering, I made up a list of all the things I ended up getting rid of, to maybe help you ditch some of the clutter as well!
Obviously if you still are using any of the items I mention below, don’t feel the need to get rid of them! It’s of course your call. I just thought that I might not be alone in at least one of the items below!
PS – click here for tips on ditching the clutter in your closet too!
1. Tupperware missing the lids, or extra lids with no bottom.
I know there are plenty of people with a cabinet full of tupperware that are missing either their tops or bottoms. Take 5 – 10 minutes to go through the cabinet and match up everything you can. Everything that is missing something? Recycle!
One of my favorite Tupperware sets is THIS one because all of the lids are interlocking so you are never missing one! Plus they’ve lasted a really long time and wash really well! I do plan to switch us over to glass containers sometime soon though.
2. Knives that have gone dull
Why do I own so many dull knives? I have 4 really good ones that work so well and we use on a regular basis. Then I have about 6 that came in a cute little rainbow set that go untouched. They’re kinda cheap and dull, we don’t own a sharpener.
Even if we did, I think we would still stick to the couple of great knives we have. If you have similar knives laying around, might be time to get rid of them.
3. Nonstick pans that are no longer nonstick
They don’t work the same, and they it’s not good for you to inject any of that nonstick, so TOSS it! If you have any pan that no longer preforms the way it once did, so now it goes unused, toss it!
I recently grabbed this 3 pack of different sized nonstick pans that have been working great for us! Super affordable too.
We also got a Lodge cast iron skillet recently. It requires a lot of maintenance, but it’s cheap, lasts a lifetime, and is a must have in the kitchen.
4. Appliances that sit on your counter and have never been used
I don’t have a lot of these luckily, but I did have a small, food processor that I use maybe once a year. It was really inexpensive and barely works and now just takes up space in my cabinet most of the time.
I see plenty of people with appliances in their kitchen that sit there and collect dust. Take a minute to think about how often you use it, if you think you’ll ever use it, and if it’s worth keeping it around taking up space. You might even be able to sell some of them if they are in good condition, so weigh that in your decision as well!
If they are going to take up space, make sure they are ones you really love and use frequently! Ones that currently live on our counters are our Keurig, Nespresso, and Instant Pot. We use these all the time, so it makes sense for them to take up some space. We ditched the rest!
5. All the extras: salt and pepper shakers, measuring cups, measuring spoons, mugs, cups, etc.
Not sure if others do this as well, but for some reason I have so many multiples of items in my kitchen. 3 sets of measuring cups. Overflowing amount of mugs. So many random salt and pepper shakers that go unused, and the list goes on and on.
Figure out which items you have too many multiples of, keep your absolute faves and the ones you know you will use, and ditch the rest!
6. Pot holders with way too many stains
First of all, wash them. After that, the ones still looking kinda gross can be tossed, cause I know you probably have extras of those too!
These are the best heat-proof and super easy to clean oven mitts! But if you’re looking for more aesthetically pleasing ones, these oven mitts/pot holders are my go-to. Such beautiful prints and designs!
7. Kitchen towels that don’t absorb anything
Why do these even exist? I know they can be cute, but why can’t they functional and cute? If you absolutely love them for decoration purposes, then that’s totally fine. But, if you use them as actual towels, then ditch the ones that don’t work, and find some ones that do!
Hands down these kitchen towels are the BEST ones I’ve ever used!! They work really well, and last for SO long.
8. Obscure baking pans
I get so tempted by these, but then I sit back and realize that I have 4 different muffin tins for every size muffin you can imagine, and how many muffins have I made in the last year? That would be zero.
Keep one shape! Don’t buy the madeline baking pan unless you are a die-hard madeline fan and know you’ll put it to good use.
9. Glasses made for drinking alcohol
I’m not talking wine glasses, or anything you really use, even if it is every once in a while. I’m talking shot glasses, beer steins, champagne flutes, Moscow mule mugs, and the list goes on.
If you actually make those drinks and use those glasses, keep them! But if they sit at the top of your cup cabinet collecting dust and being forgotten about, donate them!
10. Bags of bags
If you’re one of those people who gets plastic bags at the grocery store, then stores them somewhere all stuffed into one another for no real reason, GO and recycle them! Your local grocery store most likely has a place to put them. Also, get yourself some reusable bags!
I hope this helps give you some ideas of what you can get rid of in your kitchen! Leave me a comment below of what you ditched!
Want more decluttering help? Here are some tips on what you should get rid of in your closet!
I’m due a spring clean and reading your post has given me the motivation to get started on the kitchen! I am so guilty of hoarding the majority of what you have mentioned, particularly plastic bags!
XO Zoe | http://www.savagebeautyblogger.blogspot.co.uk
So glad to help! I hope your spring cleaning goes well!! Good luck 🙂
I have done most of these getting a new kitchen – cabinets and counter tops perfect time to declutter. I have also found that if I do not use an appliance (food processor/ blender/ smoothy maker/ or bread machine to get rid of those as well. Thank You for your advise at least I am on the right track also.
Yes! Perfect decluttering opportunity, and a great time to take a good look at what you actually use and what just sits there! Thank you for reading!
I totally agree with you! I always take the opportunity to declutter when my mother’s away. She always tells me to keep things even though we have the same exact thing sitting in the cupboard ugh.
I hear ya! That’s great you take the opportunity though!
Hi!!! very well organized and very informative article. I think everyone should follow this tips. Thanks for sharing your idea.
Thanks so much! 🙂
Loved this. I need to go through my Tupperware- it’s the secret cupboard that just grows! Will take a look at the knives etc too – I can imagine we have some that can go. Great post – thank you.
Thank you for reading! My tupperware cabinet needs some cleaning up as well, they just seem to pile up in there! I swear I won’t even buy anymore but somehow there’s always more every time I look!
I have issues with all these “drinking” glasses my husband has. Apparently, this 53 year old still thinks he’s 25. Takes up a whole cabinet and we only ever use the wine glasses about 3x a year. They’re looked at more as souvenirs than usable glassware. I’d love to pack them up and store them, but he likes them in the cabinet. It’s maddening! Fyi, every time I click on the anthropology link, it takes me to an instant pot on amazon.
Thanks for catching that, Sheila!! Just fixed it 🙂 And I completely and totally understand how maddening that would be! Also this is reminding me of how guilty we still are of hanging on to them. We have a LOT of beer steins for a couple that literally never drinks beer ?
I spent most of day cleaning sorting out under kitchen sink and cabinets. I also had the energy to jump in laundry room and get that straightened. Thank you as I checked you list and I hit it all.
Thank you for reading and so happy to hear it was helpful! Sounds like you had quite the productive day!
I remodel my kitchen and got rid of alot of unused stuff. Thank you.
You’re welcome, Elidia! I’m so glad this post was helpful!!
I wish you would not refer to any and all plastic storage containers as Tupperware. What you have tagged is actually the brand Rubbermaid. Tupperware is also a brand. Thank you.
You’re so right! Lol I didn’t even realize I was doing that. Thanks for pointing it out!