10 things I stopped storing that saved space and money
I used to think storage bins were the solution to clutter, but over time I realized they were part of the problem. When you store too much, you end up keeping things you never use and spending more money maintaining or replacing what's hiding away.
Once I started being honest about what I didn't need to store, I found extra space, spent less, and stopped buying duplicates. Here are the things that made the biggest difference when I finally stopped holding onto them.
Extra Towels
It's easy to think more towels mean convenience, but it really meant more laundry and less cabinet space. We had stacks we never reached for because they were thin, scratchy, or mismatched.
I kept two per person and donated the rest. Now the linen closet stays organized, and I don't waste time washing extras we don't even use.
Expired Spices and Baking Supplies
Keeping a pantry full of old seasonings or clumpy flour was wasting both space and money. I'd buy new things without realizing I already had them buried in the back.
Once I cleared it out, I found I could actually see what I needed. Now everything gets used before it goes bad, and grocery trips are more intentional.
Old Paint Cans
At one point, I had a small collection of half-used paint cans from every project. I thought I'd need them for touch-ups-but years later, the colors were dried out or outdated.
Getting rid of the old cans freed up shelves in the garage, and now I only save small labeled jars of current colors. It's cleaner, safer, and easier to find what I actually need.
Single-Use Kitchen Gadgets
That apple corer, cake pop maker, and quesadilla press seemed useful once. In reality, they collected dust while I kept reaching for a knife and skillet.
When I stopped storing random gadgets, I suddenly had more cabinet space and fewer excuses to buy more. Keeping only what I use weekly makes the kitchen feel twice as big.
Holiday Decor Overflow
I used to hang onto boxes of decorations for every season. It made sense until storage space started shrinking and setup time grew longer every year.
Now I keep one small tote per holiday and rotate pieces that actually fit our style. The rest went to donation, and decorating feels manageable again.
Excess Bedding
Every bed had at least three backup sheet sets. It sounded practical, but storing and folding them constantly was eating space I could use for better things.
I pared it down to two per bed-one on, one washed. Now the linen cabinet has breathing room, and I don't waste time refolding extras that never get used.
Random Gift Bags and Tissue Paper
Saving every gift bag and scrap of tissue seemed thrifty, but it turned into a messy drawer of crushed paper and tangled ribbon.
I kept a small box with a few neutral options and recycled the rest. It made wrapping faster and kept me from rebuying things I already had but couldn't find.
Old Cords and Electronics
Drawers full of chargers, remotes, and random cables felt necessary "just in case." But I couldn't tell what half of them went to anymore.
After testing what worked and recycling the rest, I gained an entire drawer back. Now it's easier to charge what we actually use without digging through clutter.
Extra Cleaning Rags
I'd been saving every old towel and T-shirt to use as cleaning rags. Eventually, I had a bin full of fabric scraps that took up more space than they were worth.
Now I keep a small stack of microfiber cloths that handle everything. They wash well, take up less space, and save money because I'm not constantly replacing paper towels.
Old Storage Bins Themselves
When I decluttered everything else, I realized I was storing too many empty storage containers-proof I'd been over-saving for years.
I donated what I didn't need and kept a few for seasonal use. Not only did it clear up floor space, but it also reminded me that less storage often means less clutter to manage long-term.
*This article was developed with AI-powered tools and has been carefully reviewed by our editors.
Leave a Reply