How to Declutter Without Feeling Guilty

Decluttering is such an emotional process. There are a lot of reasons you hold onto your things that make it hard to declutter, but a big roadblock for many people is feeling guilty for getting rid of things. This post is going to address common reasons why we feel guilty while decluttering and how to get past them. 

I get it. Decluttering and letting go of stuff is HARD. I have been there. I grew up with a mentality to keep everything, because “we might need it someday.” I still struggle with that thought, but being able to recognize it has helped me declutter and get past that feeling of guilt when I get rid of things.

It’s important to realize you will have feelings when you declutter. Guilt will creep in. Refer back to this post when you have those objections to getting rid of something, so you can let go of your things without the guilt.

Below are five reasons we feel guilty for decluttering and what to do about them.

#1. What if I need it someday?

How to Not feel Guilty for Getting Rid of Something You Might Use Someday

These are usually things that you haven’t used in a year or longer, just taking up space.

I think this is a generational message that gets passed down. My parents were raised by parents who grew up in the depression era. My grandparents lived in a time when they had to hold onto things for “someday.” It wasn’t easy to go out and replace items, so they saved things “just in case.” That’s how they were raised, and so they raised their kids the same way. Anyone else have a grandmother that saved used wrapping paper? 

I am willing to bet, you are holding onto things that are easy and cheap to replace. 

You are also holding onto things that you will never use someday. 

Those things are taking up space in your home that can be used for things you DO use and love. To get past this objection and feeling of guilt, you need to visualize what you want your life to look like without the clutter and how it would make you feel.

This helps give you a goal and a focus. Remember, you get the space or you get the stuff.

Most of the time, the stuff you are holding onto for “someday” isn’t as important as the space you would get if you got rid of it.

For example, If you haven’t used your craft and scrapbooking supplies since you had kids 4 years ago, can you let them go? If you cleared out the craft closet (or room!), it could make space to hold games and activities you can play with your kids. 

When you find yourself faced with the objection of, “What if I need it someday?,” ask yourself these questions:

1. Can I replace it easily?

2. Would it cost less than $50 to replace? (you can adjust this threshold, but I feel like $50 is a good starting place)

If the answer is yes to those questions, feel free to let go of the item.

If the answer is no, it doesn’t automatically mean keep the item. 

Really think about if you will use it in the next 6 months to a year, and consider the space the item is taking up. What could you use that space for instead? Even if it is empty space to give your things some “breathing room.”

It is hard to get rid of things you might need one day, but I bet there are very few items that you will declutter that you will regret getting rid of. Most likely you will never think about them again.

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#2. I don’t want it to go to a landfill

How to Not Feel Guilty for Throwing Away Clutter

I struggle with this one too because I want to be environmentally friendly. So even when something breaks I have a hard time throwing it away. I have thoughts like, “maybe someone could fix it and use it.”

But your house is not a landfill. You shouldn’t keep trash/broken items/things with missing pieces in your home. 

If there is an easy way to recycle something, go that route. But when you are in the thick of decluttering, it is important to remove the easy things quickly….and broken items should be easy.

If you really think someone could use an item, you can try a Buy Nothing group on Facebook or Freecycle to see if anyone wants it for free. However, give yourself a time limit. If no one wants it within a day or two, just trash it. 

And if you are really struggling with this one, give the item to a friend or family member that *DOESN’T struggle with clutter, and tell them to get rid of it. Explain the situation to them that it needs to be thrown away and you are struggling. This is a good stepping stone if you have trouble seeing something go in the trash. I think it helps if you aren’t the one physically putting it in the trash. If you have someone in your life willing to be this person to help you get rid of clutter, use them, and thank them.

*This is important, don’t give the item to someone that will hold onto it. You don’t want to create clutter for someone else!

#3. It was a gift

How to Not Feel Guilty for Getting Rid of a Gift

Do you keep gifts because you don’t want to offend the gift giver? 

Let’s think about this. How many times have you received a gift, and the giver checked to see if you still had it? Most people don’t check up on you to make sure you keep a gift. Most people also don’t even remember the gift they gave you, and if they did, they likely won’t be angry if you got rid of it.

Sometimes they might ask if it worked well or something like that, but that’s usually within weeks of giving the gift. If you have gifts stuffed in a closet from 5 years ago, NO ONE is going to make sure you still have those gifts.

If someone is checking up on you and would be mad if you got rid of their gift, do they really care about your well-being? When someone cares about you, they don’t want you living in mountains of clutter. No one should expect you to keep gifts forever.

If you are dealing with someone that checks up on gifts they give you, then you need to evaluate that relationship.

If you get rid of a gift you don’t use or don’t like, it says NOTHING about your relationship with the person that gave the gift.

#4. I Never Used It

How to Not Feel Guilty for Getting Rid of Something You Never Used

I chuckle at this one because if I have never used something, it should be easy to get rid of. 

But it’s not.

You paid good money for that instant pot sitting in your pantry that you never used. I’m sure you feel like you should keep it because you paid for it and intended to use it.

You know what? You won’t get that money back, even if you do use it. An option is to try selling it and getting some money back though. You will also get more space in the kitchen!

Do you have a closet full of clothes with tags still on them? Maybe you lost weight, or styles changed. If you get rid of the clothes you haven’t worn, it will be easier to get to the clothes you do wear and love.

If you haven’t used an item in 6 months to a year (and it’s not a seasonal item), you probably won’t use it. Feel free to get rid of it. Again, you get the stuff or you get the space.

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#5. Sentimental Items

How to Not Feel Guilty for Getting Rid of Sentimental Items

I saved sentimental items for last because these are the hardest to get rid of without the guilt. You also shouldn’t start decluttering sentimental items until you declutter the rest of your home first. You will have more energy and mental space to devote to the process.

There are several reasons you might feel guilty about getting rid of sentimental items. 

• It belonged to someone special who is no longer living
• Someone special wanted you to have it
• It’s a rare or one-of-a-kind item that can’t be replaced
• It brings back special memories

These things are hard to get rid of, and honestly, you don’t have to get rid of everything. Start with picking out what you definitely want to keep. 

In Matt Paxton’s book, Keep the Memories, Lose the Stuff, he calls this your Legacy List. Generally, when you choose what is most important to you, it’s easier to get rid of the other things that aren’t as important. If you are downsizing or working through a lot of sentimental items as you declutter, I highly recommend this book.

Once you have the items you want to keep, then you can analyze how much space you have for sentimental items. This will also help you determine how much you can keep.

For sentimental documents or photographs, you can scan them and keep digital copies if you don’t want to store physical copies. When you come across something really special, consider displaying it in your home instead of tucking it back into a box.

What to do with Stuff You Declutter

Here are some options for what to do with your stuff when you declutter:

• Donate to a local mission or homeless shelter
• Give to a friend or family member that can use the item
• Post it in a local “Buy Nothing” group or Freecycle group
• Donate to Habitat for Humanity ReStore
• Donate to a local school or children’s museum (This is a great option for kids toys, books, crafts and art supplies)
• Sell the item either locally or on ebay (If you are going to sell items, give yourself a time limit, so you aren’t holding onto the stuff for months).
• For books, consider donating to a local Little Free Library or Better World Books. You could also sell to Half Price Books, but don’t expect much in return.

Decluttering Without Guilt

Decluttering is an emotional process. You need to be aware of what your triggers are. So if any of these reasons for feeling guilty while decluttering resonate with you, save this post to help you remember it’s okay to let go. I frequently tell myself, “you get the space, or you get the stuff.” 99.9% of the time I choose the space with no regrets.

The benefits of decluttering are huge, including being able to find things you love, having more energy and less anxiety, and enjoying your space. So feel free to declutter without guilt!

Related Decluttering Posts:

• Overwhelmed by Clutter? Learn these 5 Things to Get Rid of Clutter
• 5 Questions to Ask When You Have Too Many Clothes
• Where to Start Decluttering When You’re Stressed Out
• 4 Easy Decluttering Rules
• 5 Clutter Busters You Need to do When You’re Overwhelmed by a Messy House

How to Declutter Without Feeling Guilty