Got Too Much Stuff At Home? Here’s What You Can Do With It
Published January 16, 2026
Do you ever feel like your home is slowly shrinking? Maybe you open a closet door and brace yourself for an avalanche, or perhaps you spend twenty minutes searching for a stapler that you swear was on the desk yesterday.
If you are nodding along, you aren’t alone. We live in a culture of accumulation. We buy things we think we need, hold onto things because of guilt, and save things “just in case.” Eventually, we end up drowning in possessions rather than enjoying them.
But how do you know when it’s truly crossed the line from “lived-in” to “overloaded”? And more importantly, what can you actually do about it without feeling overwhelmed?
This guide will help you identify the signs of clutter, offer practical steps to reclaim your space, and show you how your excess can become a blessing for someone else.
Signs You Have Too Much Stuff
“Too much” is subjective. For a minimalist, three pairs of shoes might feel excessive. For a collector, three hundred might feel just right. However, there are universal signs that your belongings are managing you, rather than the other way around.
If you want a reality check, look for these indicators:
- The “Shuffle” Walk: You have to navigate your house like an obstacle course, stepping over bags or boxes on the floor.
- No Surface Space: You barely have enough empty counter space to cook dinner, or your bed is doubling as a storage shelf.
- The Re-Buy Cycle: You constantly buy replacements (like batteries, scissors, or tape) because you simply can’t find the ones you already own.
- The “Where is it?” Game: You and your family members are constantly asking where everyday items are located.
- Off-Site Storage: Your garage is full, so you’re renting a storage unit for items you haven’t touched in years.
- Embarrassment: You hesitate to invite friends over because you’re ashamed of the mess.
- The “Someday” Stash: You are saving broken items or clothes that don’t fit because you might use them “someday.”
If these scenarios sound familiar, don’t panic. Admitting the problem is the first step toward a more peaceful home. Here is a roadmap to help you dig out.
Here’s What You Can Do With It
1. Start with the Trash
The hardest part of decluttering is making decisions. To build momentum, start with items that require zero decision-making.
Grab a large garbage bag and do a sweep of your home. Look for things that are clearly trash or beyond repair. This includes:
- Broken electronics that you’ll never actually fix.
- Dried-out pens and markers.
- Expired food and spices in the pantry.
- Old receipts and junk mail.
- Clothes with holes or stains that can’t be mended.
- Empty toiletry bottles cluttering the shower.
Getting these items out of the house immediately clears visual noise and gives you a quick sense of accomplishment.
2. The “Spark Joy” Reality Check
You have probably heard of Marie Kondo, the tidying expert who suggests asking if an item “sparks joy.” It sounds simple, but it is a powerful tool.
We often keep things out of guilt. Maybe your aunt gave you a vase you hate, but you feel obligated to keep it. Or maybe you spent a lot of money on a kitchen gadget you never use, and getting rid of it feels like admitting a mistake.
Here is the truth: The money is already spent. Keeping the item won’t bring the money back; it just adds a “storage cost” in the form of your stress and lost space. Letting go of these guilt-laden items sets you free from the anxiety they cause.
3. Sort by Frequency of Use
Once you have cleared the trash and the guilt items, look at what is left. A practical way to organize is by frequency of use.
- Daily Use: Keep these visible and within arm’s reach (e.g., coffee maker, toothbrush, phone charger).
- Weekly/Monthly Use: These can go in cupboards or drawers (e.g., vacuum cleaner, large cooking pots).
- Rare Use (Seasonal): These belong in deep storage, like the top of a closet, the garage, or the attic (e.g., Christmas decorations, winter coats, camping gear).
If you find items in your “daily” spots that you haven’t touched in six months, demote them to deep storage or the donation pile.
4. Evaluate Sentimental Value vs. Habit
This is the tricky part. We often confuse “sentimental value” with “familiarity.”
You might keep an old chair not because you love it, but because it has simply always been there. It becomes part of the scenery. But every item you keep takes up space that could be used for something you genuinely love or need.
Try this exercise: If your house were lost in a fire, would you mourn the loss of this specific item? If the answer is no, it’s likely just clutter. Prioritize the heirlooms that truly tell your family’s story, and let the rest go.
5. Set Space Limits
Parkinson’s Law states that work expands to fill the time available. The same is true for “stuff”, it expands to fill the space available.
Set hard boundaries for your categories.
- “I will keep only as many books as fit on this one bookshelf.”
- “I will keep only enough coffee mugs to fill this one shelf.”
- “I will keep only the clothes that fit comfortably in my dresser.”
When the space is full, something old must go before something new comes in. This “one in, one out” rule is essential for maintaining a clutter-free home long-term.
6. Donate to Charity
One of the best motivators for decluttering is knowing your excess can help someone else survive. Your gently used items can provide warmth, dignity, and comfort to neighbors who are struggling.
However, it is important to donate responsibly. Charities often become dumping grounds for trash, which forces them to spend money on disposal fees rather than their mission.
What to Donate:
- Clean, unwrinkled clothing (jeans, t-shirts, shorts).
- New or gently used sneakers and socks.
- Hygiene items (unopened).
- Blankets and jackets.
- Hats and caps.
What NOT to Donate:
- Dirty, stained, or torn clothing.
- Broken household appliances.
- Expired food.
Support Our Father’s House Soup Kitchen
If you are in South Florida, your decluttering efforts can directly impact lives at Our Father’s House Soup Kitchen. We have been serving people for over 30 years, providing hot lunches and essential supplies.
We are always in need of practical items to help our guests maintain their dignity. Specifically, we need hygiene items, sneakers, socks, jeans, shorts, t-shirts, polo shirts, and blankets.
Please note: While we appreciate all generosity, we rarely have a need for men’s suits, women’s formal dresses, or high heels. These are better suited for organizations like Goodwill that can resell them. Our guests need practical, comfortable clothing for daily survival.
7. Get Creative with Upcycling
Before you toss something, take a second look. Could it serve a new purpose?
- Old glass jars can be used to organize screws in the garage or hold pantry staples.
- Worn-out t-shirts can be cut into cleaning rags (saving you money on paper towels).
- Cardboard boxes can be covered in fabric to make attractive storage bins.
There are thousands of DIY videos online that can inspire you. Just be careful not to create a “project pile” that becomes its own form of clutter! If you haven’t upcycled it within a month, let it go.
8. Everything Needs a Home
The final step is assigning a permanent address to every single item you own. Keys go on the hook. Remote controls go in the basket. Shoes go on the rack.
When items have a designated home, cleanup becomes automatic. You aren’t “tidying up”; you are just putting things back where they live. This small mental shift saves hours of frustration and keeps the clutter from creeping back in.
Ready to clear the clutter?
Decluttering is a journey, not a sprint. It took time to accumulate all this stuff, and it will take time to sort through it. But the reward, a home that feels spacious, calm, and functional, is worth the effort.
And remember, by donating your excess, you aren’t just clearing your shelves; you are filling a need.
Donate To The Poor & Homeless Of South Florida
Our Father’s House Soup Kitchen has fed the poor and homeless in South Florida over 900,000 hot meals since 1993. Our tax deductible non profit organization also accepts and distributes donations such as clothing, toiletries, shoes, bicycles, and more. You can donate to help the poor and homeless through our website.
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About The Author
Meet writer Rei Bayucca, a graduate of Saint Louis University. Prepare to delve into insightful articles tailored to solve your most pressing problems. Rei has the knack for captivating you with expertly crafted content that will leave you craving more.
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