Organizers Share the Everyday Items Creating the Most Clutter in Retirees’ Homes
We all have that one thing we collect that inevitably ends up collecting dust later on. And retirees are no different. From old bills to dusty sports gear, let’s look at 35 things that clutter up retirees’ homes. Who knows, some of them may seem all too familiar.
Newspapers and Magazines
Stacks of magazines and newspapers grow faster than weeds in a retiree's home. They keep them to reread later, but later rarely comes - if it does at all. Tables disappear under piles of dusty, unread publications. Recycling saves you from accidentally rereading that casserole recipe for the fifth time and clears space.
Medicine Cabinet Madness
Expired pills and unused medications hide like little time capsules in bathroom cabinets. Retirees sometimes save them “just in case,” but expired medications aren’t souvenirs. They should be discarded as soon as they reach their expiration date to clear up space and prevent a potential medical emergency.
Too Many Tools
Three can openers, five spatulas, and seven potato peelers - sound familiar? Retirees hold onto extras like this because “you never know when you’ll need them.” But guess what? You do know, and you’ll inevitably end up grabbing the same trusty one time and again.
Dusty Counters
That bread maker you swore you’d love? The juicer you used once? Small appliances like these are very rarely used but still hog precious counter space. Letting them go not only frees up space in the kitchen, but it also helps you clear clutter.
Lidless Containers and Containerless Lids
Retirees keep stray lids and mismatched containers “just in case.” Soon, that drawer or cupboard becomes a Tupperware avalanche that there’s just no escaping from. At some point, you’ve just got to admit that you’re never going to find a matching set.
Linen Overload
Closets become linen retirement homes. Those stacks of scratchy towels and faded sheets lie waiting to make their comeback. Spoiler alert: they never do! Most never get used again, and retirees just end up with closets full of unused linens.
Dishes Galore
Fine china, everyday plates, and random mismatched extras have a sneaky way of hanging around a little too long in a retiree's home. They hang onto them for those “big gatherings” that never happen and clutter their homes with unused plates.
Electronics Graveyard
Old DVD players, radios, and that laptop that wheezed louder than a vacuum are classic clutter items in retirees’ homes. While they should be letting them go, they save them to “fix someday.” But someday never actually comes, and they take up space.
Cords and Chargers
What is it with retirees and their boxes of mystery cords and chargers tangled like spaghetti? Most don’t even match any current devices. Again, retirees keep them “just in case.” But they only cause stress and unnecessary clutter that gathers dust.
Decorations for Days
Decorations are great for making the home festive. But boxes of broken ornaments and tangled lights aren’t. They’re another common thing retirees keep for traditions. Some traditions, however, deserve to retire too. Let’s focus on keeping the holiday cheer and not the clutter.
Sentimental Piles of Cards
Every birthday, anniversary, and holiday card lives on in boxes in retirees’ homes. They rarely look at them again, but they just can’t let go. Keep the gems and recycle the rest. It’s better to keep the love without drowning in paper hugs.
Printed Photos
Back in the days of film cameras, everyone printed doubles - including those blurry shots where you couldn’t really make out who was who. Retirees have boxes full of them. And, like many other things on this list, they just gather dust and take up space.
Cleaning Out the Closet
Closets stuffed with “someday” clothes are way too common in a retiree's home. Retirees hold onto outfits that no longer match, are completely outdated, or just don’t fit like they used to. Letting them go makes getting dressed way easier.
Shoes
Those fancy shoes that pinch? The pair bought on a whim? They gather dust in the closets of most retirees. Keeping only the truly comfortable and useful shoes makes life simpler—and the closet less like a shoe store clearance bin.
Jewelry
Jewelry deserves to be worn and loved. Instead, old necklaces, tangled earrings, and bracelets sit in boxes, unworn for years. Retirees keep them because they were “special once.” But if they never leave the box, they’re nothing more than shiny clutter.
Bag Collections
Retirees hoard purses, handbags, luggage, and tote bags in their closets. Most are kept for someday, but never see daylight again. Keep the bags you use often and ditch the rest. Storage should feel like space and not cluttered chaos.
Arts and Crafts
Isn’t it funny how most craft projects just don’t get finished? And those crafting supplies? Well, they end up in boxes or on tables waiting for the day a retiree will finish what they started. Let them go and make space for hobbies you actually enjoy.
Old Media
Stacks of VHS tapes and DVDs take up whole shelves in retirees’ homes. They’re usually kept for nostalgia, but with streaming, they rarely get used. Yes, it’s important to keep your old family movies, but pick a few and ditch the rest.
Books
Shelves overflowing with novels and manuals you’ll never read again. Sound familiar? Books are great, but too many turn cozy libraries into paper avalanches in a retiree's home. Keep the favorites, pass on the rest, and enjoy a lighter bookshelf.
Excess Furniture
Retirees keep furniture out of guilt. Extra chairs, random tables, and that heavy cabinet that hasn’t moved in decades take up space and gather dust. Ditching them makes rooms open, airy, and way easier to keep things clean and dust-free.
Dust Collectors
It’s a little-known fact that even model cars outlive their fun once the kids move out. Retirees keep cars and figurines out of habit, but they just collect dust. There’s really no need to keep all of them on display.
Guilty Gifts
Unwanted gifts often lurk in the closets of retirees’ homes. Why? Because retirees worry that tossing them out is disrespectful. But keeping them is just clutter with a bow. Gifts should bring joy, not guilt, so let them go guilt-free.
Souvenirs From Past Trips
Travel souvenirs have a way of piling up fast. We’re talking keychains, mugs, and little figurines. They all seem fun at the time, until 20 years have passed and they’re still on a shelf. You don’t need 20 magnets to remember one trip. Keep one and let the rest go.
Old Bedding
Extra sheets, pillowcases, and comforters hide in the closets of retirees’ homes. Many are worn out and faded, while others have never been used at all. They take up space. While most people stick to a few sets, retirees collect them like treasures.
Pantry Hoarding
Too many retirees have pantries filled with items that expired years ago. Things like spices, canned food, and baking supplies don’t last forever. And those old boxes of cake mix or dusty jars of herbs won’t taste good anymore. Toss them!
Mugs, Mugs, Mugs
Mugs seem to multiply somehow. Retirees often receive them as gifts or keep extras on hand in case they have guests over. But cupboards only have so much space, and they end up grabbing the same mug every morning anyway. Clearing out the rest will make the kitchen feel less cluttered.
Exercise Equipment
All that exercise equipment seemed like a good idea at the time, but for many retirees, it just sits untouched. They take up space and sometimes collect clothes instead of workouts. Get rid of the clutter and pass them on to someone who will put them to good use.
DIY Disasters
Garages and sheds hide old paint, wood scraps, and tools from projects finished years ago. The problem? Paint dries up, tools rust, and supplies just sit there. Retirees who keep things for just-in-case should discard the unusable items and only retain what they actually use.
Rusty Garden Tools
Rusty rakes, bent shovels, and cracked hoses clutter up sheds and garages. They’re no longer helpful, but they still occupy space. No, you can’t use that broken old rake anymore. Let it go and keep only what still works.
Old Mail
Retirees often have a habit of keeping bills, catalogs, and old letters to look at later. The problem is that later never comes. Paper creates clutter and stress spread across tables, desks, and countertops. Sorting and shredding makes everything feel more organized and calm.
Cleaning Products
Half-open bottles of cleaning products hide under sinks and in closets of retirees' homes. Why? Because they “never know when they’ll need it.” They waste space, and, most importantly, cause a health hazard when they expire. Stick to a few reliable cleaners and toss away the rest.
Old Phones
Everyone has a drawer of old phones. And, no, they don’t work anymore. However, retirees often keep them because it feels wrong to discard them. Cut the clutter, throw out the old phones, and make space for new and useful things.
Empty Boxes
Big or small boxes always come in handy, right? But they, too, pile up fast in closets and garages. Before you know it, you’ve got a box full of … dusty boxes! Retirees often save them for shipping or storage, but never use them.
Curtains and Drapes
Heavy curtains and faded drapes stick around way too long in retirees’ homes. They take up closet space when they’re replaced, or hang around just collecting dust. And, as is often the case, most never get used again. They’re clutter in disguise.
Sports Gear
Sports gear lingers long after it’s been set aside. Retirees keep things like golf clubs and tennis rackets with good intentions, thinking they’ll play again. However, they don’t. And those dusty bags and unused gear only occupy valuable space.
