Use our quick pro tips to empty, clean and reorganize your kitchen and pantry.
15 Items in Your Kitchen That Professional Organizers Would Throw Out
Published on Jan. 10, 2025
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Expired food and spices
Chances are, there’s expired food lurking in your pantry. There are plenty of foods you can keep past their expiration dates, but stale, old and long-expired things should be one of the first things to go. “I recommend you quickly scan your pantry for expired food and spices once a quarter,” says Cummings. “Not only will this free up space on your shelves, but it will also ensure that your family is eating meals made with the freshest ingredients.”
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Novelty appliances
There are so many cool appliances out there, like ice cream makers, slushie machines and novelty waffle makers. They’re all fun to use, but if you have some that you don’t use regularly (or at all), they may not be worth keeping in your kitchen. “Specialized gadgets like egg slicers and avocado pitters may seem innovative in the store but rarely justify their drawer space,” says Palmer.
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Duplicate tools
Do you have multiple can openers or apple slicers cluttering kitchen drawers? You can save a lot of space by getting rid of extra tools and utensils. “I recommend gathering all duplicate gadgets into one place, likely on the counter or table,” says Appelbaum. “Then, critically assess what you really use and need. A couple of good knives, one potato peeler, a grater, a colander, a couple of spatulas and cooktop spoons are sufficient.”
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Leftover entertaining supplies
Everyone loves a good theme party, but if you still have napkins hanging around from your 40th birthday or cocktails plates from casino night, it might be time to discard or donate them. Alternatively, you can make an effort to use them up, but make sure they don’t end up in the back of your kitchen cabinets again.
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That overflowing stash of bags
We’re all guilty of keeping stashes of plastic or paper grocery bags—just in case!—but how many do you really need? If your collection has gotten out of control, organizers recommend getting rid of the majority of them. “While excess paper grocery bags can be useful for some purposes, large stashes of paper bags can attract pests,” says Appelbaum.
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Foods you don’t actually like
Remember when you swore you were going to switch to cauliflower rice—only to discover you don’t like the taste at all? That head of cauliflower might still be hiding in the back of your refrigerator, and there’s really no need to keep it around. Palmer recommends asking yourself, “Does this item reflect your cooking style or represent who you wish you were in the kitchen?”
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Tools that collect dust
“If you haven’t touched your garlic press in a year, or if that juicer is still in the box from last Christmas, it is time for them both to move out,” says Cummings. “Be realistic with your culinary needs and donate anything that you don’t use on a regular basis.” A good rule of thumb is to get rid of anything you haven’t used in more than a year.
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Food that’s been open for a while
Half-eaten containers of food might still technically be good, but they’re probably stale and unlikely to actually get eaten. “Opened food like chips, cereals, crackers and other packaged goods can go stale quickly once exposed to air,” says Appelbaum. “If they’ve been sitting a while and have lost their freshness, it’s time to let them go.”
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Mismatched food storage containers
A good set of food storage containers is a must for your kitchen, but that doesn’t mean you have to keep the stained, broken or mismatched pieces in your cupboard. “If you open a cabinet and all of your food storage containers fall out on you, it is definitely time to assess what you have,” says Cummings. “Discard any old containers with stains or scratches. It is also absolutely time to get rid of any bins without matching lids, or any extra lids that don’t have a mate.”
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Chipped dishes and glassware
That mug with half a handle that no one ever uses? Professional organizers encourage you to throw it out. “Unless you are really handy with superglue or are saving something for sentimental purposes, get rid of any broken or chipped dishes and cups,” says Cummings.
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Damaged pots and pans
The same holds true for damaged cookware, whether it’s a baking sheet with food burnt onto the edges or a nonstick pan with scratches in the finish. These items are just taking up space, and if you can’t fix them (or don’t have time to), it’s time to get them out of your kitchen.
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Piles of paper
If you keep a collection of product manuals in your kitchen, it’s a good idea to go through them periodically. You might find that you’re holding onto manuals for appliances that you haven’t owned in years. The same goes for coupons, takeout menus and junk mail.
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All those extra water bottles
It’s the age-old question: How many reusable water bottles do you actually need? Chances are that you reach for your favorite one or two again and again, so don’t be afraid to donate the extras that have been shoved to the back of the shelf. The same goes for travel mugs.
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Rancid oils and nuts
“Be sure to open the oils, peanut butter and other nut butters to see if they smell rancid,” recommends Appelbaum. “If they have an unusual smell, it’s time to replace them.” Nuts are one of the baking ingredients you can store in the freezer to prevent them from going bad.
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Overly bulky appliances
If you have a smaller kitchen and limited storage space, consider getting rid of oversized appliances that you don’t use frequently. “Does this item’s usefulness justify its storage footprint? A bulky appliance used weekly might be worth keeping, while one used annually might not deserve prime kitchen real estate,” says Palmer. Some common culprits include bread makers, specialty blenders and juicers.
