Things to Immediately Throw Out in the New Year: A January Home Reset Checklist
The New Year always brings an unmistakable urge to reset, especially within our homes. But if you’re still holding on to last year’s clutter, it can be hard to fully embrace that fresh start. That is why the first month of the year is the perfect time for a New
By:
The Good Home Daily
Posted on January 30, 2026
The New Year always brings an unmistakable urge to reset, especially within our homes. But if you’re still holding on to last year’s clutter, it can be hard to fully embrace that fresh start. That is why the first month of the year is the perfect time for a New Year Declutter to reclaim your space.
January is a good time to slow down and notice what no longer fits your life: the extra items, the clutter you forgot about, and even those things you kept “just in case.” Letting them go is a simple way to begin a new year home reset without feeling overwhelmed.
If you aren’t sure what to throw away after the holidays, we’ve created this January decluttering checklist just for you. It’s designed to help you clear the space you need so you can feel more at home this year.
What Should You Let Go of After the New Year?
Holiday gift-giving is over, and you likely received several new items. Now is the perfect time to declutter your home. Here is a list of items you can let go of or donate—starting right now.
1. Expired Pantry Items
Keeping old food around not only clutters your kitchen but also makes it harder to find what you actually need. Take a moment to toss anything past its prime.
Yep, that includes those spices. They may look fine, but they eventually lose their flavor and nutritional value. Clearing these out makes room for fresh groceries and sets a stress-free tone for your healthy New Year meal prep.
2. Holiday Decorations and Scraps
Before you tuck the decorations away, toss the “half-dead” string lights, ripped gift wrap, and those tiny scraps of ribbon you’ll never actually reuse. Post-holiday decluttering is much easier when you only store what you’ll be excited to see in the next Holiday!
3. Paper Clutter
The holidays always bring an influx of catalogs, flyers, and old envelopes. Don’t let last year’s paper clutter follow you into January. Recycled catalogs and shredded documents clear up your entryway instantly, making your home reset feel official the moment you walk through the door.
4. Invalid Coupons and Gift Cards
Expired coupons and old store promos are just paper clutter taking up space in your wallet. Clearing them out ensures you’re only holding onto items that actually have value.
Keep in mind, however, that gift checks and cards in the Philippines no longer have an expiration date. Under the Gift Check Act of 2017 (Republic Act No. 10962), it is actually unlawful for establishments to refuse your unused balance.
So, before you toss your coupons, double-check which ones are still active. If you realize you won’t use a certain store credit, consider passing it along to a friend who will!
5. Expired Medications
A home reset isn’t just about what you see; it’s about safety, too. Check your medicine cabinet for anything past its prime.
Removing them during your New Year declutter keeps your medicine cabinet safe and easier to manage.
6. Old Pillows
Pillows lose their support over time, but there’s a deeper reason to replace them. A study on fungal contamination of bedding found that both synthetic and feather pillows can house a surprising amount of fungi.
To keep your sleep environment healthy and allergen-free, experts recommend refreshing your pillows every 1–2 years.
7. Missing Socks
We’ve all got that basket of “lonely” socks waiting for their partners to return. If they haven’t shown up by now, they probably won’t! Toss the singles or repurpose them as soft cleaning rags for dusting your baseboards.
8. Old Phone Cases
If you’ve upgraded your phone but kept the cases for your old model, they are simply taking up drawer space. If they’re still in good condition, give them to a friend who uses that model or post them for free in a local community group.
9. Worn-out Cleaning Sponges and Brushes
You can’t get a clean home using dirty tools! Research shows that kitchen sponges and brushes can host extremely high levels of bacteria like Acinetobacter, Pseudomonas, and even pathogens like Salmonella. Because these tools often stay damp, they easily harbor these germs if they aren’t replaced regularly.
As part of your New Year declutter, take a moment to toss any worn-out sponges or frayed brushes. Starting fresh with new tools ensures your cleaning routine is actually hygienic and safe for the year ahead.
10. Kitchen Containers Without Lids
Take ten minutes to match every container with its lid. If you find lids without containers (or vice versa), it’s time to let them go. Clearing these out makes your kitchen cabinets much easier to navigate.
11. Old Candles and Fragrance Items
Even if they look perfectly fine, scented candles eventually lose their fragrance, leaving you with a jar that doesn’t actually freshen your home. If your candles no longer have a strong scent or have burnt-out wicks, it’s time to clear them off your shelves to make room for ones you’ll actually use.
12. Empty Packaging
It’s tempting to keep boxes for phones or appliances “just in case,” but they mostly just collect dust. Once the return period has passed, break those boxes down and recycle them. You’ll be amazed at how much more room you have in your closets!
13. Outdated Planners and Notebooks
Planners are one of the most popular gifts during year-end office parties, and you likely received a beautiful new one recently. However, holding onto half-filled notebooks or outdated planners from years ago just takes up space.
Be sure to include these in your list of things you should throw away in January. Letting go of old schedules helps you focus fully on the fresh plans you have for the months ahead!
Why a New Year Declutter Matters
It is easy to look at a New Year declutter as just another chore, but there is a real psychological benefit to letting go. Our homes are often a reflection of our mental state. When your space is crowded with “visual noise,” your brain has to work harder to filter it all out.
Research from Princeton University shows that physical clutter competes for your attention. This constant distraction increases stress and makes it harder to focus. By removing those things we mentioned above, you lower the “background noise” in your mind.
There is also a psychological boost called the “Fresh Start Effect.” Researchers at the University of Pennsylvania found that landmarks like the New Year help us distance ourselves from the past. Tossing old planners or broken items is a ritual that tells your brain you are ready for a new chapter.
Decluttering after the New Year isn’t only about cleaning; it’s also about mental hygiene. When you clear your physical space, you’re actually clearing space in your mind for new ideas, better sleep, and less stress.
