11 Kitchen Items You Should Throw Away Right Now, According to Pro Organizers

Many of us get caught up in thinking that we should keep these items for a rainy day or that throwing away perfectly good items isn’t sustainable, but, sometimes, you just have to let it go.

from ketchup packet in kitchen junk drawerFrom chipped mugs, to single-use kitchen tools that you rarely reach for, there are probably more than a few items in your kitchen that you could stand to throw away.

Takeout Containers, Cutlery, and Condiments

“We all feel guilty throwing away those plastic packets of cutlery and those little packets of soy sauce from your local takeout place, but they easily pile up and create a lot of clutter in your kitchen drawers,” says Ashley LaFond., Founder of home organization company Space+Mind.

She recommends using them for packed lunches or tossing them. And don’t forget to note in your next delivery order that you don’t want them.

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additional kitchen equipment

Laura Price, The founder of The Home Organization, a home organization service, recommends looking at your small kitchen appliances to see if any of them can do more than one thing, then choose one to keep.

“Does your food processor work as a juicer? Or does your blender grind spices?” she asks.

Plus, she notes that devices often come with a lot of accessories, many of which you may not use.

“If you’re not going to be making bread in your food processor you don’t need to have those attachments,” she says. “Give up anything you know you’ll never use.”

mismatched food storage containers

Is there an avalanche every time you open the cabinet where your food storage containers live? Are you afraid of eating leftovers because it means you have to go on a treasure hunt to make up for the bottom and the top?

“There’s no point in having a food store that doesn’t have a top. Sort and match the lids and discard any that don’t have a top,” says LaFond.

bulk goods

While bulk buying is considered a great way to save money, it doesn’t always work, especially if you’re short on space. In a small kitchen, this can create more clutter than good.

“If you don’t have the space to create a good storage area for all those extra and bulk items, the kitchen quickly becomes unmanageable,” says Price. She says you need to understand what’s realistic to store in your kitchen and follow those limits.

“If you’re overloaded with a lot of stuff that you can’t store, there are food banks that will be happy to take existing surplus food,” she says.

reusable bags

La Fond recommends getting rid of all those paper shopping bags and reusable totes you’ve been holding onto.

“Keep only a few and recycle or donate the rest. And always store them where you’ll actually remember to bring them to the store (like the back of your car!),” says La Fond.

A reusable bag is only good when it’s actually being used.

sticking utensils

Michelle Urban, professional home organizer and owner of The Organized House, says you should throw away chipped dinnerware immediately.

She says, “Even if the chip or crack in your plate, bowl, bakeware, cup or mug looks small, you should throw it away. Not only are sharp edges dangerous, but cracks in your dishes can lead to unwanted bacteria.”

The next time you’re tempted to think a crack isn’t so bad, remember, it can provide an opportunity for bacteria to grow.

multiple mugs

“Most people have more mugs than they need and they take up too much space,” says La Fond, who recommends keeping only your favorite mugs and donating the rest. maybe it means a set matching mugsOr maybe you like the quirky, mismatched look, but, either way, you don’t need two dozen.

expired spices

How old is your oregano? What about your basil? Is there any onion salt that has been hanging around since 2014?

“Spices lose their flavor and potency over time, so if they expire, it’s not a good idea to keep them hanging around,” says Urban.

She recommends that as soon as you have a bowel movement, make a list of the spices you’ve thrown away so you can refill them the next time you go grocery shopping.

owner’s manual

If you’re worried that throwing away your microwave manual might leave you with an error warning that you don’t know how to fix, don’t worry. It’s safe to look at the owner’s manual for most appliances and technology, as almost everything is available online now.

“Don’t let the owner’s manual take up prime real estate in a coveted drawer or cabinet. When customers ask me what to do with their appliance and household manuals, I always recommend purging the manual if it’s a small, easy-to-use appliance or if you can find product information online,” says Urban.

pitted plastic storage containers

“Throw away any plastic storage containers that have pits, or the white marks that often appear after reheating the microwave,” says kristina hidekAn organizing and decluttering coach at Streamlined Living.

She explains that forming potholes means the plastic is breaking down and the surface is no longer intact, and you could be eating plastic with every bite. These are no longer safe and should be thrown away not only for the purpose of cleaning up the mess, but also for your own health.

Hidek says, “It’s good to repurpose things like take-out boxes and yogurt containers, but not for food storage because they’re only designed for single use. Use them in your garage or craft room instead.”

old kitchen sponge

Kitchen sponges aren’t supposed to last forever – and their lifespan is probably a lot shorter than you think.

“They contain bacteria and germs, so toss them out weekly and replace with a fresh sponge,” says Hidek.