Spring Cleaning: These 9 Things Should Have Been Thrown Away—Don't Let Them Take Up Space

Last weekend I finally tackled my closet.

The trigger was this: I was looking for a cardigan, dug around for a while and couldn’t find it, but pulled out one that was stuffed in there from who knows what year—

A Unisex T-shirt washed until it turned white, size XL.

I bought that T-shirt in 2019. Later I lost 20 jin (about 22 pounds) and never wore it again. But every time I organized my closet, I’d see it and think: “What if I gain the weight back someday?”

The result? 5 years, never once wore it.

This time I decided: thoroughly farewell this “just in case” mentality.

9 Things You Must Throw Away During Seasonal Switching

Combining my own lessons learned and online research, here are these 9 categories:

1. Misshapen T-shirts

Neckline stretched, cuffs piling, color yellowed—even if expensive, keeping them only means using them as sleepwear, and you don’t need more sleepwear anyway.

2. Shoes Not Worn in Over 2 Years

Shoes have a lifespan. Left too long, the midsole will chalk up, and walking in them your feet will slip. Throw away.

3. Old Phone Charging Cables

Every phone upgrade equals one more cable. When you open my home drawer, there are a dozen or so. These things taking up space are pointless.

4. Instruction Manuals and Warranty Cards

Now all products have electronic warranties, and manuals can be downloaded online. Those paper documents taking up space—pointless.

5. Hangers from the Dry Cleaner’s

Every time I pick up clothes from dry cleaning, I always bring back one or two extra hangers. What are you keeping them for? They can’t be exchanged for money.

6. Cosmetics in Wrong Colors

Expired ones need no explanation, but even non-expired ones in colors that no longer suit you—throw away. Lipstick stored too long will go bad, and so will foundation.

7. Supermarket Freebie Cups

Those cups that came with “buy two get one free” deals—generally poor quality, and take up space. If you have more than 3 such cups, throw away half.

8. Old Socks

Not the torn ones, but those “only one good, the other has holes” types. A single sock’s fate is being forgotten in the corner of a drawer.

9. “Maybe I’ll Use It Someday” Clutter

This is the most important category, and also the hardest.

The judgment standard is simple: if you haven’t used this thing in a year, it won’t be used again.

Not “maybe,” it’s “won’t.”

The Right Way to Throw Things Away

I know many sisters will say: I know I should throw it away, but I just can’t bear to.

My personal approach is this:

First ask yourself three questions:

1. When was the last time I used it?
2. If I didn’t have this thing right now, would I buy it?
3. Would throwing it away affect my life?

If all three answers are “no” or “I don’t remember,” then throw.

I also had trouble taking that step at first, but I’m telling you: The moment you finish throwing, you’ll feel an inexplicable sense of satisfaction.

Like constipation for three days suddenly cleared up.

Don’t ask me how I know—just trust that it’s personally tested and effective.