When downsizing or engaging in a decluttering session, you may think you know exactly which items you can definitely toss without experiencing any consequences. However, organizing pros say, you may want to rethink that list a bit. Here, organizers share nine common types of household items that you might regret throwing away.
Fashion Jewelry
Julie Mills, the founder of All Squared Away in Morgantown, West Virginia, urges people to not be so quick to part with baubles at the bottom of your jewelry box, particularly if you don’t know their full history. “Some ornamental pieces may look like costume jewelry, however, they are indeed valuable and considered vintage,” she says. “We once found a tiny campaign lapel pin from 1896 that was worth $12,000.” Mills recommends visiting a certified jewelry appraiser who can evaluate anything that needs a second set of eyes.
Spare Keys
If you come across sets of keys while tidying up, it’s best to determine what they correspond with before getting rid of them. “If you are downsizing a loved one’s home, hold onto those keys to make sure they do not belong to any old chests, trunks, suitcases, or even safety deposit boxes at the local bank,” Mills says. “You never know what treasures you might find.”
DVDs And DVD Players
You may think that you won’t need your DVDs ever again thanks to today’s streaming capabilities, but tossing them may mean you risk losing your favorite comfort show.
“So many TV series and movies have disappeared completely from streaming services lately due to licensing issues, so I think it’s worth it to keep hard copies of your absolute favorites (and something to play them on, even if it’s just an old laptop), says Catie Kelly. In fact, the founder of Sistamatic Organizing in Atlanta, Georgia, adds, be mindful about all of the media you enjoy consuming.
“There’s no guarantee that you’ll always have access to your e-books, audio books, or iTunes library,” she says.
Dust Bags
Your nicest shoes and bags likely came inside of dust bags, which are always good to hold onto for down the line, according to Katia Basley.
“Keeping dust bags for designer or high-quality items allows you to protect them from dust, sunlight, cleaning chemicals, and more,” says the Houston, Texas-based founder of Vision & Hammer. “They can also increase the resale value of designer items if you plan to sell something one day.”
Gift Bags
The next time you receive a present or host gift, don’t be so quick to throw away the bag it came in.
“Gift bags can be reused multiple times, and keeping some on hand saves time and money when you’re in a pinch,” Basley says.
Wallpaper Scraps
Wallpaper can certainly be expensive, and even a small amount of leftover paper can go a long way, so don’t toss it!
“This can be used for wrapping gifts, cutting for acrylic frames or coasters, or framed as artwork depending on the wallpaper panel design,” Basley says.
Extra Paint
The same goes for paint, which can be used for all sorts of household projects as well as touchups.
“It ensures you won’t have any issues matching an old paint color mix with a new batch that may not look the same,” Basley says.
Manuals
You may wish to reduce the amount of paper pamphlets you’re keeping in the house, but think twice about getting rid of manuals.
“They often have warranty information, and most importantly, the exact model and/or serial number of item you have installed,” Basley says. “You may not be able to pull out a wall-oven when you need to reference something over the phone to a repair tech!”
Old Memorabilia
Last but not least, use caution when paring down memorabilia you’ve held onto over the years.
“A common regret people have when organizing keepsakes is getting rid of old letters or handwritten notes,” says Tonia Tomlin of Sorted Out in Plano, Texas. “These personal items often hold sentimental value that’s hard to replace.” She recommends to her clients to digitize such items when possible.
