We all have that one mystery box—maybe three—that’s been sealed since the Bush administration but keeps hitching a ride every time you move. You tell yourself, “I might need this someday,” but someday never comes. Whether it’s nostalgia, guilt, or good intentions, certain items somehow earn a spot in the moving truck again and again, even though they haven’t seen daylight in over a decade. If you’re trying to declutter or just wondering why your storage closet won’t close anymore, this list might hit a little too close to home.
1. The box of burned CDs
Remember when you’d spend hours making the perfect mix CD? According to The Spruce, CD clutter is one of the most common things people hold onto despite the fact they no longer own a way to play them. Those labeled jewel cases with “Road Trip 2004” or “Gym Beats Vol. 6” feel too sentimental to toss—but you haven’t listened to them in years. And let’s be honest: most of them are scratched or full of songs you can now stream in seconds.
It’s okay to keep one or two for nostalgia, but that giant plastic spindle of unmarked discs? It’s time to let it go. They take up space, and you’re not firing up your old Dell laptop just to relive your Avril Lavigne phase. If they’re truly important, consider digitizing them. Otherwise, recycle and reclaim that shelf.
2. The fondue set from your wedding registry
Fondue seemed romantic and grown-up at the time, but when was the last time you melted Gruyère for six? Apartment Therapy points out that specialized kitchen gadgets often fall into the category of “aspirational clutter”—stuff you keep because you meant to host, not because you ever did. The fondue pot has made its way across state lines, and yet it hasn’t touched your stovetop in years. It’s still in the original box, possibly with a gift receipt that expired in 2010.
Let’s be real: you’re not planning a fondue night anytime soon, especially not one that involves those pokey little forks. If you haven’t used it by now, you probably won’t. Donate it and give someone else the chance to live their melted cheese fantasy. You’ll gain cabinet space and lose zero quality of life.
3. The college textbooks you swore you’d reference
You spent hundreds on them, so it felt wrong to leave them behind—but you haven’t cracked open Macroeconomics: Theory and Policy in over a decade. As noted by Forbes, old textbooks are among the most moved-but-unused items in American homes. They’re heavy, take up valuable shelf space, and no longer reflect up-to-date knowledge. Plus, the info is all online now (and let’s be honest, you Googled it anyway).
It’s understandable—those books were part of your academic journey. But unless you’re planning to return to campus or launch a trivia team, they’re just expensive dust collectors. Consider donating them to a local school or used bookstore. Or finally give in and recycle the ones with broken spines and neon highlighter from 2006.
4. The unused bread maker
It had a moment. You saw it in the back of Good Housekeeping or maybe it was a Black Friday splurge—either way, it’s been haunting your pantry ever since. Consumer Reports notes that bread makers are one of the most regretted kitchen purchases, especially for people who try them once and then never again. And you can’t even remember how to clean it, much less where the paddle thing went.
Bread makers are great—if you’re committed. But if yours has been moved multiple times without ever baking a single loaf, it’s not “vintage,” it’s just taking up square footage. Someone on Facebook Marketplace would probably love it. That space could be used for, say, snacks you actually eat.
5. The tangled bin of mystery cords
At some point, you convinced yourself that every cord had value. What if you need to charge your 2009 Blackberry? What if your iPod Shuffle needs to make a comeback? You’ve schlepped that tangle of mystery wires to four apartments and a house, and not once have you needed any of them.
The sad truth is: if you don’t know what it connects to, you probably don’t own the thing anymore. Chargers, RCA cables, old HDMI cords—most of them have been replaced with faster, smaller, wireless options. Free yourself from the drawer of electrical confusion. Just don’t forget to recycle them properly.
6. The decorative candles you’ve never lit
You got them as a gift or bought them at a boutique when you felt fancy. They’ve followed you from shelf to shelf, looking elegant and untouched—but never actually doing their one job. Whether it’s because they’re “too pretty” to light or too dusty to clean, they’ve become permanent display items. Meanwhile, you reach for your Bath & Body Works 3-wick every time.
Decorative candles don’t age like wine—they fade, discolor, and even lose their scent. If you love them, burn them. If you don’t, donate or toss them and make room for candles you’ll actually enjoy. Sentimentality shouldn’t stand between you and functional home décor.
7. The unopened scrapbook kit
At some point, you had grand plans to make an album of your European backpacking trip or your dog’s first year. You bought the stickers, the paper, the fancy scissors—maybe even a cutting mat. Now it lives in a plastic bin labeled “Creative Projects,” and you haven’t touched it in over a decade. It’s been more of a storage burden than a source of joy.
Creative guilt is real, but be honest: if you haven’t started this project after all this time, you might never. There’s nothing wrong with keeping a few supplies, but the full kit? That can go to someone who’s ready to use it. Let go of the pressure, and let go of the clutter.
8. The suitcase full of Halloween costumes
You’ve got a sexy witch, a banana, a pirate, and something involving fake blood and glitter—none of which you’ve worn in years. You keep them just in case, but somehow end up buying a new costume every time Halloween rolls around. The old ones are either too small, too broken, or too cringe to wear again. And yet, they’ve traveled more than your actual luggage.
It’s time to retire the costumes you’ve outgrown—figuratively or literally. Keep one go-to backup costume, and donate the rest to a theater department or thrift shop. Your closet will thank you. And you’ll avoid repeating that “what even is this?” moment every October.
9. The collection of hotel toiletries
You don’t even remember what hotel some of them came from. But somehow, you’ve built a mini-archive of tiny shampoo bottles and wrapped soaps, as if you’re running a backup hotel in your guest bathroom. You swear you’ll use them for travel, but they never actually make it into your suitcase. Instead, they sit in a basket gathering dust.
Most of them have lost their scent—or worse, expired. Unless you’re assembling care kits or doing serious decluttering, there’s no reason to keep them. A few favorites? Sure. But the bulk of them? Time to toss or donate.
10. The random single-use kitchen gadgets
Corn cob stripper. Avocado slicer. Banana saver. These gadgets all seemed helpful at the time, but after one or two uses, they quietly made their way to the back of a drawer.
They’ve survived multiple kitchen purges because they’re small, or maybe because you forgot you even had them. But if you’ve moved them more times than you’ve used them, it’s probably time to say goodbye. One good knife does most of these jobs better. Simplifying your kitchen means you might actually enjoy cooking in it.
11. The pile of old throw pillows
They’re flat. They’re stained. One might still smell like your college apartment. And yet you’ve lugged them through every move like they’re made of gold.
Throw pillows have a lifespan, both in terms of comfort and style. If they no longer match your décor—or feel like leaning on a loaf of bread—it’s time. Keep your favorites, donate what’s still usable, and toss the rest. Your future guests (and your back) will appreciate it.
12. The box labeled “Misc – Fragile”
You don’t even know what’s inside anymore. It’s made every move, been handled with care, but never actually opened. Maybe it’s old dishes, or glass trinkets, or heirloom something-or-other you swore you’d find a place for. But here you are—five homes later—and it’s still unopened.
If something’s been boxed up for 15 years, how essential can it really be? Set aside an afternoon to open it and take stock. You’ll either rediscover something wonderful or find the closure you need to let it go. Either way, that mystery box deserves a verdict.
