The expert-approved tricks for decluttering ‘just in case’ items

Many of us have had a moment where we’ve been about to get rid of something only to wonder if it would be handy to keep ‘just in case’.

Some people decide to hold on to these things on the off chance they might need them one day, even if they’ve never used it or haven’t touched it for months or years.

It’s one of the most common reasons people keep clutter, according to professional organisers, but it is possible to overcome.

Why people keep things ‘just in case’

“I think for a lot of people it comes from fear, guilt and anxiety around waste,” Belle Harte, professional organiser and founder of Organised Abode Co, told nine.com.au.

“People get really caught up on how much something costs, even if it was bought 10 or 20 years ago … or because they feel wasteful getting rid of it, even though they don’t use or even like it.

“We also live in a culture where people feel like they need to be prepared for every possible scenario, so they hold on to things ‘just in case’ instead of focusing on what’s actually serving their life right now.”

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Items people often keep just in case are cables and old tech gadgets, broken and still functioning kitchen appliances, random bits and bobs like screws from flat-pack furniture, old toiletries and supplies for entertaining.

Why the ‘just in case’ reason matters

While some of these things seem small to store and a waste of money to rebuy or hire later, they are still taking up precious space in our homes and minds.

“It’s an expensive item because you’re now actually paying for the rent and the storage of it and also the mental clutter it creates for you as well,” Narelle King, professional organiser from Simply Happy Organisation, said.

Keeping things in case you might need them can also result in more mess.

“Just-in-case clutter can seem like something organised people have, but when the volume is so high you forget it’s there, it can quickly turn to chaos,” Julie Whiting, professional organiser and owner of The Decluttering Co, said.

How to combat ‘just in case clutter’

Questions to ask yourself

When clients tell professional organisers they’re keeping something ‘just in case’, there are some key questions they ask to get them thinking about whether they really do need those items.

“I never try to force people to get rid of things, but I do try to gently challenge the thought process. I’ll often ask, ‘If you saw this in a shop tomorrow, would you buy it again?’ That question alone can be really eye-opening,” Harte said.

Whiting encourages getting specific about your hypothetical future need for the item.

“Instead of ‘maybe one day’, think about when and where. In other words, how likely and foreseeable is its use?” she said.

Considering what you could do if you ended up needing it also helps with letting it go.

“Say ‘what if?’ So, what if you don’t keep the rice cooker you never use, and you want it one day? You can quickly buy another one or use a saucepan. It’s never disastrous. You are resourceful, and you’ve got this,” Whiting said.

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The purgatory box trick

Simply moving the item out of your living space for a designated time period can help you assess whether you should keep something just in case.

Harte likes a hack she calls “the purgatory box”, which uses this principle.

“It’s basically a middle ground for people who feel really anxious about letting things go. Instead of making a final decision straight away, you place the items into a box and store it somewhere out of your prime real estate areas,” she explained.

“If months later you haven’t needed anything from the box, or you’ve completely forgotten what’s even in there, that usually tells you everything you need to know. It gives people a bit of breathing space emotionally, while still helping reduce the visual clutter and overwhelm in their everyday spaces.”

Put a date on it

Another tip that helps identify whether ‘just in case’ clutter should go is putting it into a box or bag with the date in six or 12 months’ time. If you haven’t used the item by that date, it’s time to get rid of it.

Whiting recommends adding the date you’ve put on the item to your calendar so you have a definite commitment and reminder to assess the clutter.

She also has a suggestion to take it to the next level.

“Challenge yourself further. Consider not looking in that box, and just donating or discarding it as is when its time is up because you haven’t missed it and looking at it might make it hard to let go. But fear of missing out means people almost always want to check before releasing it.”

An alternative to writing a future date is to mark the current day’s date on the item.

“We’ve found that it’s really interesting when you come back and then the date’s written on there and it’s already the fifth month of the year but they’re like, ‘My gosh, it was back in January that I put all those items out’, and they haven’t even missed them. So I think that’s definitely helped,” King said.

The 20/20 rule

This idea comes from Joshua Fields Millburn and Ryan Nicodemus, who are known as The Minimalists.

The rule is if you can repurchase something for less than $20 and in less than 20 minutes then you should get rid of it.

This helps with the fear of letting go of something you think you might eventually need because it doesn’t take much effort or expense to get a new one. 

“It’s knowing that in the future you can find something, or you can find a solution to it;  whether you can borrow it from someone else, you could go to the op shop, or if you have to, go to a department store and repurchase it,” King said.

Harte adds, “If something can be replaced cheaply and easily, it’s often not worth storing indefinitely. Obviously, there are exceptions, but for everyday clutter I think it helps people realise they’re often holding on to things out of habit rather than necessity.”