There are many ways you can declutter sentimental items without guilt. Read on to find out how you can honor your memories and repurpose the stuff from your past.
Your first teddy bear. That favorite book. The cute outfit you just had to have.
It’s tough to part with sentimental items that bring up fond memories.
Sometimes we hang on to childhood memorabilia because we think we are going to pass it on to our kids or grandkids. But let’s be honest: the things you love your kids will not care about.
Stuff also deteriorates over time: elastic gives out, colors fade, and things get bent out of shape. Sometimes older things may not be safe (think lead paint). And who knows what they’ll discover is unsafe in the future!
So, what can you do with all your treasures?
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Save it
Really.
It’s okay to save a few special mementos. I saved my first teddy bear.
Just be picky about how much you save. And if you do save it, make sure you put it where it can be enjoyed.
What to do: Display it or put it in a special memory box that is NOT stuffed into a storage space.
Give it to your kids
Don’t keep “saving” things for someday. Let your kids have it now.
The best thing I kept from my childhood was an antique doll bed made for my great-grandmother in 1887. Five generations of kids in our family have played with it.
Even though it is an antique and is special, I still let my children play with it because that’s what it’s for. Yes, it may break someday, but if no one plays with it, what’s the point? It might as well be in a museum.
What to do: Let your kids play with it now.
Repurpose it
Of my own kids’ toys, I saved Duplo, a Fisher-Price barn, and board books. All of these things are timeless toys. I pull them out occasionally when I have visitors with small kids.
Notice these toys get used occasionally. They are NOT being saved for “someday.” They have been repurposed as “guest” toys.
What to do: Repurpose what you use the item for.
Give it away
When I was young, our neighbor passed on some Barbie dolls to me when they outgrew them. Talk about excited! When my own daughter outgrew a dollhouse, we passed it on to friends who had 3 little girls.
What to do: Give your item to a friend who can use it now.
Sort it
If you don’t feel emotionally ready to declutter sentimental items, try this: sort through them to see if there is anything in bad shape that you can toss. At the same time, you may come across a few more items that don’t mean much to you anymore. Put them in a donate box.
The rest may need to wait for another day, but don’t put it off forever! Make plans to revisit the saved sentimental items box at least once a year. More time and a different stage of life can change your mind about what you really want to keep.
What to do: Sort out the stuff that is easy to declutter from the hard stuff. Save the hard stuff for another day.
Tell the Story
Have a friend help you go through things and tell them the stories. Sometimes sharing your memories can bring a sense of closure so you can pass an item on to someone else.
Rather than keeping 100 stuffed animals, take some pictures and save a few of the best.
What to do: Share your memories with someone else and just keep one item from a collection.
Give it a Place of Honor
If you are going to save something because it has value to you, please find a way to display it. Don’t simply stuff it in a box. Nothing says “I treasure this” like putting it in a place of honor.
What to do: Display a special item in a place that you can enjoy.
Donate it
So, what can you do with sentimental items you decide to declutter? My best advice is to donate it to others who can use it NOW.
For a long time, I kept a pack-and-play and a bunch of toys because I thought I could use them for my grandkids someday. But I finally realized that they would be very out-of-date after 20 to 30 years.
So, I gave them away to people who need them now.
Try using freecycle if you want to give things away (or donate nice things to shelters or other charity organizations). Books can go to libraries or daycare centers. Shelters may take toys.
What to do: Donate to an organization that can get your item to someone who can use it now.
Cash in
If you have any sentimental items that are truly collectible, cash in now! Sell it and use the money for something that you need in your life now.
What to do: Sell valuable collectibles.
Final Word on Decluttering Sentimental Items
Remember, your stuff does not define you. If you no longer need something in your life, pass it on. Make room for a new chapter (but you can still keep the teddy bear).
Acknowledge that you once loved those things and they helped you create wonderful memories. Now let them go help someone else make memories. You can declutter sentimental items in ways that honor your memories and help others.
If you need more help with decluttering, check out The Best Decluttering Supply List. for a list of things you need when you declutter.
Thanks for the good advice. I especially liked sharing the story to help deal with closure.
So glad you enjoyed it!
I have pictures of family members that have passed. I don’t have room to put them on the wall. So what do I do with those?
It depends on how many there are and how big they are. If they are 8×10 or less, you might try putting them in a “family” album. If they are bigger, you might want to see if there is a photo service that could digitize them for you or create smaller versions. If you can digitize the pictures, there are electronic frames that you can put many digital photos in and it will change them, kind of like a slide show. Just a few ideas to get things started–I’m sure you can come up with more ideas.
A digital photo frame is great and you can use different photos. We gave one to an ahlzeimers person and put photos from her past. She would look at the photos and have fond memories.
My husband and I scanned all the pictures we had of our three children (and other relatives) and put them on a digital frame. We see the pictures Every Day instead of having them in a box in the basement. We made copies of each child’s pictures individually and then gave them a thumb drive of them so they could download and put on their own frames if they chose too. They could also be made into books if we choose. So many options now. My daughter can put the pictures she takes of her children on her phone and they are automatically put in chronological order. She will never have to sort through boxes of pictures like I had to do.
Sort through and save the most important photos in a photo album or photo box. If there are any photos that you don’t have room to keep, but you don’t want to throw away either, consider donating them to a Creative Reuse Center or list them for donation to an artist. Old photographs are beloved by many types of artists who use them in collage or mixed media art. Your donated photos will be be very much appreciated!
Great idea ,Creative Reuse Center.
My neighbor makes “Shutterfly” books by scanning the photos and making books. That way she still has the photo memories but not the clutter of all the pictures.
I made individual photo albums for my daughters, and was sure to label the family members. Although they are not 100% interested in genealogy now, I know they will be someday when their kids are grown and they have time on their hands and possibly even my grandchildren. These pictures are so important to pass on family stories about relatives from the past.
I would label them with the year and names of the people in the photo. That’s family history! Take them out of the frames, put them neatly in a box or folder. Some day, it might be special to someone else in your family tree. You can also try to pass them on by saying, ” I’ve had these for a long time. Now it’s time for someone else to enjoy them.”
Put them in a special album but only pick the best of each person
I think your post is the best one I’ve read in a long time. Sincere. Thoughtful. Kind. Helpful. Thank you.
Thanks for taking the time to say so!
Do you have any tips for buying things in stores that you will actually use instead of leaving it to gather dust in a closet or other space? It can be difficult to resist the impulse of buying something even though you know you’re not going to use it.
My best advice is to stay out of stores! It is so easy to buy stuff you weren’t planning to buy. I try to only go into stores when I have a specific item I am looking for, or with a shopping list. If you do buy something that you quickly realize you are not going to use, return it.
If I see something I like, I give myself a bit of time by wandering around the store while thinking about whether I ‘want’ it or actually ‘need’ it. If I think I need it but go back and it’s gone, then it wasn’t meant to be and I don’t think any more of it. If it’s still there and I’m still undecided, I pick it up, have another wander and then make the decision. I don’t take hours to come to this decision, just a small amount of time while I wander around and try to justify it – 9/10 the item stays where it is for someone else… I also love to read and have lots and lots books, so if having read the synopsis and I like the sound of one, instead of just buying it, I stand and read the first 2-3 pages and then put the book back. If I find myself thinking about the story as I walk around the store and wonder what might happen next, I go back for it, read it and enjoy it. I confess it does tend to add to my library but I’m planning on working on this soon, haha… Hope this helps.
What about the China my dad gave my mother from Okinawa back in the 50s?
Family treasures are the hardest sentimental item to deal with! A few thoughts: 1) Is this item currently being displayed or used in some way, or is it stored in a box in an attic? If it isn’t living a “useful life” in some way, consider the next two ideas. 2) Is there anyone in the extended family that would truly like to have the item? 3) If it is valuable, could it be donated to a museum or some historic organization? 4) If it is not wanted by anyone, perhaps you could save a cup and saucer to display and donate the rest to a thrift store. That is what my mother did with my grandmother’s China, and it is quite lovely.
Really like the idea about the china. My mom is in her 90’s and has a set of beautiful china that has always only come out for holiday meals…which haven’t happened in at least a decade. I’m going to suggest the idea of a display cup and saucer and donating or selling the rest.
Nice! I think it’s a great way to remember without the bother of storing the whole thing.
Use it everyday! You’re family is the “Special occasion” everyday and speaking as one who has lost their mother,I can’t think of another person more “special” to share your meal with EVERYDAY on those dishes…..
I agree! We use a dinner set of my MIL for every holiday and when we have friends or visitors for dinner (often); Drinking glasses belonged to a favorite aunt; cutlery was my mother’s; serving platters & bowls are from other relatives who are no longer with us to share holiday meals, but we remember them fondly every time we use them.
Replacement Unlimited in Greensboro, NC may purchase your china if it is in good shape.
They give you Pennie’s on the dollar in my opinion. Sell online. Be patient & someone will come along who will love it too…
I gave our great grandma’s China to a great niece. I would never keep one part of a set of China though and make the gift incomplete. Give it all or keep it all. It needs to remain together.
…not if it isn’t being used as a set. Individual pieces of china displayed in the homes of several family members is more meaningful than a whole set of china stored in a box.
Agree 💯on the point of keeping china together in a set! Take a picture of the cup and saucer for your memory, but please, keep the set together!
Our county park had an historic house where they served tea…in china teacups. They loved getting and using fine china and SO many people enjoyed using them too. Great fund raiser to support the parks.
Laurie
You can have a chipped piece broken up to make into a necklace as a momento of the original set. check out “Broken China jewelry” on Etsy.
I also have a set of fine china that my dad brought back to my mom and it’s just sitting in two big boxes in my garage. Today’s generation uses paper plates or dishes that can be used in the microwave, so now I’m struggling with to WHERE and WHO to give them. They’re white with thin silver edging, Noritake made in Japan.
Loved our time in Japan unfortunately we didn’t get to buy our set of China while we were there in 1995. I do have a few pieces that were bought for me by my father-in-law’s old friend Maja(JN).
May I see a picture of them? I think I have the same china!
Ive collected pieces of old Noritake plates. They are the small dinner plates and have the gold or silver rim. I use them everyday – none match except I love them! I put them in the dishwasher! Have for years. Not a problem at all. Better they are used and that I love using them every day.
Donate it to a worthy charity organization for a tax write off or sell it to a collector. It’s most likely full of toxic lead or mercury. Take some photos first. Then wait a week or so and make a final decision of what’s best for YOUR needs.
I inherited a complete Silverplate set of flatwear from my mom. It was in a nice wood box made especially for it. I moved it with us, but after we got settled, I realized I would never use it, having my everyday stainless, another casual set and a complete set of sterling. I tried consignment shops but they wouldn’t take it do I advertised it on Facebook Marketplace. I was surprised when a YOUNG woman bought it and was so excited to get it. She said she and her husband liked to have fancy dinner parties and she had been looking for something just like it. I didn’t sell it for much, but wasn’t my goal. She was so happy, it made me happy that it was going where it would be treasured. We were both smiling as she drove off.
I have also donated my grandmother’s tea cups to an organization that holds tea parties in a restored Victorian house where I used to live.
Good morning, Terri. I’m having the same issue too. What did you end up doing with the china? I have to ship from New York to Minnesota . Thanks Pam
This post has really gotten me off dead center. My emotions continue to hold me back from decluttering, but this really clears air for me and gives me a path to follow. Thank you.
So glad to help! I hope you will be able to make some headway with all the sentimental stuff. Keep going!
I admit it, I am a hoarder. I don’t get rid of anything, my mother was the same as was her mother. When I need to clean and get rid of things I ask for my sister or my niece to help. They are not attached as I am.
It’s good that you have someone you can call on for help. You are right that it is much easier for other people who are not attached to get rid of things.
Take photos of items or scan them, that way you have those on file forever. 🙂
I personally think taking photos and or scanning items you may look back on will have the potential to make you regret your decision. When you’re ready to let go you’ll know.
Or they can serve to recall the happy memories you want to hold on to.
I like the ideal of taking pics .gather all the Momentos and take some fun pics w them.then display w a shadow box n put some of the keepers n there.put glass,pic frame over it.
I am new in decluttering, but I enjoy this going through stuff, evaluating, categorising, placing things in a practical way. I still live a messy life with my kids in tiny apartment, but key for me is to keep going as the day allows me. Think of taking lovely photos of your most valued memories, toys, clothes or jewellery, then store it in drive and they will stay with you even if you pass them on.
I’ve heard of making quilts with sentimental clothing or cloth items. 0
I did that with Dad’s old ties after he passed away. Found 140 ties in the house when we it out. Joined a quilting club, learned a new skill: Quilting. Made 5 large quilts from his ties. Check out Etsy for “broken china jewelry”.
I made lap sized quilts for sisters and best girlfriends. I used old crocheted doilies, ladies printed hankies, even a small cotton table topper. The hankies were so thin from use that I used iron on interfacing. I sewed these on nice quilt fabric I’ve had forever. Everyone loved them and have sent photos of them using them at night over their legs to watch tv or read. Contact me if you want to see photos. I’m just so happy to find a way to use family things passed down for years and I just couldnt toss.
Some things are just too precious to get rid of and will become heirlooms and will be going into a Treasure Chest, a wicker basket that I’ve got that will keep these things safe. Other sentimental items will be offered to my children, if they don’t want them, then I’ll take photos of them and either sell or donate. I’ll print the photos and write on the backs of them just what the item was, it’s significance and any story that goes with it. The way I see it, the item will live on in our hearts and minds through the photos in the treasure box but it will be of use to someone else.
My partner has an amazing way to keep sentimental things without actually keeping them! They take photos of the sentimental item and display the photos as a screen saver on their laptop. This means the sentiment and happy feelings are re-lived everytime the photos scroll on the screen. So much better than keeping sentimental items in a box in the attic that never get looked at!
We collected over 5000 photos when cleaning out my parents home. I scanned them all and made hardcover books with photos labelled from an online photobook company. Both my brother and sister went from wanting to keep 14 large totes of the original pictures to preferring a set of the books I had made. Photos went back to when my great-grandmother was an infant, did a book for each surname, included a genealogy tree at the centre page.
Great advice. As a professional photo organizer, one more tip I have for my clients (which I’ve also done myself in cleaning out my parents’ and in-law’s homes) is to make a photo book that includes pictures of sentimental items WITH the related stories. The story is what tells future generations why this mattered. And it’s a way to hold on to the memory without taking up as much space.
Great tips! I’m SO sentimental and that makes it super challenging to de-clutter. 🙂
WOW!!! Finally someone who has great ideas and embraces others ideas for keeping memories…
My Grandmother gave me so many items when she died and I have passed them on to my children and grands. Still a few things to give once younger ones are able to understand the story and hopefully treasure the items. It is wonderful to go to my children’s homes and see items that bring back memories of my growing up years. Pictures tell stories and make memories of our families which need to be shared with those who will enjoy them. Thank you for sharing yours and others ideas on clutter/memories.j
A big shout out to all. The suggestions were well received and I will utilize many. After my recent retirement (i have time and of course the pandemic, staying staying home) and going over Swedish Death Cleaning on YouTube I’m finding it imperative to declutter and get organized like never before. So again thank-you all.
Nancy Espinet
Teaneck, NJ
It’s sad to realize that my children will not cherish the same things I do. All the Knick knacks that were in my grandparents and parents homes. These suggestions are great. If I see them out and bring a smile to my face keep it. If it’s just packed away for someday then take a photo to look at. I love the idea of having the photos be a screensaver or a digital picture frame.
THANK you for this wonderful post and the guide to decluttering guilt free … so many great ideas for dealing with a very hard part of life …. growing older and not needing things from our past, but feeling depressed about getting rid of them. Another idea that came to mind while I read the article was to take pictures of the items or pictures of others enjoying the item and keep the pictures in a special small album. Again, thanks for sharing your thoughts with us.
You are most welcome! I love the idea of taking a picture of others enjoying the item.
I had my daughter take pictures of the things that were very important to her but that she donated that way she could still see them and we wrote little memories on the page that we pasted the picture too yes I know old school a picture not a digital imprint. The photo book has meant a lot to her you periodically goes through it says oh I remember that that was such a fun toy I hope whoever got it had as much fun with it. Or I can’t believe that shirt was so important to me it’s so weird.
I love this! A great way to preserve some memories without the bulk of the items.
The best advice I have ever received about stuff like this came from my husband’s grandmother when she gave me one set of her mother’s china. She said to use it and enjoy it, make memories with it. Do not put it in a china cabinet or in a box. If a piece gets broken don’t worry about it. That will create a new memory to share every time the item is used. If we don’t use things and create memories with them we can’t expect our children to ever want them. They won’t have a memory or reason to value them as we do. We only use that set of china at the holidays, but we do use it. When we use it we talk about the people who used it before us. And we are creating our own family memories linked to it as well. Now my kids value it. I have many other heirloom pieces that we use daily/regularly. If something gets broken or damaged, oh well. It was enjoyed while it was used and not hidden in a box 🙂
That is great advice! You really can’t expect people to love something that they have no emotions and memories about.
Wonderful point! My husband gave me a long desired set of Christmas china as a gift 1 year and I meant to start setting it out for daily use on the day after Thanksgiving every year. I rarely followed through. When the time came neither of my kids wanted it. My daughter chose to have my mother’s Christmas china. That held memories for her.
I have given our family heirlooms to the niece and nephews as they marry. I ended up with many and my children do not want all of it. The gifts were well received as I made sure the history(that I was told of) is explained on each item.
I found that with the sentimental items it helped to take a picture of the item. Then I was able to detach from the sentimentality of the item but I still had a picture of it.
As far as using heirlooms, Erma Bombeck wrote a beautiful piece about “if she had her life to live over again”. It inspired me to use my grandmother’s china on a daily basis instead of locking them away in my china cabinet. I also have oodles of dainty heirloom cups and saucers amassed over the years by
both my grandmother and mother..Luckily, I also have 8 granddaughters who have enjoyed so many tea parties with them over the years, and they all have a favourite cup and saucer that they claim each time. So many amazing memories!!…
I have 2 fairly large oval pictures, 1 is my parents wedding . The other is of my father’s army pic. My daughter asked me, what do you want me to do with them???.wondering if I should just keep them till I am dead.and let her throw them away.
My first question is: are you displaying them, or are they stored away where no one can see them? If you are hanging on to something you should definitely enjoy it and display it somewhere, otherwise, what’s the point? Second, check with other family members (one by one) to see if anyone WANTS to have them. If not, would some historical society be interested in having them for their archives? If no one wants them, but you can’t bear to part with them, be sure the relevant information is recorded on the back of the pictures (just in case someone changes their mind after you are gone), but give your daughter permission to discard them when the time comes. Another idea is to see about having smaller reproductions made that could be put into a family album instead of the large originals.
This is so hard for me! I’m so sentimental and feel it’s almost disrespectful to get rid of things others’ cherished. I keep evolving and do realize what is really important, so slowly let some leave. What others do with them when I’m gone will not matter to me at that point. I try to organize and label so things are more cohesive and clear. I’m doing this because I care. I do believe there will be someone in my family who will also want to preserve these memories. But as far as clutter goes, I have things in containers and have a place to store. I truly enjoy sharing these memories with others! I do completely understand the need to declutter and using things you can is a wonderful way to preserve and create new memories. Thank you for all the great ideas, just remember to follow your heart with kindness and love.
These are all such great ideas and as others have stated, Audrey’s article is thoughtful, kind and helpful. I would add to the repurpose suggestions for anyone who is crafty. I like to sew and look at cherished but “well-loved” items with an eye for what it could become. Dad’s ratty Army blanket became stitched Christmas ornaments (shaped like a mitten or tree or snowman), pieces of a ski sweater became hats on Christmas gnomes, Grandma’s checked tablecloth became hotpads and my great aunt’s crewel pictures became pillows. I included a brief bio of the original owners with each gift and believe they would want their treasures to be used. Plus, I have enjoyed the creative and sentimental journey!!
What a wondsrful readup for decluttering. In every frame there are many examples of suggestions what to do or what has been done ,although in each showing a little hardship of letting go of the sentimental collections.
Well at the moment I am having that problem. I collect everything and anything , to any story , but now to let go is hard . I have toys that are over 30-40yrs. Old games, Barbie dolls, collections from newspapers and magazines, Books /World Encyclopedia, Picture Books, Videos, Film CDs- ( never realizing it will be on TV ), Dolls that are over 45yrs. Old, many cards from different celebrations .
Yes have just passed on about 5Barbie Dolls /3Kens to my Eldest daughter ‘ -ie my 5yr. old grandchild , the rest my youngest 34yr.old wants to keep them but I wish to sell it
Yes I was a hoarder of don’t play with them as this or that will break , I unfortunately was very fussy ,. Now I don’t know where to start , as I am overwhelmed with everything, dont want to let go , like my youngest daughter .
It is very hard , as we Both have suffered -shopaholic” syndrome ( me years ago ) . And for Both there is the sentimental issues of all our things at home. Its b…..y hard.
Every section is – not easy to let go. Or let alone start , which is very frustrating .this my layout of a struggle .thanking You for listening .Camellia 02/sept.2023
Toys that are safe and usable can so be donated to a child care facility. Most usually welcome donated items. Just call ahead of time. They are most appreciative.
My Daughter & Grandson were killed in a horrible accident in 2013. I still have been able to go through their stuff.
I do not know how I go about going through their stuff and having these items leave my home
How tragic! Going through items that belonged to relatives that have died is tough. You might try contacting a professional organizer in your area for assitance.
I just bought a few photo albums at a thrift shop. I would rather have the photos because of the way technology advances so quickly, putting them on computer/hard drive may be obsolete in the near future and then no way to see them. Remember 8 track tapes? I’d rather have a physical item to hold and look at. It will be there forever.
Sentimental toys and stuffed animals are displayed each year under my Christmas tree.
I’m so glad I saved our Son’s toys. Our grandson had a blast with them and now our great granddaughter is having a blast with the all the original Care Bears, all in mint shape. The boys slept with them and she loves on them. Then I’ll leave them ant the rest of our Son’s toy to him in my will same with our Grandson’s toys and our great granddaughter toys to her. All the toys they never or barely played with I gave away. Our son said he’ll sale them, if still in mint condition. If they stay mint, he’ll make a mint!
I have a pre ww2 set of my Moms Noritaki china, c. 1935. I dont think my kids want it but I do display some pieces on top if my kitchen shelves.
A no-brainer really, I know – I have a few photos of close family now gone – and no-one to pass them on to!
Remember, the act of decluttering is not about discarding the past but making room for a more intentional and fulfilling present and future. If you’re looking for guidance, explore “The Best Decluttering Supply List” for practical tools to aid you in the process. Happy decluttering!
So many excellent ideas. Helps give a much different mindset . Thanks to all!
Thank you for this post. I have a stuffed elephant that I received as a newborn…I will be 55 in a couple months. I STILL have the elephant. My challenge is that I have no other interest in decorating with elephants so displaying it is not the best option. It’s fairly large, we are trying to downsize and it just won’t make the cut. I DO have a photo from back in the day and have JUST decided that I will recreate the picture, then let it go. Thank you! Without this article I had been struggling with how to let it go anytime I noticed it in my closet.
Years ago a friend of mine told me that when my Mom and Mom in Law wanted to give me stuff…. Just take it gracefully and then dispose of it for them. Whether that is passing it on with the story. Or really disposing of it. Because they have an emotional connection to the item so therefore can’t get rid of it.
Now that I’m in that position of having to downsize..I’d really appreciate someone listening to my story of the ‘thing’ or ‘things’. And then gracefully passing them on for me. I do realize that many things are my memories only… but many more might mean something to others. Whether it’s the story behind the item, or the person that made it or whatever. One never knows what can trigger another’s memory and/or emotions. I’ve really tried to pass items on to my family, and my husband’s family that would mean so much at later times. Like Great Grandpa’s special fishing rod! Or winter parka that we all remember him wearing.
But travel stuff is only our memories and not worth trying to force others to enjoy. Like those glasses with ship etched in from the cruise we took 50 yrs ago! Don’t think anyone wants them!
Anyhow that’s my 5 cents worth.