How to Get Rid of Sentimental Clutter

Breaking up with someone isn’t easy, but it turns out letting go of your junk brings up similar sentimental feelings as breaking up with a partner.

Maybe it’s a couch you’ve been with for years; it was love at first sight and your first big purchase with your professional income. You and that couch have shared so many naps. It made you feel so warm and cozy. But now, it isn’t the same — the magic is gone.

Whether bulky furniture or knick-knacks, decluttering sentimental items can bring some emotions. But, the longer you keep sentimental junk, the harder it is to let go of stuff. If you want to emotionally detach from stuff and get rid of sentimental junk, keep reading!

Sentimental clutter is the stuff that you’re holding on to purely for the emotional response you get from it. It could be anything – from a box of keepsakes from a prior relationship to a coffee mug with a broken handle that you purchased on your first trip to a different state.

Detaching your emotions from stuff isn’t easy, but it’s important to realize that decluttering sentimental items is not going to erase the memories elicited from those items.

If you’re holding on to brochures from National Parks to remember the cross-country road trip you took with your college friends, will disposing of them erase that memory? Probably not.

Sometimes our sentimental items feel like they are who we are. But as we get older, it’s not practical to hang on to, let’s say, the crib from when you were a baby (unless you have plans to have a child of your own really soon), or that vintage vinyl from your Dad’s collection that you never listen to. Because truth be told, you just don’t like Nat King Cole like he did.

Before you start, remember this one thing: Your items are not the people or places they are associated with. If you throw them away, you are not throwing away that part of your life.

It’s important to make sure that you really want to take the plunge. As with ending a romantic relationship, the decision to bring it to a close is final and can’t be reversed. Not to freak you out, but once that vintage turntable is gone, it’s gone forever.

Pay attention to things you use and don’t use over a few weeks. Take note of items that are literally in your way or simply make you feel stressed due to clutter and get rid of as many items that fall into those two categories as you can.

In general, you should only own things that add use to your life and declutter broken items, tools that aren’t used, clothing that are never worn, toys that are never played with, etc. But, when it comes to sentimental items, you have a few options before tossing them in the trash.

Maybe broken sentimental clutter would have a purpose after being repaired? If they’re not completely worn out past the point of no return, you may be able to repair or refurbish them.

For example, if you have furniture such as a couch or recliner on the chopping block because it’s dirty or stained, a good deep clean before giving it the heave-ho is an option.

Related From the Trash Talk Blog: How to Clean a Couch: Fabric, Leather, & Microfiber

If the furniture is ripped, lumpy, or sagging, you could have it reupholstered by an expert. However, having furniture reupholstered can often cost as much or more than replacing it, so you may want to only consider reupholstery for especially sentimental or unique items.

When it comes to electronics and appliances, having them repaired is often a better option than dealing with disposal, or having to spend money on a newer model. The needed repair may even be something simple that you can do yourself.

If it turns out that the items in question can’t be salvaged, come up with a plan before tossing stuff out on the street or in a dumpster.

If you’re replacing items you’re getting rid of, you don’t want to have the old washer and dryer stuck in your house with the new ones taking up space. That would be as awkward as being in a room with your ex and your new beau. Although for different reasons.

While it’s not advised to jump from one romantic relationship into another, you don’t want to go without a refrigerator or mattress once the old one is gone. In this case, cheat on your stuff by purchasing a new fridge or mattress before throwing the old one away.

In a perfect world, the guys delivering your new Bowflex would take the old one with them, but unfortunately that’s almost never the case.

• Wheels or rims from your first car
• Your first laptop (that weighs 10 pounds)
• Your grandpa’s old recliner that you inherited
• Old clothing and shoes you’ll never wear again
• Childhood mattresses or crib mattresses from your own kids

Physically getting rid of your old junk can be harder than deciding to let it go. Your options for junk disposal depend on where you live and what types of items you’re throwing out.

If your unwanted stuff is in good condition, donate it to a charity or thrift store or even sell it. If you’ve got a whole lot of odds and ends to throw out, have a yard sale.

If you decide to donate items like clothes, call local charities and ask if they need the items you’re donating, as well as if they offer pickups. Some charities and other nonprofit organizations will pick up donated items that are large or heavy, typically for a small fee.

More From the Trash Talk Blog: How to Get Rid of Practically Anything

However, there’s usually a long wait time for this service (around 2 to 3 weeks), so you’ll likely have to haul your donations to the drop-off center yourself.

But what if the things you’re donating don’t fit in your car or are too heavy for you to lift?

In most cities, you can schedule a special pickup with your regular garbage collection service to have them haul away bulky items like your unwanted lawn mower or rusty bbq grill.

You’ll need to pay additional fees for this service and can also be a couple of weeks before your junk is picked up. Not to mention the fact that your sentimental clutter is likely going straight to the landfill, though some programs try to recycle as much as they can.

You really don’t want to send your old stuff away to sit in a landfill until the end of time; that would be too sad. Most bulky items can be dropped off at a recycling center where they’ll be broken down and their materials reused.

Many people looking for a quick and easy way to end their relationship with their junk assume it’s okay to put it on the curb, but you may end up cited and fined for illegal dumping.

For the easiest, least painful way to let go of stuff, use a junk removal company like LoadUp.

You can schedule a pickup with a junk removal company and a team of haulers will carry your items from inside your home out to their truck to haul it for responsible disposal.

Junk removal companies do charge, but they save you time, energy, stress, and money both in the short term and long term.

LoadUp is a nationwide, professional junk removal company that offers fast and affordable junk removal at an honest, upfront price that’s typically 20-30% less than other licensed and insured junk removal companies.

All Loaders are insured and pass background checks before they complete pickups on the LoadUp platform, so you know you and your sentimental items are in safe hands with LoadUp.

Related Articles from the Trash Talk Blog:

• Declutter After Moving in Together
• 29 Ways to Get Rid of Household Clutter
• Why We Love a Clean House and You Should, Too
• Is Hoarding Causing Serious Damage to Your Relationship?