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New Year’s is always an exciting time — it’s a fresh start in many ways for most of us, and it’s often an opportunity to kick off new goals, hobbies, and habits. But before we can turn over a new leaf, it’s always a good idea to shed some of the baggage weighing us down — and we don’t just mean the emotional kind. We mean the physical stuff, too.

Here, experts share six things you should get rid of before the new year starts.

1. Expired pantry items

Pantries are notorious for holding onto expired foods! Now’s the time to check the dates on all your spices, oils, and snacks so you’re not reaching for anything past its prime in January. “Take a hard look at items you haven’t touched in months,” advises Shira Gill, professional organizer and author of LifeStyled. “If it’s stale, expired, or unlikely to be used, it’s time to toss.”

Gill recommends emptying contents into compost whenever possible, and rinsing containers clean and then recycling them. Consider donating non-expired items you won’t use to a local food pantry.

2. Clothes that no longer fit

Don’t enter the new year with a closet that’s crammed with ill-fitting clothes—you should only have things that look and feel good on you! You may be tempted to sell gently worn pieces, but Jamie Hord, founder of Horderly Professional Organizing, cautions against that. “Consider dropping these off at donation rather than selling, if selling the item isn't going to be worth your time and what you end up getting for it,” she says.

3. Unused beauty products

It’s very possible you have a stash of barely-touched beauty products that are just taking up a bunch of space in your bathroom. Part ways with these items so you’re only applying the freshest stuff on your skin in the new year. “If you haven’t reached for it in the past six months, it’s time to let it go,” Gill says. She recommends checking if the product packaging can be recycled through programs like Terracycle.

4. Specialty kitchen gadgets

Toss any niche kitchen tools and entertaining dishes that weren’t used this year, Hord says. “If those ‘once-a-year’ items aren’t even getting used once a year, then it’s not worth taking up valuable space in your kitchen,” she adds. Consider regifting for the holiday to someone who might use these items more regularly.

5. Mystery items

“We all have those objects lying around: random cords, unidentifiable tools, or parts to something long forgotten,” Gill says. “If you don’t know what it is, where it came from, or what it’s for, chances are you don’t need it.” She adds that if you’re trying to unload tech items like electronics or cables, you should check your local recycling programs or drop-off centers to dispose of them safely.

6. Gifts you really don’t love

This one’s tough, but hanging onto a gift out of guilt serves no one, Gill wisely says. If it doesn’t fit your style, home, or life, consider re-gifting it to someone who will truly appreciate it or donating it to a local charity. She recommends searching for local donation centers, shelters, or community groups that accept gently used household items. “Letting go of an object doesn’t diminish its sentiment or the thought behind it,” Gill adds.

(Real Simple magazine provides smart, realistic solutions to everyday challenges. Online at www.realsimple.com.)

©2025 Dotdash Meredith. All rights reserved. Used with permission. Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.