Ready to simplify your life and make your home safer and more functional as you age?
In this video, we reveal 15 common things seniors don’t need in their homes, along with a helpful declutter checklist!
Learn how to create a clutter-free, stress-free environment that works for you.
Whether you’re downsizing, organizing, or just looking to free up space, these tips are a must-watch.
What you’ll learn:
Items that can create safety hazards
Unnecessary clutter taking up valuable space
Practical decluttering tips tailored for seniors
Simplify your home. Enhance your safety. Enjoy more peace of mind!
Don’t forget to like, subscribe, and hit the bell for more decluttering and organizing tips!
#DeclutterChecklist #SeniorLiving #OrganizedHome #MinimalismForSeniors #SafeHomeTips
15 Common Things Your Home Does Not Need as a Senior:
1. Bulk Items and Stockpiles
2. Excessive Kitchen Gadgets
3. Old Technology
4. Furniture That’s No Longer Functional
5. Clothing That Doesn’t Suit Your Lifestyle
6. Duplicate Items
7. Old Hobby Supplies
8. Knickknacks and Decorative Items
9. Sentimental Items with No Place
10. Expired Medications and Toiletries
11. Unused Gardening Tools and Supplies
12. Outdated Books and Magazines
13. Unnecessary Bathroom Accessories
14. Unused Sports Equipment
15. Holiday Decorations You Don’t Use
37 Comments
I buy paper towels on special but end up using them.
Yes and No .
Letting go of sentimental items is hard, but digitizing old photos and preserving just a few cherished pieces made my home feel lighter and more personal.
I agree with a lot but not bulk buying especially in todays world of shortages. I've been at home 2 weeks with a cold then a winter storm, because of my stocked pantries and freezers I have not had to go out to the stores for anything. While I use my library a lot I also stock up books to read and here again, during this snow storm I had plenty of books to read when I ran out of my library books. Anna In Ohioo
I find I have very little sentimental inclination to keep a lot of items from my distant past. I hardly even remember most of the things I donate or toss. It's mostly that I highly dislike the task of decluttering and have to pep talk myself into doing it. But it feels so good once I clear out a closet or area of my house!😊
I disagree with two thirds of this. Yes to declutter however in this crazy world of uncertainty, it is wise to have back ups of specific things. Remember the famous Navy Seals quote – One is None and Two is One. Hoarding and clutter is a completely different matter, of course. As a senior a small pantry of non perishable food and tins in case of emergency is essential. Heck, even the Governments of the world have individually advised the nation to prepare and stock up for an unknown emergency.
💖 Your energy is so inspiring! (0:25)
This video is so helpful! Thank you for making decluttering simpler and more manageable for seniors
Something is happening to me as I age in retirement. For decades I hauled around my most recent ancestor's very valuable furniture, not only bc I love and prefer antiques but also bc it helped me feel less separated from the dearly departed. But now that I've been long retired, the day I'll rejoin them myself draws closer and I'm feeling less attached to the physical reminders of their former presence. Living alone by choice, fiercely independent, I'm even starting to think about building a tiny house to live in somewhere else, where I won't need a 2200 sq ft home to store some of this stuff in. I mean, who in similar circumstances can be said to need 4 wardrobes, 3 beds, 2 dining tables, etc. A giant upright piano well over a hundred years old. A classic library of books few people seem to care about anymore. There's not even anyone to try to give most of this stuff since I'm the last one standing in my direct family line. Pray God gives me time and stamina to get my current home cleared out enough to sell so when I do die, there won't be a mess left for someone else to clean up.
Enjoy your life Keep what makes you smile
And howdy. I’ve been on this mission for two years. Except for keeping the pantry stocked. Things are getting weird.
“…no longer need to keep a pantry stocked as if preparing for a blizzard.” What? What will happen when there actually is a blizzard? Or a flood, wildfire, or tornado that can shut down roads and cut off access to groceries and other essentials. With climate change, these events are both more frequent and more severe. Age does not lessen our need to be prepared for emergencies, in fact the opposite is true. Are we supposed to sit helpless in our homes, waiting to be rescued? Nonsense!
In the past 15 years I’ve experienced 2 scarily-close wildfires, a 6 ft. snowstorm, and a “100 year flood,” all of which caused the shutdown of major roads to my home (5 days stranded after the snowstorm.) The flood also caused damage to the town’s water system, rendering the water undrinkable for weeks. Luckily, I had a few large bottles of water set aside for emergencies, as well as plenty of shelf-stable food, candles, matches, etc.
Before donating books to a library, consider these points: If a book is in bad condition, a library won’t accept it. If it’s an old textbook, a library won’t accept it. If it doesn’t fit their collection (such as a specialized library), the library won’t accept it. If it’s an old encyclopedia set, a library won’t accept it. If it was a best seller many years ago but not in favor anymore, a library probably won’t accept it. If it’s a paperback book, a library may or may not accept it. If it’s something like a Who’s Who, a library probably won’t accept it. If it specifically relates to a different area of the country, a library might not accept it. These are just generalized suggestions, but more true than not. I’m a retired librarian, and while libraries do accept donations, they won’t take everything. Don’t use your library as a dumping ground just to get rid of your books. You can call your library ahead of time just to make sure what they’ll accept before lugging a load down there.
Wrong
What I do not need as an older person: random people telling me how I need to live my life.
I have the same amount of space if not more since my kids grew up. I will continue to stock TP and paper towels in the same space they have always been housed.
Useful information!
Did anyone else notice the subtle point they made at 2:45? So intriguing!
Top of the list of things I don't need as a 'senior'…….a partner!
Not to have extra groceries, TP, towels, blankets, and survival supplies is just foolhardy. In case of flood, fire, sickness, etc. if you find you have to much, share with those who have less. Remember bartering. Coffee is the best bartering commodity. Coffee for a bottle of shampoo. Imagine running out of coffee for ten days or TP for a month. Yes, you don't need 4 blenders and 900 books but don't be stupid in your cleaning out. Think ahead. Share with those who just had their house just burnt down. You remember California?
Thats right, seniors. Get rid of all your belongings and dont buy more than a few days worth of toilet paper! Got to save your pennies for the next generation who absolutely dont want to waste their precious time throwing away your old sneakers and extra butter. Ridiculous.
Why would you keep expired meds
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Do you want to punish your kids after you pass away? Then don't get rid of anything. I know I had to clean my parents' house out after they passed away. Although my parents were clean and organized it took us forever to clean out their house.
Toileteries can still be used 1-2 years after their expire date. You don't need to throw them aeay. Just don't buy new ones
Decluttering. WHO is going to carry out boxes? I cant in a highrise apt.
My counters are full, because I can’t reach the shelves in the cabinets. Everything is built for freaks and giants now.
My counters are full, because I can’t reach the shelves in the cabinets. Everything is built for freaks and giants now.
Why live in a totally empty baron building. Like living in a mausoleum. Actually, probably more interesting.
With donOLd drumpfs taking over and the denial of climate change but with fires, hurricane, floods, extremes in heat ant cold, wind, tornadoes etc… WE DO NEED TO STOCK PILE NON PERISHIBLE FOOD & WATER AND SUNDRIES (soaps, toilet paper& towels, etc…transistor radio, batteries etc… !!!!) I went through hurricane Helene in Western NC 3 months ago and no one checked on me or helped me ! I had canned food, transistor radio, dog food, water and everything I needed for 6 days without electric and water service ! These supplies take up a lot of space but "Jesus" sure ain't sent anyone to help me !
Bulk buying toilet paper or paper towels (the large packages) still makes sense if you have storage room. They have no expiration date, so they were a bad example. You can also buy "family packs" of meat and divide them up into individual or double portions and freeze if you have access to a freezer. I understand the sentiment here, but it was written by someone who hasn't lived as a senior.
Sadly I’m glad we had a small stockpile! Health issues can change in a heartbeat! Hubby does the shopping and caught the flu… I ended up with the flu so my health became a major factor! Ten plus down, so happy the freezer was full as was the pantry! Plus family sent us a soup that fed us for 4 days! When you are I’ll the last thing you want to have to worry about is cooking! Plus we had days of snowfall added to these crazy day! Just do what’s best for you!!!
Sorry, but I don't agree with everything you say. Bulk buying is a good idea. As we get older there could be any reason why we may not be able to nip out to a store for something we've run out of, so stocking up when we can is a good idea, but keeping an eye on food dates of course.
Everything else you say, yes, I agree with a good clear out generally. Unfortunately, I don't have the courage of my conviction.
Oh keep that waffle maker! There are no waffles house in the state
What annoys me most with these videos that have been showing up on my front page lately is the condescending manner in which they treat us as viewers. If we're watching it's because we still have full use of our faculties and don't need to be spoken to as if we're 4 year olds.
We know all this downsizing crap already but we choose to keep things because we want to, and need them. 🤨
This video offers some fantastic tips for decluttering as a senior, but I’m curious to hear what others think about letting go of sentimental items. For example, photos and keepsakes from loved ones can hold so much emotional value. While I understand the point about simplifying, how do you balance the need for space with preserving meaningful memories? Is digitizing enough, or do you think certain physical items should always be kept, even if they take up space? Would love to hear everyone’s thoughts on this!