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Apartment Therapy published Barbara Bellesi Zito’s list of nine household categories to review when decluttering after a decade or more in a home. The suggestions include unused decor, old paperwork, unused cables and outgrown children’s items; the article advises checking whether items can be donated, recycled or still safely used.
Apartment Therapy has published a nine-item decluttering guide for people who have lived in their homes for a decade or longer, recommending they review belongings such as unused decor, old paperwork and outgrown children’s gear. The report, written by Barbara Bellesi Zito, presents suggestions for deciding what to keep, donate, sell, repurpose or recycle; it is a household advice article, not a report of a new rule or safety standard.
The list covers unused home decor, perfumes, food storage containers, old paperwork, costumes and uniforms, untouched hobby and craft supplies, charging cables, children’s clothing, toys and gear, and items still in their original packaging. Zito says seasonal decor can be kept if its owner enjoys using it, while decor kept out of sight and no longer wanted could be sold or donated.
The article gives different advice depending on the item. It says opened perfumes often last three to five years, while some high-end fragrances may last longer; it advises keeping a fragrance only if it still smells good and does not irritate the wearer’s skin. For food containers, it suggests removing warped lids, stained bowls and pieces without matching lids, while noting sturdy containers can last with proper care.
For belongings that may contain personal information, the article recommends shredding outdated bills, tax statements and expired insurance policies while retaining key records such as birth certificates, marriage licenses and home deeds. It also says unused cables can go to electronics recycling, and points to schools, scout troops, art stores and community centers as possible destinations for craft supplies. The source text’s final paragraph is cut off after its discussion of unopened items, so further detail from that section is unavailable.
A Decade of Stored Belongings
Living in one home for years can mean that closets and cabinets accumulate possessions that no longer fit a household’s needs. Zito’s list gives readers a practical set of categories to review, including items that may be easy to overlook because they are stored away or associated with earlier stages of life.
The advice also distinguishes between clearing space and throwing everything out. Some items may be donated, sold, repurposed or recycled, and the article says many listed belongings do not need replacement. That can help readers reduce clutter while directing usable goods to someone else or keeping recyclable materials out of ordinary waste where local programs accept them.
Several recommendations call for individual judgment. Perfume life varies with storage and product, while documents can have legal or financial value depending on a person’s circumstances. The piece offers general household guidance; it does not establish a universal schedule for discarding possessions.
Advice for Longtime Homeowners
Zito opens with her experience of gaining storage after buying a home and then filling closets, corners and cabinets over nearly a decade. She describes the difficulty of letting go of sentimental belongings and items kept in case they might be useful later. Her list is framed as a way to make a decluttering task more manageable by focusing on specific types of possessions.
The source is an Apartment Therapy organizing article, and the information provided identifies it as published about 11 hours before the source material was supplied. It does not include an exact date, survey findings or research measuring how much household storage people use. The suggestions are the author’s advice, rather than conclusions from a formal study.
““I’m pretty sure that some of the things in the far corner of our coat closet have been there since we moved in.””
— Barbara Bellesi Zito, Apartment Therapy
Item Condition and Local Options
The article offers broad suggestions, but the right choice depends on each item. It does not provide a full guide to fragrance expiration or assess the condition of individual containers, toys, cables or clothing. Readers will need to check item labels, condition and applicable recycling or donation rules.
The source excerpt ends mid-sentence during the section about items in original packaging. It identifies dishware, bedding and shoes as examples but does not include the remainder of the author’s explanation. The supplied material also does not establish whether the article has been updated since publication.
Sorting, Donating and Recycling
The article’s next step for readers is to review the listed categories and decide what still serves their household. Depending on condition and local services, items can be kept, sold, donated, repurposed, shredded or taken to electronics recycling. The source does not announce a follow-up report or give a deadline for taking action.
For paperwork, readers can separate essential records from documents they no longer need before shredding. For children’s belongings and costumes, the article suggests donation when items remain usable. For cables and containers, disposal options depend on what local recycling programs accept.
Key Questions
What is the Apartment Therapy article about?
It is a decluttering guide by Barbara Bellesi Zito listing nine types of belongings to review after living in a home for at least a decade.
Which household items does the list cover?
The categories include unused decor, perfumes, food containers, old paperwork, costumes and uniforms, craft supplies, charging cables, children’s items and belongings still in their original packaging.
Does the article say to discard every old perfume?
No. It says many perfumes last three to five years once opened, though some may last longer, and suggests considering whether the fragrance still smells good and irritates the wearer’s skin. It also notes that storage conditions matter.
What does it recommend doing with old paperwork?
The article suggests shredding outdated bills, tax statements and expired insurance policies, while keeping important records such as birth certificates, marriage licenses and home deeds.
Where could usable belongings go?
Zito suggests donating or selling decor, costumes, uniforms and children’s items when appropriate. Craft supplies may go to a school, scout troop, art store or community center; cables can be taken to an electronics recycling program.
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