70 Things to Let Go of for a Calmer, More Intentional Home
Written by Claire Zeitler
There’s something deeply Jewish about creating space.
Not just physical space—but emotional and spiritual space. We clear out chametz before Pesach, we tidy our homes before Shabbos, we reset again and again throughout the year. Not because everything must be perfect—but because a home should feel like a place where you can breathe.
Minimalism doesn’t mean living with nothing. It means living with what matters.
If your home has started to feel heavy or cluttered, this list is here to help you gently let go of what no longer serves you—and make room for what does.
The Living Room
VHS tapes
CDs and DVDs
Outdated magazines
Board games no one plays
Home décor that doesn’t mean anything to you
Extra furniture that crowds the room
Used-up candles
Books you’ll never read
Books you’ve read and won’t revisit
Old textbooks
The Kitchen
Expired food
Food you don’t enjoy
Old spices that have lost their flavor
Tupperware without matching lids
Duplicate measuring spoons
Chipped mugs or plates
Broken appliances
Recipe books you never open
Extra tablecloths you never use
Aprons that stay hanging
The Bedroom
Flat pillows that don’t support you
Too many decorative pillows
Excess linens
A television that disrupts rest
Clutter in your nightstand
“Clothes chairs” that collect everything
Word signs that don’t reflect your home anymore
Dead plants
Worn or uncomfortable slippers
Spare picture frames with no purpose
The Bathroom
Too many towels
Expired toiletries
Old perfumes
Expired medication
Old makeup
Samples you’ll never use
Broken styling tools
Old toothbrushes
Dried-out nail polish
Stretched-out hair ties
The Closet
Itchy sweaters you avoid wearing
Worn-out clothing
Pieces that don’t fit
Items that no longer reflect who you are
“Just in case” occasion outfits
Old underwear
Socks without matches
Torn tights
Shoes that hurt your feet
Worn-out shoes
Tarnished jewelry
Wire hangers
The Miscellaneous Drawer (and Everything Else)
Empty product bottles
Appliance manuals you can find online
Seasonal décor you never use
Mystery cords
Toys your children have outgrown
Broken toys
Junk mail
Old planners
Random drawer clutter
Old phones
Sports equipment no one uses
Old receipts
Scraps of wrapping paper
Cardboard boxes from deliveries
Store loyalty cards you never use
Items you don’t recognize or need
Pens that don’t work
A Final Thought
Letting go isn’t about becoming sparse—it’s about becoming intentional.
In a Jewish home, objects carry meaning. A sefer, a candlestick, a table set for guests—these are not things we rush to remove. But the excess? The noise? The things we hold onto out of habit rather than purpose?
Those we can release.
As you go through your home, ask yourself:
Does this add peace? Does it serve my life? Does it reflect the kind of home I want to build?
If the answer is no, it may be time to let it go.
And what remains will feel lighter, clearer—and much more like home.