Spring Cleaning in 2025? Throwing Away These 8 Things Could Cost You Money

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Spring is the perfect time to whip your house into shape. Of course, that’s easier to do if you declutter before your big spring clean.

However, be careful not to go overboard, as decluttering the wrong items can cost you money in the long run. Here are eight things to look at closely before throwing out as you spring clean.

Coins

This one is seems obvious, but it’s not as uncommon as you might think. Americans throw away as much as $68 million in change each year, according to a 2024 report from The Wall Street Journal. While the small stashes you find while cleaning might seem like more trouble than they’re worth (what are they good for, really, besides providing exact change to avoid getting more change?), keeping a single container for change avoids waste, and could eventually accumulate enough to pay for a small, guilt-free splurge or a charitable donation.

Toys, Tools and Appliances With Missing Parts

There’s a good chance that the missing lid, cord or other random part needed to make a toy, tool or appliance functional will turn up. Rather than risk tossing the items prematurely, devote a bin to storing them in case you come across the missing pieces, recommended Homes and Gardens. While you’re at it, also store the parts you come across that you can’t immediately match to a toy, tool or appliance.

Important Documents

Paper clutter can take over just about any surface in your home, but be careful what you toss. Make a mistake and mix a car title, vital record or tax document into the shredding pile, and you could wind up paying for a replacement or suffering a financial consequence.

Paper items you should watch for and keep, according to the Security National Bank website, include:

• Bills you’ve paid but that haven’t been credited to your account yet
• Tax returns and tax-related documents from the past seven years
• Deeds
• Car titles
• Vital records
• Legal documents
• Insurance policies

These documents are best kept in a fire- and waterproof safe.

Partially Used Toiletries

Real Simple recommended tossing excessive hotel toiletries, but holding onto partially used soaps and shampoos that you’ve purchased, even if you’ve changed brands. Alternating between the older items and your new preferred brand will stretch the new stuff and extend the time before you have to buy replacements.

Your Family Members’ Belongings

As tempting as it might be to toss personal items your partner and/or kids seem to not be using, doing it without permission could result in having to purchase replacements. A better strategy, and one recommended by Becoming Minimalist, is to set an example by decluttering your own things and encouraging your family to follow suit.

Paperware and Plasticware

It’s easy to go overboard shopping for paper plates and cups, napkins and plasticware if you don’t use them often and pick up extras before a picnic or party “just in case.” But rather than throw them away only to purchase them again in the future, gather them up and store them together in a bin so you know what you’ve got. That way, you’ll get your money’s worth from the packages you’ve already purchased, and will save by avoiding unnecessary purchases in the future.

Spares

You might think the spare extension cords and strip outlets, flashlights, scissors and other smaller must-have utility items are just taking up space. However, they’re also things many people buy more than once, so it makes sense to hold onto them. You might even keep the spares in different areas of your house so there’s always one nearby if needed.

Children’s Outgrown Clothes and Equipment

Granted, recalls and changing standards can make even relatively new items like car seats and strollers obsolete, so you should always check for recalls before selling or giving them away or using them for other children. However, children’s clothing, baby monitors and the myriad other equipment you collect can be reused. Hang unto them unless you’re 100% sure there’s no chance you’ll have another child.

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