You Can Declutter These 6 Tech Items ASAP

Hit delete on these useless gadgets.

While many of us declutter our closets and pantries regularly, we don’t often get rid of things we rarely touch (and have probably forgotten about) such as old tech items. Remember that thing TikTok made you buy two years ago? Did you even bother to take it out of the box? What about that gadget you ended up with from your office's annual White Elephant party? Whether it's large or small—you probably don’t need it anymore. Here are six tech items you can (and probably should) let go of.

Related: Time for a Digital Declutter: 8 Simple Ways to Cut Screen Time

Anything With Broken Or Missing Parts

Be honest—you probably aren’t going to repair that tablet with a cracked screen you haven’t picked up in five years. The same for that e-reader with no charger. If you aren’t going to use it, just get rid of it.

DVD, Blu-ray And VHS Players

Unless you’re an avid collector, there’s absolutely no point in keeping your old DVD or Blu-ray player. If you can’t remember the last time you turned it on (or where the remote is), it’s time to toss it. The same goes for that stack of DVDs collecting dust in your closet or basement. Don't worry—you'll still be able to watch Election every time there's a thunderstorm. Most popular movies can be streamed.

If you’ve been holding onto an old VHS player because how else are you going to watch your parents’ wedding video—you can send these tapes off to Legacy Box or similar services to be digitized.

Lone Ear Buds

Much like socks, lone earbuds rarely find their mate. If you’ve searched high and low for your other bud or it’s been several weeks—it’s time to give up hope. Treat yourself to something new.

Your Old Smart (Or Dumb) Phone

While it’s always a good idea to keep an older phone as a backup in case you lose or damage your current phone—you definitely don’t need that 3G phone that seemed really fast at the time. Remember Blackberries? You never use these dated tech items again.

However, instead of throwing out your phone, you may be able to donate it to a local domestic violence shelter. Even deactivated cell phones can connect to 911 in an emergency. Just be sure to wipe your data before donating.

Obsolete Computers And Laptops

Much like old phones, it’s nice to have a backup, but do you really need three laptops or larger desktop models you aren’t using anymore? These things take up so much space. Back up your data onto the cloud (if it’s really old, it may not even be relevant anymore) and wipe your computer.

Just keep in mind you can’t dispose of old electronics with the rest of your garbage because computers have components that should not be in landfills. The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has a list of places to donate or properly dispose of older machines.

Beauty Gadgets You Don’t Use

We all have old beauty buys gone awry. Do you still have a Clarisonic? If you haven’t heard, the brand shut down in 2020. How many times did you use that blue light wand to get rid of acne? When it comes to beauty gadgets, it’s best to take the “use it or lose it” approach. We often keep these things under the sink, in the bathroom, or linen closet, which is some pretty valuable real estate. 

Related: How to Clean Earbuds—Because They're Swimming With Germs

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