18 Sentimental Items You Can Let Go of (Guilt-Free)

It’s easy to hold onto things because they remind us of a time, a person, or a feeling. But over the years, those sentimental items start to take up more space than we realize. If you’ve been wanting to declutter but feel bad letting certain things go, here are eighteen things that you can release guilt-free.

Old Birthday Cards

You may have a drawer full of birthday cards with a quick “Love, Grandma” or “Happy Birthday!” scribbled inside. While it’s sweet that someone thought of you, not every card needs to be kept forever. If it doesn’t include a special message or memory, you’re not losing anything by recycling it. You can take a photo of it if you’d like to remember who sent it—then let it go.

Unused Wedding Favors

Those tiny jars of honey or personalized bottle openers seemed like a great idea at the time, but now they’re just sitting in a drawer. It’s okay to appreciate the event without keeping the party favor. If it’s not useful or meaningful, it’s just taking up space. Let it go, and hold on to the memory instead.

Childhood Trophies

Winning that fourth-grade soccer trophy felt amazing back then—but now it’s just collecting dust. Unless it represents a major milestone or meaningful achievement, it’s okay to let it go. A photo of the trophy does the same job without taking up shelf space. You’re not throwing away the memory, just the object.

Baby Clothes

Those tiny onesies are adorable, but you probably don’t need to keep them all. Pick a few favorites to save—maybe the outfit they wore home from the hospital or one with a funny story behind it. The rest can be donated to another family who will actually use them. Holding on to every piece isn’t what keeps the memories alive.

Souvenir T-Shirts

If you’re not wearing it, it’s not doing anything for you. Old shirts from concerts, events, or trips often sit untouched in the back of the closet. Keep one or two that mean the most, and let the rest go. You can always take a photo or make a small quilt later if you want to preserve the memory in a more useful way.

Journals You’ll Never Reread

Not all journals are worth keeping forever. If you’ve written pages filled with venting, confusion, or a tough chapter of life, it may feel better to release them. You’ve already lived through it—you don’t have to hold on to the physical reminder. Letting go of old journals can feel like a fresh start.

Artwork From Every Stage

It’s natural to want to keep your child’s art, but you don’t need to hold on to every finger painting and coloring page. Pick a few special ones from each year and either frame them or save them in a folder. Take photos of the rest, then move on. It’s the love behind the art that matters—not the paper pile.

Gifts You Didn’t Like

Just because it was a gift doesn’t mean you have to keep it forever. If something’s been sitting untouched for years, you’re not being ungrateful by letting it go. The kindness came from the gesture, not the object. Give yourself permission to donate or rehome it so someone else can use it.

Old Calendars and Planners

If you’ve finished using a planner or calendar and there’s nothing important recorded in it, there’s no reason to hang onto it. It’s tempting to keep them for nostalgia, but they rarely get revisited. Unless they contain meaningful writing or notes, recycle them and clear out that drawer.

Extra Wedding Invitations

You may want to keep one or two invitations from weddings that meant a lot to you. But you don’t need every version or extra copies. Once the event has passed, and you’ve saved your favorite, let the rest go. The people—and the photos—are what you’ll remember most anyway.

Party Decorations

Holding on to decorations from your baby shower or milestone birthday may feel sentimental, but they’re rarely reused. If they’ve been sitting in a closet for years, they’re just taking up space. Keep one small item if it really matters to you, and let the rest find a new home—or the trash.

School Papers and Projects

It’s fun to look back at old essays and report cards, but you don’t need to keep them all. Choose a few that capture the moment—a funny story, a great grade, or a favorite teacher’s note. The rest can go. You’ve already earned the memories and the lessons.

Gifts from an Ex

Even if it was a good relationship, there’s no need to hold onto reminders that don’t fit your life anymore. If something brings up mixed emotions or just sits hidden in a drawer, you don’t need to justify letting it go. It’s okay to honor the past without keeping physical souvenirs.

Random Keepsakes From Vacations

Shells from the beach, hotel pens, or brochures from a tour may have felt important at the time—but they often turn into clutter later. Keep one small token from each trip, like a postcard or photo. Let the rest go. The memories are still yours, even without the souvenirs.

College T-Shirts and Hoodies

If you’ve got a stack of college gear but only wear one or two pieces, it’s time to pare it down. Keep the comfiest sweatshirt or the shirt from a major event, and donate the rest. They’ve served their purpose—and your drawer space could probably be put to better use.

Holiday Cards From Years Ago

A card from a grandparent or a close friend may be worth saving. But most holiday cards from years past are forgotten as soon as the season ends. Keep a few if they’re meaningful, but recycle the ones that are just photos or standard greetings. Less guilt, less paper pile.

Outfits From Events Long Past

Prom dresses, bridesmaid gowns, and other one-time outfits take up a lot of space. If you haven’t worn them again—and don’t plan to—they’re just clutter. Keep a photo and donate the dress to someone who needs it. Let it be used and loved again instead of hanging untouched.

Souvenirs You Don’t Display

It’s okay to buy souvenirs—but if they’ve never made it onto a shelf or wall, it may be time to let them go. If you didn’t love it enough to display it, you probably won’t miss it. Keep the memories and clear out the dust-collectors.

Holding on Without Holding it All

Letting go of sentimental items doesn’t mean letting go of the people, places, or memories they represent. When you choose what to keep and release the rest, you’re making space for the things that truly matter to you now. And that’s something you never need to feel guilty about.

This article first appeared on Happy From Home.