13 Things in Your Attic to Get Rid of Right Away, According to Pro Organizers

So many of us hang onto sentimental items much longer than we should. Greeting cards, trophies, yearbooks and travel mementos are just some of the items that tend to pile up in attics over time.

So how do you decide what to keep and what to toss? "If something genuinely means a lot to you, then you should absolutely keep it," says professional organizer Janelle Lam of Straighten up by Janelle. "But if it’s just sitting in a box because you feel guilty throwing it away, consider snapping a photo of it instead or scanning it to add to the cloud. That way, you keep the memory without the mess — and you have way easier access to it."

Whether it's a damaged sofa or chair that no longer speaks to your design style, go ahead and find a new home for it. "It’s okay to say 'goodbye,'" Boyd says. "Make room for the pieces that reflect the home you love today."

Families often enjoy filling boxes or trunks with old photos, cards and other sentimental items, but don't take it too far. "Many attics contain boxes filled with miscellaneous family items — sometimes not even labeled," says Jacobs. "If it hasn’t been opened in years, make the time to sort through it with intention. Keep what tells your family story; discard what’s no longer relevant."

The last thing you want to do is keep outdated electronics and cords around for too long. Are you really going to use that DVD player? "If you’ve been holding on to VHS players, first-generation iPods or cords with unknown purposes, it’s time to recycle them," says Jacobs, who recommends checking your local electronics recycling program for safe disposal options. "Chances are, if an electronic is in your attic and not in your daily rotation, you don't need to keep it any longer.

Williams swears by another rule: "If they haven’t been used in the last two years, it’s time to let them go or recycle them responsibly."

RELATED: How to Dispose of Everything, Including Old Cell Phones, Mattresses, and Batteries

If that stash of worn towels or the low-quality 10-pack you scored on sale is no longer working for your household, take action. "Old towels and linens are perfect to donate to your local animal shelter," Boyd says. "Instead of letting them sit unused, give them a second life by helping furry friends in need. It’s a small act of decluttering that makes a big difference."

RELATED: 7 Things in Your Bathroom to Get Rid of ASAP

While they're hard to let go of, it's not worth keeping boxes upon boxes of old art projects, report cards and other random keepsakes from your childhood or even those from your own children. It's time to toss them, says professional organizer Lisa Jacobs of Imagine It Done. "In reality, as your children grow older, they will only want so much of it and you are doing a disservice to everyone, yourself included, by one day leaving it all behind for them to have to deal with. Along with your children, select a few representative keepsakes and release the rest — you’re honoring the memory, not the volume."

RELATED: Pro Organizers Want You to Throw Out Your Children's Artwork

Christmas comes and goes, but somehow broken or unwanted decorations always seem to find a spot in the attic. "Broken holiday decorations, tangled lights or anything that’s been crushed or faded from years of heat and humidity can go," Lam says. "If it doesn’t make you happy to see it each year — or it’s not in good enough shape to use next season — toss it."

Consider buying durable storage containers for the Christmas ornaments you want to keep. "Curating your holiday decor makes decorating so much more joyful and stress-free," Boyd adds.

Don't be tempted to leave paint cans around after you've completed your home project. Paint does go bad. "If it’s separated or dried out, it’s doing more harm than good sitting up there in your attic," Lam says.

Professional organizer Kenika Williams of Tidied by K agrees, noting that an attic's fluctuating temperatures, especially extreme heat, can also impact the paint. "Heat can compromise the formula, making them unusable. Most cities have proper disposal programs for hazardous waste like this. Otherwise, you can let them dry up and toss them in the trash."

"Cribs, strollers, swings and toys can take up a surprising amount of attic space," Jacobs says. If you don't have use for these items anymore, explore whether or not they're fit for charity.

"If your family is past this stage, consider donating them to a friend who is expecting or has children the appropriate age or a local organization or family in need — after checking for updated safety standards."

"Photos are deeply personal — but they also tend to multiply quickly," Jacobs says. "Focus on preserving meaningful images by curating favorites and digitizing them. Let go of duplicates, blurry shots or albums you haven’t opened in years."

Consider sites like Shutterfly and Artificat Uprising, which turn your favorite snaps into beautiful photo books. It's as simple as uploading photos from your smartphone.

RELATED: 9 Best Photo Book Websites

From old receipts to tax returns, it's important to keep paper control under control. "You don’t need pay stubs from 1999," Lam says. "Keep what’s essential for taxes or records, and shred the rest."

Be sure to protect your personal information, though, Jacobs warns: "As a general rule, shred financial paperwork older than seven years unless legally necessary. Consult with your accountant on any documents they might need before you part with them, but we recommend shredding everything that has your name, sensitive information like account numbers or addresses. The rest — especially random bills or unopened mail — can go in the trash."

RELATED: 7 Things in Your Home Office to Throw out, According to Pro Organizers

There's no use for defective luggage, so don't think twice about tossing it. Your goal is to make traveling as stress-free as possible. "Luggage with broken zippers, missing wheels or musty interiors is no longer serving you," Jacobs says. "Keep only what functions well and suits your travel needs today."

While you may take pride in your creative Halloween costumes year after year, they shouldn't take up space in your attic long after the holiday is over. "Costumes that no longer fit or haven’t been worn in several seasons are unlikely to see the light of day again," says Jacobs. "Donate gently used ones to schools or community theaters, and discard any that are damaged or incomplete.