Let’s take a trip down memory lane. Remember when you first moved into your home? You probably unpacked all of your kitchenware with care, and organized each item by color and size. Everything had its own place—you certainly never mixed your spoons with your knives! Fast forward to today—even if your kitchen isn’t a bit of a disorganized mess, then we’re still sure that you are probably hoarding some unnecessary items in your drawers and cabinets!

We know, we know, sometimes it’s hard to get rid of that fifth measuring cup or that busted cutting board. Good news! We’ve got a nifty guide to help you organize that kitchen of yours. It may seem overwhelming, but take a deep breath, and get rid of these items first:

1. Extra Water Bottles

   We all know that when a person picks a water bottle, they stick to it! No need to keep those additional ones around.

2. Unpackaged Paper Plates

   If these have been in your cabinet for a while, then ditch them! They have been absorbing the odors from your kitchen for too long. No need to eat off of smelly plates.

3. Extra Cups and Mugs

   Be honest with yourself—are you really going to invite 22 friends over for coffee next week? We didn’t think so either!

4. Old Coffee Grounds

   Here’s a fact: Coffee loses its flavor and texture within 3 months of being ground.

5. Superfluous Canned Goods

   Are you really going to eat those anchovies? Take a good, hard look at your pantry. If you know you’re not going to consume certain items, then donate them to a local food drive.

6. Duplicate Baking Tools

   C’mon, you don’t need that extra, scratched-up spatula!

7. Opened Boxes of Sugar

   Sugar boxes are especially important to survey after a hot summer. The sugar tends to clump in steamy weather and could even attract bugs—yuck!

8. Holiday Candy

   Are you really going to be eating chocolate bunnies at Christmastime?

9. Multiple Sets of Silverware

   There’s nothing classy about doling out different styles of silverware at your formal dinner party.

10. Bottles of Olive Oil

    If unopened, then olive oil generally lasts for about 2 years. If you can’t remember when you originally purchased it, then check the color. If it is pale, chuck it!

11. Opened Bottles of Wine

    Unless your aim is to make vinegar, then your red wine won’t be drinkable after 5 days.

12. Expired Spices

    Think you’re really going to use that jarred garlic from 1997?

13. Extra Pens

    Open up that junk drawer—how many pens do you see? I know that when I cleaned out mine there were EIGHT PENS! And only two of them still worked.

    Watch this video below for some other ideas on how to clean out your kitchen cabinets!

    What item in your kitchen do you tend to keep beyond its lifespan? Have any tips for pantry organization? We’d love to hear your thoughts and stories. Tell us all about them in the comments section below!