How to Let Go of Sentimental Items While Decluttering, Tips from a Professional Organizer in Cleveland, Ohio

What Are Sentimental Items in Decluttering?

What are sentimental items?  Examples would be personal items that you've collected from your lifetime. They really vary a lot by person.

They might be items that someone gifted to you or souvenirs from special events. Sometimes it's something as simple as t-shirts from bands that you went to or a picture frame or collage someone made for you in high school. It could be a mixtape that someone made for you a long time ago. It could be something from your childhood.

Often it's also items from other people in your life that are important. It could be gifts from your children, from family members who may have passed, items from your parents or other loved ones. It’s very common that when someone in a family dies, items from that loved one come into your home and become sentimental items.

There are also heirloom items. Sometimes families are passing them down. For example, something your great-great-grandfather brought over on the boat from Italy and now it's in the family. Or something your grandmother made, or a recipe book from your great-grandmother.

Sentimental items are typically ones you’re not keeping to use.  It’s more items you are not using that you’re keeping because of an emotional tie.

Questions to Ask When Decluttering Sentimental Items

People really struggle with sentimental items, people are always asking for advice in this area.

One of the first questions I like to ask is, how do you feel when you look at it? When your eye falls on it, when you touch it, when you hold it, how do you feel?

If it makes you think of a great memory or gives you wonderful feelings, then you should probably keep it.

If you are feeling obligated, shame, guilt, or uncomfortable, those are the feelings you’re having every time you think of the item or your eye lands on it. Even if it’s tucked away, there’s a heaviness. Your brain and body know it’s there.

I suggest that we only keep items that give us positive feelings. If you’re keeping many items that don’t give you positive feelings, you want to begin to look at what’s going on.

If it is a usable item, do you use it or anticipate using it? Can you display it? Can you enjoy it?

Letting Go of Guilt and Obligation When Decluttering

Did someone give it to you? Are you keeping it because you feel obligated?

Consider whether you actually want the item or are just keeping it because it was a gift. You can consider offering to return it to the person, depending on the relationship.

You can let them know you’re trying to declutter and ask if they want it back or if you should pass it on. They probably want you to be happy. If the item has become a burden, that likely wasn’t their intention.

Sometimes you can ask the person who gave it to you. A client had a clapper that her brother gave her. He came over and took it home to use himself. No hard feelings.

For sentimental items you don’t really want, you can take a picture so you have the memory. A picture is easier to store and keep than physical items.

You can also let it have a second life. Donate it so someone else can love it as much as you did.

Best Practices for Decluttering Sentimental Items

If you’ve had a recent loss, wait at least six months before making major decisions. Grief can be strong and lead to decisions you may regret.

Sentimental items are irreplaceable, so you want to err on the side of caution. Sometimes it’s best to box things up rather than get rid of them right away.

Start with other items first that are not sentimental. Work through areas like the kitchen, linen closet, bathrooms, car, and clothing before addressing sentimental items.

Another best practice is to consider limiting the amount of sentimental items per person. There is always going to be some level of sentimental items in a home. The goal is not zero—it’s what is reasonable.

For example, with children’s schoolwork, you don’t need to keep every paper. You can choose the most meaningful ones.

Real-Life Decluttering Story: Letting Go of Sentimental Items in Bay Village, Ohio

I worked with a couple nearing retirement. They had received many items from deceased loved ones and also had handmade artwork they felt torn about.

We started in other areas first—the kitchen, living room, and craft room—before touching sentimental items.

For the artwork, we offered it to family members and then considered offering it back to the artist before donating it.

They also created meaningful experiences around letting go. They gathered family, went through items together, told stories, watched a favorite Christmas DVD, and connected through the process.

Together they decided what to keep and what to let go. It created a sense of closure.

The woman also passed work-related items to her niece in the same field so they could be used and appreciated.

It was a very successful process, and their home is now fully decluttered.

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I hope this was helpful in learning how to let go of sentimental items when you’re decluttering. If you need help letting go of sentimental items, reach out, we’d love to hear from you!