The Habit Our Parents Taught That Makes Decluttering Harder

Do you ever make a new purchase, unbox it, then carefully store the box away? Many people who grew up in the 1990s or early 2000s recall their parents telling them to keep toy boxes because they might need them someday. Unfortunately, this habit also makes decluttering harder, creating a just-in-case mentality about the packaging of our things. We might hold on to it for possible resale or a future move. Because of this ingrained habit, combined with the abundance of stuff we buy, it can be hard to part with boxes.

Nowadays, it's not just action figure packaging, but the box for your phone, TV, and other electronics. Thanks to online shopping, we can quickly get new products compared to pre-internet days. Instead of visiting a store or ordering from a catalog, purchases can now be made with the push of a button. With all of that stuff comes boxes, lots of them. The trap continues as we think, "Why should I part with these? They could be useful!" and the cycle repeats with each new thing we buy. The result of this common childhood habit is that many of us may have empty boxes from gadgets taking up valuable space in our homes. If you want to declutter effectively, you need to decide when to keep and when to let go of your boxes, despite what that little voice in your head says.

You might keep a product box if the item is still within the return window, you plan to sell it later, you're moving soon, or you can repurpose it into something new. If you're unsure that you'll return the product, keep the box for the 30-day, 60-day, or 90-day return period only. If you're moving soon and the item is fragile, such as a game console, it can make sense to keep the box for easier transport. The same applies if you want to use a product with a limited warranty, as the manufacturer may require the item returned in its original packaging.

Keeping the original box, especially for something bulky, can make it easier to ship. You could keep it until the warranty expires, then, if you have space and need to store accessories for a product, keeping the box can be practical. The same goes for keeping shoes in their original box.

Sometimes a box is pretty decorative or interesting, even if it once was just a piece of packaging, so you just don't want to get rid of it. With some creativity, you might find new things to do with the cool boxes you just can't let go of in your home. Perhaps they can be used to organize art supplies, charging cords, or random bits of memorabilia you'd like to save. With all of these factors in mind, there are definitely some cases where you should toss the cardboard once and for all.

If you're faced with a pile of various cardboard boxes stacked high, it's probably time to say goodbye to at least some of them when you declutter your closet or garage. Get rid of any box that is worn or damaged, because it won't be as useful to you anyway. If you're still holding on to that box from a smartphone that's five generations old, you're way past the return window, and likely aren't going to sell it either. Remove any flimsy or oversized boxes you won't use within the next couple of months. Also, keep an eye out for anything that you don't even own anymore, because that box is useless and just taking up space.

This doesn't mean you need to toss the boxes straight into the trash. You can instead place them into your recycling bin, give them to your cat to play with for a day, or find creative ways to repurpose cardboard boxes in your garden or yard. This will not only help reduce clutter but also prevent attracting insects. Cardboard is one of the things you should avoid hoarding to prevent attracting roaches and other bugs into your home.