Your mudroom is supposed to work hard for you, not drown you in forgotten gear and castoff clutter. By treating it like a landing zone for things you should have tossed long ago, you make every school morning, dog walk, and grocery run harder than it needs to be. Use these eight expert-backed categories to decide what to toss now so your mudroom finally functions as a calm, clutter-free gateway to the rest of your home.
1) Retired kitchen clutter that “8 Things Hiding in Your Kitchen You Need to Toss ASAP” says to toss ASAP – a hidden, everyday item that should be thrown out now
Retired plastic food containers are a classic example of everyday clutter that the article on 8 things hiding in your kitchen you need to toss ASAP flags as something you should “toss ASAP.” That guidance is framed around “things hiding in your kitchen” such as warped, lidless, or stained containers that no longer serve you but still hog cabinet space. The same category of long-ignored clutter often migrates to the mudroom, where cracked takeout tubs and old lunch containers pile up on shelves “just in case.”
Letting these retired containers linger in a drop zone near the door makes it harder to find the reusable pieces you actually rely on for school lunches or leftovers. It also encourages you to stash more random items in them, turning your mudroom into a catchall for screws, pet treats, or mystery cords. Clearing them out now aligns with broader decluttering advice that urges you to toss broken or incomplete items so your storage works for you instead of against you.
2) Another of the “8 Things Hiding in Your Kitchen You Need to Toss ASAP” that mirrors mudroom overflow
Expired pantry snacks are another category singled out as one of the “8 Things Hiding in Your Kitchen You Need to Toss ASAP,” with the reminder that stale chips, old crackers, and long-forgotten granola bars are overdue to be discarded. That same kind of “thing hiding in your kitchen” tends to migrate into mudroom cubbies and backpacks, where half-eaten sports snacks and outdated energy bars quietly accumulate. When you treat the mudroom as an overflow pantry, you invite pests and unpleasant odors into the very space meant to welcome you home.
Clearing out expired snacks from hooks, baskets, and bench drawers keeps your mudroom from becoming a secondary trash can. It also makes it easier to see what grab-and-go food you actually have on hand for practices and road trips. Tossing these items ASAP, instead of letting them linger by the back door, protects your family from eating something past its prime and reinforces the habit of checking dates before you stash anything in this high-traffic zone.
3) A “kitchen item you should throw away right now, according to pro organizers” that also lurks by the back door
Stacks of takeout menus and paper clutter are highlighted as a kitchen item you should throw away right now, according to pro organizers cited in the guide to kitchen items you should throw away right now. Those pro organizers stress that these paper piles are exactly the kind of kitchen items you should throw away right now because the information is outdated or easily replaced by apps and websites. The same category of clutter often lurks by the back door, where menus, flyers, and school handouts get dumped on a mudroom shelf.
When you let this paper stack grow, it hides important mail and permission slips you actually need. It also makes the mudroom feel visually chaotic, which can raise stress every time you walk through. Applying the “throw away right now” guidance to these mudroom piles means recycling old menus, scanning what matters, and designating a single, slim file or wall pocket for current papers only.
4) A second “kitchen item you should throw away right now, according to pro organizers” that mudrooms collect in bulk
Pro organizers in the same list of kitchen items you should throw away right now also call out excess reusable shopping bags as something you should throw away right now when they overflow drawers and hooks. They frame these as a separate kind of item from paper clutter, yet just as problematic when you keep far more than you can reasonably use. Mudrooms are notorious for collecting these bags in bulk, with totes from grocery stores, farmers markets, and events stuffed into every corner.
When your mudroom bench is buried under reusable bags, you are less likely to grab the sturdy ones you actually like and more likely to forget them altogether. Following the pro organizers’ advice here means keeping a small, curated set near the door and donating or recycling the rest. That simple edit frees up hooks for coats and backpacks and keeps your entry feeling intentional instead of overloaded.
5) One of the “8 Things You’re Keeping That Pro Organizers Say You Should Actually Toss” that clogs up hooks and baskets
Old scarves and hats are a specific category in the list of 8 Things You’re Keeping That Pro Organizers Say You Should Actually Toss, where pro organizers point out that you are keeping far more than you wear. They emphasize that this is one particular type of thing “you’re keeping” even though “pro organizers say you should actually toss” stretched-out beanies, pilled scarves, and dated styles. In the mudroom, those extras clog up hooks and baskets, making it hard to find the warm gear you truly love.
Letting every free team scarf or novelty hat live on the same peg as your daily winter staples slows you down on cold mornings. It also makes the space look messier, since soft goods slump and spill over. Editing down to a few current, well-fitting pieces per person, and tossing or donating the rest, instantly lightens visual clutter and keeps your mudroom storage aligned with what you actually reach for in bad weather.
6) Another of the “8 Things You’re Keeping That Pro Organizers Say You Should Actually Toss” hiding in bins and benches
Reusable water bottles are another example from the same list of 8 Things You’re Keeping That Pro Organizers Say You Should Actually Toss, and pro organizers again stress that you should actually toss extras that are cracked, mismatched, or never used. This is a separate item from scarves and hats, yet it is just as likely to be stashed in mudroom bins and benches. Families often keep a whole fleet of bottles for sports and commuting, even when only a few favorites are in regular rotation.
When every cubby hides a different bottle, you waste time hunting for matching lids and cleaning dusty spares. You also risk mold and lingering odors if forgotten bottles sit half full in gym bags. Applying the “pro organizers say you should actually toss” guidance here means keeping a realistic number per person, recycling damaged ones, and storing the rest upright in a single, easy-to-see spot near the door.
7) A dated piece from “8 Home Décor Items You Should Throw Away ASAP, According to Interior Designers” that drifts into the mudroom
Faux floral arrangements are singled out in the guide to 8 Home Décor Items You Should Throw Away ASAP, According to Interior Designers, where interior designers say this home décor item is something you should throw away ASAP when it looks dusty or dated. They identify artificial blooms as one particular “home décor item” that can instantly age a room, especially when the colors or containers feel stuck in another decade. Those same arrangements often drift into the mudroom when you redecorate other spaces.
Once they land on a mudroom shelf or cabinet top, faux flowers quickly collect real dust and grime from shoes and pet traffic. Instead of offering a cheerful welcome, they signal neglect and make the entry feel more cluttered. Following interior designers’ advice here means tossing tired arrangements, wiping down surfaces, and, if you want greenery, opting for a simple live plant that can handle fluctuating temperatures near the door.
8) Another “home décor item you should throw away ASAP, according to interior designers” that makes the mudroom feel dated
Old framed art with generic prints is another example from the list of home décor items you should throw away ASAP, and interior designers again say this is a home décor item you should throw away ASAP when it no longer reflects your style. This décor piece is distinct from faux florals, yet it often ends up lingering in the mudroom after being replaced in living areas. Outdated landscapes, mass-produced quotes, or faded family photos can make the space feel like a storage hallway instead of a thoughtful entry.
When every wall hook competes with random frames, the mudroom feels visually busy and smaller than it is. Removing these castoff pieces and leaving a single, intentional mirror or sturdy hook rail creates breathing room and supports the practical role of the space. If you need motivation to start, short decluttering videos such as 23 things to toss now echo the same message, urging you to let go of décor that no longer earns its place.
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