These outdated items are taking up space, but boomers just can’t seem to let them go.
Boomers have a real talent for preserving the past, often to the point of holding onto things long after their usefulness has faded. It’s not just about collecting stuff—it’s about preserving memories, clinging to what once served a purpose, and sometimes resisting change. Their homes often double as mini-museums, packed with relics that tell stories of different eras. While these items may have once been essential or cherished, now they mostly sit idle, gathering dust and taking up space.
At some point, the line between sentimental keepsake and clutter gets blurry. The items start to pile up—not because they’re loved, but because the idea of letting them go feels wrong. Whether it’s the hope of needing them again or the memories tied to them, these things are tough to part with. But if you’ve ever wondered what the most common culprits are, here are 13 outdated items that boomers just can’t seem to let go of.
1. A giant stack of old newspapers that isn’t worth a dime.
In the corner of a basement or stacked under a coffee table, there’s often a towering pile of newspapers. Some of them were saved for significant headlines, while others just never made it to the recycling bin. Over time, those crisp pages have turned yellow and brittle, their ink fading and their relevance lost, as mentioned by Kathryn Smith in her LinkedIn newsletter. What once might’ve been a meaningful keepsake has quietly become a burden.
Unless a newspaper is a rare collector’s item—like a perfectly preserved edition from a world-altering event—it holds no monetary or practical value. But still, they stay. Boomers often keep them for nostalgia’s sake, or out of the vague notion that they might come in handy someday. But the truth is, these papers are just taking up valuable real estate, becoming more of a fire hazard than a treasure trove of history.
2. That drawer full of mystery keys will never unlock anything.
Every boomer home seems to have a mystery drawer—usually in the kitchen or hallway—filled with keys that belong to… well, no one really knows. These keys might once have opened a locker, a car, or maybe even an old neighbor’s shed. But the locks they go to are long gone, and so they sit, forgotten but never thrown away.
There’s a certain hesitation that comes with tossing out a key. It feels permanent, like locking away some unknown possibility, says Richard Santalesa in The New York Times. So they accumulate, clinking around in bowls or tucked into envelopes marked with question marks. Yet no one can ever remember what they were for, and deep down, everyone knows they’ll never be used again. But boomers keep them just in case, even when the case has clearly expired.
3. A tangled mess of old charging cables that are completely useless.
There’s often a box, bin, or drawer crammed with tangled wires, filled with charging cables that don’t fit any current device in the house, as stated by Nick Clayton at BBC. From outdated cell phone chargers to cords from long-dead laptops, this electronic spaghetti serves no purpose anymore. But instead of being recycled, they get shoved into the “tech junk” drawer—because, who knows, maybe they’ll be useful someday?
Boomers often grew up in an era where throwing things away was seen as wasteful, so the habit of keeping items “just in case” is deeply ingrained. The reality, though, is that these cords will never be needed again. The devices they once powered have been replaced multiple times over, and compatibility is a thing of the past. Still, the box remains—growing, tangling, and frustrating anyone who dares to go searching through it.
4. The ancient sewing machine that hasn’t been used in years.
Once a household staple, the old sewing machine now collects dust in closets, attics, or basements. For many boomers, it represents a time when mending clothes was a necessity, not a hobby. Maybe it was passed down from a parent, or maybe it was used to stitch Halloween costumes and hem jeans decades ago. But nowadays, it mostly serves as an anchor to a past lifestyle.
Even if the intention to use it again exists, the reality is that sewing is no longer a routine part of most lives. When clothes are cheaper to replace than repair, and tailor shops are easily accessible, the heavy old machine loses its practicality. Yet there it stays—too bulky to toss and too sentimental to give away. It becomes part of the decor, a piece of history that never quite makes it to the donation pile.
5. That box of VHS tapes is just taking up space.
Tucked away in closets or stacked on basement shelves are boxes of VHS tapes—some labeled neatly, others not at all. They hold home videos, taped TV shows, and old movies that might have once brought joy. But with no working VCR and with video quality that’s long been surpassed, they’re essentially unwatchable relics. Still, they sit there, holding emotional weight that’s hard to toss aside.
The tapes degrade over time, losing both picture and sound quality. And while digitizing them is an option, most never get around to it. Streaming services now offer cleaner versions of many favorite films, making these tapes more symbolic than practical. For boomers, getting rid of them feels like erasing a chapter of life. But let’s face it—unless they’re converted soon, those memories might fade away for good.
6. A cabinet full of expired spices that have no taste.
Open a spice cabinet in a boomer’s home and you might find a time capsule. There’s that ancient tin of nutmeg or the oregano from a long-gone grocery chain. Spices do lose their flavor over time, turning once-aromatic seasonings into bland powder. And yet, there they are—lined up neatly, some with price tags that haven’t existed in decades.
Many boomers stock up on spices with the idea that they last forever, but freshness is crucial for flavor. Unfortunately, tossing them feels wasteful, so they remain, even though they no longer serve their purpose. Meals suffer, recipes fall flat, but the spice rack tells a story of “just in case” and “maybe one day.” It’s a collection of potential gone stale, clinging to the hope of a meal they’ll likely never flavor again.
7. That collection of plastic food containers is out of control.
There’s something comforting about having options for leftovers—but not when the cabinet explodes every time you open it. Boomers often save every plastic tub that ever held butter, sour cream, or takeout. And while reusing is admirable, most of these containers don’t have matching lids or are warped from years of microwave use.
They become a jumbled mess of plastic chaos, taking up space and creating daily frustration. The funny part? Despite the overwhelming collection, finding a matching lid is nearly impossible. Still, boomers hold on, believing each container might serve a purpose. But in truth, many of them are clutter in disguise—cheap, stained, and mostly ignored, until it’s time to make room for yet another recycled tub.
8. A old box of greeting cards that will never be read again.
In a closet or dresser drawer, there’s often a box full of old greeting cards—some going back decades. They represent birthdays, anniversaries, retirements, and holidays, each one preserved as a memory. It’s a sentimental archive of thoughtfulness, but one that rarely gets revisited. Most of the messages are generic and impersonal, their emotional weight fading over time.
While some cards might hold deep meaning—like a heartfelt note from a late loved one—most are simply signed with a name and a quick “best wishes.” Yet boomers struggle to part with them, afraid to let go of the past. The problem is, these boxes keep growing and taking up space. Eventually, it becomes less about memory and more about obligation, keeping things because it feels wrong not to.
9. That pile of random buttons will never come in handy.
There’s always a tin, jar, or small plastic bag filled with loose buttons. They were saved from coats, shirts, and pants over the years, each one stored for that “just in case” scenario where a button falls off. But the truth is, even if a button is needed, it’s nearly impossible to find the right one among the mismatched collection.
Boomers are experts at keeping these tiny backups, even though they rarely get used. By the time a garment loses a button, it’s often replaced or donated rather than repaired. And the buttons? They remain, outlasting the clothing they were meant to save. They become relics of practicality that no longer fits with modern convenience, tucked away and forgotten until the next clean-out that never happens.
10. An outdated set of encyclopedias that is entirely useless now.
Once a source of pride, those big, heavy encyclopedia sets were the internet before the internet. They sat in bookcases as symbols of knowledge and learning, referenced for school projects or idle curiosity. But now, they’re obsolete—completely replaced by smartphones and search engines. Yet many boomers still hold onto them like sacred tomes.
They take up significant space and are nearly impossible to donate—libraries won’t take them, and no one else wants them. But throwing them out feels like sacrilege. These books were expensive, often bought on payment plans, and represented status at one point. Unfortunately, their value now lies only in nostalgia. They’re no longer sources of information, just decorative clutter from a bygone era.
11. That fancy china set hasn’t seen a dinner party in decades.
Most boomer households have a set of formal china—delicate plates and cups used only for special occasions. The problem is, those occasions rarely, if ever, happen. So the china stays boxed up or displayed in a hutch, collecting dust and taking up precious space. It’s too fragile for everyday use and too sentimental to let go of.
What was once a symbol of tradition is now just another unused item crowding the cabinets. While beautiful, the set rarely makes it to the table, replaced by more durable, dishwasher-safe dishes. But boomers keep it, holding onto the hope of a fancy dinner party that never comes. The china becomes more memory than utility—elegant but sadly impractical.
12. The stack of instruction manuals that are completely unnecessary.
There’s a drawer—or maybe several—dedicated entirely to instruction manuals. Boomers save them religiously, believing they’ll need to reference them someday. Even if the appliance has long since been tossed or replaced, the manual remains. There’s a sense of security in having it, even if it’s never opened again.
But in today’s world, every manual is online, searchable in seconds. Despite that, the collection grows, turning into a paper jungle of outdated instructions. Boomers often resist throwing them out because it feels reckless to discard something that might still be useful. The irony is, the only thing these papers are doing now is taking up room and adding to the chaos.
13. That stash of hotel toiletries is never going to get used.
Free hotel toiletries seem irresistible. Boomers gather them during every trip, tossing tiny bottles of shampoo, conditioner, and lotion into their suitcases “just in case.” Over time, the collection becomes overwhelming, stuffed into drawers and baskets with no real plan to use them.
While the idea is practical, the reality is those mini bottles rarely see the light of day. They often get ignored in favor of full-sized, preferred products. Plus, newer hotel offerings keep getting added to the pile. Boomers can’t seem to resist taking them, even if the existing stash could supply an army. It’s frugal, it’s habitual—but ultimately, it’s just clutter in disguise.