5 Things You Can Toss Right After Graduation — and 5 Things You Should Keep

Diploma? Check. Lifelong memories? Check. A bright future ahead? Check. Post-graduation is a time of celebration and opportunity, and you’re ready to step out into the world. There’s only one problem: What to do with all your stuff?

Whether it’s drawers of old clothes or textbooks you haven’t looked at in years, decluttering after college can be stressful. But fear not! Here’s a complete guide to what you should toss and keep, based on my own experiences as a recent grad and insights from expert organizers. 

Smaller organizing solutions — such as plastic drawer organizers, shower caddies, and cube organizers — can be incredibly useful for tiny dorm rooms. But when you move into your post-graduation home, an abundance of small organizers can also create visual clutter and take up valuable floor space, says professional organizer Cynthia Kienzle, who runs The Clutter Whisperer NYC. 

While you might want to hold on to a few small-space organizers (you never know when you might want some extra over-the-door hooks), you don’t need to pack up all of them. Consider holding on to a couple and giving the rest to an incoming freshman. Then, instead of several small organizers or shelves, Kienzle recommends making use of larger bookshelves, which you can use to store all sorts of things, from books to shoes to tchotchkes. 

I’ve hung various posters and prints on my dorm walls over the years. But by the time move-out day rolled around each year, I had usually fallen out of love with them.

Think about letting go of some of your cheaper just-for-fun decor, like fairy lights, bright rugs, posters, and wall tapestries, says Lisa Zaslow, founder of Gotham Organizers. If those items no longer bring you joy, you can donate them or pass them on to an incoming college student, giving yourself the chance to start fresh and fill your new space with decor that speaks to your newly graduated self. Not to mention, it’ll lighten your load a bit as you pack up and prepare to move out!

If you’re tight on closet space in your new place, think about getting rid of those old sorority T-shirts or college sweatshirts that you no longer wear, says Zaslow.

Almost everyone has those impulsive TikTok microtrend buys that don’t fit into their regular wardrobe. You can give away or toss clothes that are too tight, worn out, or simply don’t fit your post-college style. Be honest with yourself: Are you really going to wear that dress you bought for a party three years ago but have never once worn out? 

If any of the organizers or appliances you bought for your dorm have broken under the wear and tear of college life, this is your sign to retire them. You can go ahead and toss chipped mugs and mismatched dishes as well as anything broken, like umbrellas or wire hangers, says Zaslow. 

Personally, one of my biggest space-wasters has been old chargers and gadgets that don’t work. I let these go, too!

As you grow into adulthood, you can begin to take more ownership of all your belongings, says Dara Zycherman, founder of Less Equals More. Zycherman recommends revisiting childhood items — especially if you are moving back into your parents’ home — and separating with things that aren’t valuable to you anymore, without feeling guilt.

Zycherman says she understands the tendency to hold on to items like high school yearbooks, childhood art projects, or gifts from relatives, but encourages postgrads to be discerning. “Start to identify what’s really meaningful to you,” she says.

While you might eventually want to get rid of those campus branded shirts, you don’t need to part with all your college gear just yet. Keep a smaller selection of college clothing that you’ll actually wear, says Zaslow. 

I love my good old-fashioned collegiate hoodie, which I can dress up or down and wear all the time. It stays! 

When it comes to sentimental items and memorabilia, be intentional. The point is to keep items that bring “back memories of a good time, so that you can walk down memory lane sometime in the future,” says MaryJo Monroe, founder of reSPACEd. I like to put photos and letters up on my fridge and have even started framing some to make a gallery wall. 

Sharon Lowenheim, founder of Organizing Goddess, recommends selecting a few of the most important-to-you items to save and keep in a memorabilia box.

Living in an apartment or other non-dorm space often means you’re increasingly responsible for things like cooking and cleaning, and you’ll need to replenish household essentials on a regular basis. If you have things like garbage bags or cleaning supplies left over in your dorm, bring them along with you. 

Still, when it’s time to restock, Zaslow notes, think twice before signing up for any “subscribe and save” auto-delivery services. If you’re trying to conserve space, it might be easier to stop by the store when you need something instead of accumulating extra supplies.

You should also keep any small appliances you used in college that are still in good condition, like a rice cooker, microwave, and tea kettle, adds Zaslow.

While you don’t need extra calculus homework lying around, even after graduating, you should be careful to keep important paperwork from your college years, says Zycherman. Hold on to documents like tax forms, medical and insurance records, university transcripts, employment histories, and other items you might need to refer to in the future. 

In order to keep your paperwork organized and prevent pileup, Monroe recommends going through your mail for a few minutes each day. 

This one is very personal to me: I just have to be cozy and comfortable at all times, and have set up my post-college apartment accordingly. My belief is that you can never have too many throw blankets, and while some may look down upon holding on to stuffed animals, my Jellycats are here to stay. 

While keeping your favorite throw pillows or comforter may be a source of comfort, Zaslow notes that getting a new duvet or bedspread can offer a “fresh start” as you think about your evolving tastes and post-graduation identity.

Whether it’s your comfiest pajamas or your softest throw, hold on to things from your college home that make your space feel warm and inviting. After all, they’re probably some of the same things that will make you feel at home in your life after college. 

While trying to organize and manage all your stuff after graduating can feel overwhelming, it also gives you a chance to reset and think intentionally about what you need — and who you want to be — in this exciting new stage of your life. So invite some friends over, put some snacks out and music on, and get organizing!