Insider’s Look at What It Means to Clean Out an Estate

We get questions every day from people wondering what they should Artifct first. There’s no right answer, because the things you collect, accumulate, and inherit are as diverse as is the content of the world’s most amazing estate sale or flea market (or Grandmas' closet).

Of course, we try to help inspire you along the way. We have more than two dozen free downloadable inspiration checklists to help you get started. And we often write about different approaches to get started Artifcting or for those who think, “But I’m not sentimental.”

Today we’re sharing fun and thoughtful starter prompts in a series of lists to help anyone create their first Artifct or their 100th Artifct—whether it's sentimental, quirky, or just a favorite item with a cool backstory. Because the fact is the stuff we keep, and the mere act of taking seconds to Artifct that, can tell others more about us than the most formal or thoughtful of interviews or workbooks.

🧠 Memory-Based Prompts

• • • What’s the oldest thing you own—and why do you still have it? 
    • Tell the story of a gift you’ll never forget (yes, even if you accidentally lost the item). 
    • What item reminds you most of someone you’ve loved and lost? 
    • What’s something you’d want your great-grandchildren to know you owned?

😂 Light & Fun Prompts 

• • • What’s the weirdest item in your junk drawer, and why is it still there? No cheating. Go open it and Artifct that!
    • What’s your favorite T-shirt or mug—and what’s the story behind it? 
    • What’s something that you brought home from a vacation that still makes you smile? 
    • What's the silliest photo you've taken this year? Artifct the photo and the story behind it.  

🎶 Music, Pop Culture, and Hobbies 

• • • What’s the first concert or event you ever went to? Do you still have the ticket or merch? 
    • Share an item related to your favorite movie, book, or band. 
    • What hobby item (camera, sewing machine, old bike) has the most history for you? 
    • What game, toy, or gadget meant the world to you growing up?

🏠 Everyday Meaning 

• • • What’s one recipe card or cookbook you couldn’t live without? 
    • Is there a piece of furniture in your home with a backstory? 
    • What’s an item in your garage, attic, or basement you keep moving but can’t throw away?

💼 Work & Milestones

• • • What item represents a proud work moment or accomplishment? 
    • Choose something from a graduation, award, or “big day.” 
    • What’s the story behind your first paycheck or ID badge?

These prompts aren’t just about choosing what to Artifct first—they’re invitations. Invitations to ask better questions, to listen a little longer, and to discover the stories that often surface only when we slow down together. Whether you’re sitting around the table at a family reunion, visiting grandparents, or catching up with loved ones you don’t see often enough, these moments can turn everyday conversations into lasting connections.

This year, let curiosity lead the way. Use these prompts to spark meaningful exchanges, uncover memories you’ve never heard before, and preserve the stories that matter most—while the people who lived them can still tell them in their own words. One Artifct at a time, you’re not just capturing objects or memories, you’re deepening relationships and building a shared history your family can return to again and again.

Happy Artifcting!

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© 2026 Artifcts, Inc. All Rights Reserved.

If you’ve spent any time reading about downsizing, decluttering, or estate planning, you’ve probably seen this line repeated over and over: your kids don’t want your stuff. Full stop. End of story. 

Major publications from The Atlantic to The Wall Street Journal (WSJ) have documented this myth time and again. In one of the many pieces about family heirlooms and inheritance, the author, Robbie Shell, notes that many parents find themselves surprised when their adult children “turn down many more items than they accept” when offered keepsakes, highlighting a common reality: the things we think matter often aren’t wanted simply as objects without context. 

But based on what we see every day at Artifcts, that narrative is missing something important. 

Yes—your children may not want random stuff. An extra side table with no backstory? A box of unidentified knickknacks? Probably not. But meaningful things? Objects that hold memories, history, and connection? That’s a very different story. 

It’s Not About the Object. It’s About the Meaning. 

That dining room table where birthdays were celebrated, homework was done, and holidays stretched late into the night? That’s not just furniture—it’s a witness to family life. The love letters Grandpa sent Grandma during World War II? That’s not paper—it’s proof of a love that endured separation, uncertainty, and time. 

A love letter worth keeping. Click the image to view the Artifct.

When items are stripped of their stories, they lose their power. But when you take a moment to document why something matters, everything changes. 

From “No One Wants It” to “It’s Been Rehomed!” 

We hear this transformation all the time from Artifcts members. 

An object sits untouched for years because no one understands its significance. Then the story is shared—the memory, the moment, the reason it mattered—and suddenly the response shifts. A sibling claims it. A grandchild treasures it. A family member who never would have raised their hand now says, “I had no idea. I’d love to have that.” 

One of our favorite stories we’ve heard over the years is from one of our Artifcts members, Grandmom. She lovingly told of how no one wanted her beloved china set until one day, one member of her family decided to ask her about the story behind the china set. To everyone’s surprise, the china set was not a wedding gift, but rather a piece of family history with a great story.  

Turns out Grandmom was “kindly requested” to purchase a china set for 12 by the US Ambassador while stationed in Liberia, because “Well Martha, it’s high time you and Bobby start entertaining.”  

Once the story is known, the item isn’t just kept—it’s rehomed. In this case, happily rehomed with one of her three sons, with his daughter already claiming “dibs” on it once she settles down.  

The Power of Heart Value 

Not everything valuable has a price tag. Some things are priceless because they carry heart value—the emotional connection that binds one generation to the next. 

At Artifcts, we see how even the most seemingly insignificant objects can take on new meaning once their story is discovered. A recipe card. A tool. A piece of jewelry worn every day but never discussed. These items become bridges between past and future when their stories are preserved and shared. 

Our Takeaway? 

The myth isn’t that no one wants your stuff. The truth is this: people want the stories—and if you never ask, you’ll never know what might matter. 

Our co-founder Heather experienced this firsthand just the other week. Her father was cleaning out his cellar and came across the old family toboggan. Before tossing it in the Goodwill pile, he asked, “do you want this?” and much to his (and Heather’s spouse’s) surprise, the answer was a quick “yes!”  

So many meaningful objects are lost simply because no one paused to ask the questions: What is this? Why does it matter? What’s special about it? Do you want it? 

When you take time to ask your loved ones about the items in their lives—or invite them to ask you—you open the door to discovery. You uncover memories, moments, and meanings that might otherwise disappear. And once those stories are documented and shared, what seemed unwanted often becomes deeply desired.

Moreoever, simply asking your loved ones if they want an item gives them a chance to engage in conversation with you about the item, memories, and stories. With Artifcts the simple act of asking transforms uncertainty into connection. It turns “no one wants this” into “I didn’t know—and now I care.” 

Because in the end, it’s not really about ‘stuff’ at all. It’s about listening, learning, and preserving the stories that connect generations before they’re gone. 

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You might also enjoy reading these related ARTIcles:

Who Wants Your Family China?

Gift Your Loved Ones A 'Why'

My Family Wants Me to Tell My Stories: Help!

© 2026 Artifcts, Inc. All Rights Reserved.

People love to prescribe decluttering. Often, they even give you tips on how to get started and lists to help you think through what “goes” and what stays. More often than not, the lists typically go something like this: 

• • • Is it broken? 
    • Is it a component (like a cable or remote) to a gadget you no longer own? 
    • Do those clothes fit anymore? Are they sporting holes? Are they still in style?
    • Do your kids still play with those toys? Or have they outgrown them?
    • Why do you need to hold on to legal and tax documents beyond their usefulness (e.g. 7 years for most tax documents)? 
    • Is it expired, as in cleaners and paints, make up and fragrances, or spices? 

And so on. All valid options for a quick declutter of your home. 

More frustrating is that the advice usually ends there or will weave in a, “Get rid of it, but take a photo first.” Really? I have 1,000s of photos to scroll through, I’ve forgotten the details, and, again, what am I supposed to do with the photos anyway? They'll just get lost in my every growin pile of digital clutter, no thanks. 

Why We Have to Talk About This 

We think standard decluttering advice is partly helpful, partly a clever ruse to distract you from and avoid an entire segment of ‘stuff’ - the stuff that also has sentimental value. "Time to let go," they will say. And how exactly should I do that?  

We’ve tapped the Artifcts Community for a fresh take on decluttering targets full of all those sentimental, history-filled, "just cool," or "you never know what it might be worth one day" things that make decluttering especially challenging. We know how hard it is.  

Let us know how these targets help you and which are missing. And, when in doubt, call in a specialist to help! We provide some ideas and resources at the bottom of this article.

15 Decluttering Targets in the Age of Artifcts: Artifct, Share, and Let Go!

With contributions from Matt Paxton, star of the Discovery Channel series "Filthy Fortunes," host of the PBS series "Legacy List with Matt Paxton" and author of "Keep the Memories, Lose the Stuff." 

1. OLD CAMERAS (AND OTHER TECH GADGETS)

You know, the type that used actual film. And other gadgets that you remember the good ol’ days when you see. Anyone still hanging onto an original iPod?

* Expert tip: Like a passport, Artifct the camera and all the places it’s been! Then … how old are we talking? Maybe a local school or a child would be interested? If you want to sell it, you could check specialized marketplaces, including KEH Camera. As with any technology, please do not throw it away. Contact your local municipality about recycling, try tech vendors like Canon, or pop into local stores, such as Best Buy.

2. THAT OUTFIT YOU WORE ...

… when you graduated, honeymooned, won the big deal at work. If you’re Dolly Parton, yes, that sequin-embellished gown will likely go into a museum, so let’s just set those exceptions aside. For the rest of us mere mortals, you know the drill.

* Expert tip: Artifct it, and include a photo of you wearing it back in the day, if possible. 

3. CHILDREN'S ARTWORK

We all know it’s bountiful. So, let’s pick and choose what we keep, and no matter what, keep the stories. So, record the basics in each Artifct. They gave it to you when? How did they make it? What is it? Better yet, record them telling you and include the photo and video. There’s nothing like hearing those tiny voices again when they are all grown up.

* Expert tip:  Tag the Artifcts with their name and age or grade for easy sorting: #FavoriteChild #1stGrade. 

4. FURNITURE

Come on, we’ve talked about this! We know whole rooms in houses not to mention pricey monthly storage units exist that are bursting with furniture you remember from parents and grandparents or are considered family heirlooms but that no longer have a place in your current life. We keep these pieces because of the memories, stories, and emotions they evoke, not because we have an actual love of or even use for the mahogony dining room table from the 1980s.  

* Expert tip from Matt Paxton: If you’ve decided to try to sell the item, list it on Facebook Marketplace and if it doesn’t sell in, say, 48 hours, then move it over to a Buy Nothing group and get it out. Remember your time is worth at least $25 an hour; do not spend six hours selling a $100 item. And don’t forget – you already decided you don’t want it, and you have the memory on Artifcts, which will easily outlive the use of the furniture. Don’t let haggling over the price ruin your decision to make space in your home. 

5. HOLIDAY DECOR

There could be any number of reasons—it’s faded, maybe slightly damaged, out of style—why you never take it out to use or display anymore. But you likely have a lot of history with it to Artifct and share.

* Expert tip: If it’s still useful, consider getting it to a donation center a few weeks before the holiday so others can pick it up to enjoy! 

6. VALUABLES

Consider your crystal, jewelry & watches, and collections (coins, stamps, statues, art): Are they worth more to you as cash to reinvest in other items you will care for or use more? Or could they be of greater value to someone else in the family? Don't even get us started on collections of dubious value that you're holding onto just in case the value sky rockets. Take a hard look.

* Expert tip from Matt Paxton: I tend to Artifct the item and share it with my family members to see who has the best memory or story of the item before then making the final decision to sell it or gift it (and to whom). To help with your sell vs. gift decision, seek out the best industry specific site to price the item (e.g. Worthy.com for a wedding ring) or try Artifcts new ARTIAssist feature to see what similar items have recently sold for and at what sites. 

7. HERITAGE AND HISTORICAL ITEMS

Baby bassinets, antique gowns, family bibles, tools of trade, we pass these items down through the generations, often with little care for their preservation. And they take up a lot of space, especially if you are the ‘family keeper’ and have the majority of the items.

* Expert tip:  Small museums, historical foundations, and even professional archives may be interested and will in fact preserve them! Here are tips if you are considering donations to archives and similar.

8. RECIPES

Hanging on to a cookbook for a single recipe that was beloved? Combine a photo with your secret methods and ingredients and send that book on its way. And if you have a mess of recipes from a loved one that you never make but are holding onto just because, photograph the collection for a single Artifct, along with any singleton standouts, and then recycle.

* Expert tip: For truly special recipes, consider preserving or framing them. Maybe even turn them into something new, like this Arti Community member did with her mother's rolls recipe.  

9. PHOTO ALBUMS

If you have only one or two albums, this is really not a good category for you. If you have more, and they sit in shelves and boxes never opened, consider whether now is a time to digitize the pictures and Artifct the memories. Maybe you’ll even opt for archival-quality photo books to recast the past with fresh perspective in a coffee table friendly format!

* Expert tip from Matt Paxton: Trim down the massive collection to a more manageable pile before Artifcting, digitizing, printing for photo books, or sorting and gifting to relatives. Get rid of what you no longer need: duplicates, negatives (you haven’t used them yet, you don’t need them), generic landscapes (e.g. beaches and mountains with no identifiable people), and pictures of people you don’t know or don’t like. It’s okay to throw away pictures of your former in-laws that you haven’t spoken to in 20 years.

10. T-SHIRTS 

These are sneak-y! Durable, especially if they end up in the back of the closet or bottom of the drawer, as well as inexpensive, gift worthy, and great mementos. Suddenly you have dozens, some don’t fit or have yellowed stains, and/or they are otherwise ready to be retired. Some you might elevate to framing, others to those popular t-shirt quilts, a few in good condition to vintage clothing shops, and the rest, simple Artifcts with great stories.

* Expert tip from Matt Paxton: You could always offer them up to your favorite niece and Artifct you and her wearing your favorite Duran Duran t-shirt 30 years apart! If you think it’s cool, it’s probably cool to the next generation, too. Worst case scenario, Artifct them and give them to Goodwill. My biggest tip here is to make sure you are detailed when Artifcting. Give the details of the band, when you saw them, who you hung out with and WHY you loved the t-shirt so much. My kids loved my skateboarding t-shirts when they found out I met Tony Hawk at Mt. Trashmore in 1989. The beauty of Artifcting is that it allows you to put your family and friends in the moment with you to enjoy the memory as much as you do 

11. BASEBALL (FOOTBALL ETC.) TRADING CARDS

Those skinny boxes literally pile up, and you never kept them as pristine as you think. Share them with a neighbor kid or post them on freecycle or similar. Just move them on out.

* Expert tip: Suspect there’s hidden value? Artifct them and try Artifcts new ARTIAssist feature to see what similar items have recently sold for and at what sites.   

12. GLASSWARE, CHINA, SILVER

If you’re using them, this category is not for you. If you are dusting and polishing for "remember when" or "they belonged to {loved person}," Artifct them instead, check with family, and if there’s no taker, out they go.

* Expert tip: Don't be afraid to break up a set or re-purpose pieces. We've heard tales from our members of how no one wanted an ENTIRE set of China, but one child wanted the tea cups, and another wanted the bowls, and yet another wanted a couple of plates to add to their gallery wall.  

13. BOOKS

Do you catch yourself reflecting on a funny passage, what was happening or where you were when you last or first read it, or maybe where you got it, and saying “Nope, it can stay for now.” How many books are in this category? Don't lie. Books carry intellectual and personal growth and even sometimes spiritual weight. But even with books you can capture the essence of what it means to you and move it on to the next reader.

* Expert tip: Check between the pages and then consider taking them to school book drives, local donation centers, or even shops like Half Priced Books. 

14. STUFFED ANIMALS

Okay parents, confess, how many of these creatures are more sentimental to you than your child (or future unborn grandchild)? And what about all those that are forgotten moments after receiving them? Or loved soooo much that they are probably a health hazard? Before they declutter those stuffed animals too aggressively, read this ARTIcles story.

* Expert tip: Local requirements vary, but you can offer cleaned toys to some fire stations and animal shelters and lovingly reminisce with Artifcts. 

15. TRAVEL MEMENTOS

We’re willing to bet if you collect them all in front of you, you could pick out the especially valuable ones to you from the lineup. Maybe the details have even grown pret-ty fuzzy. A memento might be cool, but if you feel a clutter crisis closing in on you or you simply want to lighten the load, it’s time to pare it back. 

* Expert tip: Matching items to photos or stamps in a passport, maybe with a bit of audio from you, is a fabulous way to relive those travels and offer a final tribute as you send it off to a new home. 

Sometimes We Need a Little Help

Decluttering help can take many forms, depending on your circumstances. Here are some additional resources that might be just what you need. 

Keys Guild. Collectibles advisors trained through the Keys Guild can provide onsite services to identify items of value for resale and the optimal outlets (i.e. top dollar) for selling the items. To learn if there is a Key in your area, use this contact form. 

NAPO. The National Association of Productivity & Organizing has a large nationwide membership base ready to help you organize, declutter, and more. Find a NAPO professional in your area by zip code here. 

Archivists. These professionals may be less familiar to you, but they are often working for or collaborating with institutions of all sizes and types that take donations. Consider original works of fiction or non-fiction; war memorabilia; scrapbooks, journals, letters, and diaries; and media (photographs, slides, film, even websites too). You can learn more and locate an archival consultant at The Society of American Archivists. 

Auction houses. Valuable items and collections may be a good fit for auction. Auction houses vary, some with broad specialties, others niche. Many now offer online auctions, not just traditional raise your paddle affairs. Their appraisal services for single objects and entire estates can also help inform which of your items will go up for auction or sale in any venue (e.g. auction house, 1st Dibs, Ebay, Etsy, Facebook Marketplace) and which maybe have more sentimental value. 

“Keep the Memories, Lose the Stuff.” If you’re in more of a “Let me think on it,” or do-it-yourself mindset, we recommend this book. Matt Paxton joined the Artifcts board years ago, but long before we even met him, we were fans of his book because of its practical advice, engaging stories, and litany of self-starter tips and resources.  

Happy Artifcting!

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© 2026 Artifcts, Inc. All Rights Reserved.