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

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.

The holidays leave behind more than sweet memories and leftover cookies—they often leave behind piles of holiday cards, envelopes, and handwritten sentiments that can accumulate year after year. Many of us have bins tucked away in closets filled with cards we think we’ll revisit someday. But what if there was a better way to preserve the heartfelt thoughts without keeping a mountain of paper?  

At Artifcts, we believe you can keep the memories and reduce the clutter creating a win-win for all. Read on to learn how to give your holiday cards a second life that actually honors the story behind them. 

Rethink What You’re Really Saving 

Holiday cards are meaningful because of the thought and connection behind them—not because of the paper they’re printed on. Most cards are never meant to be kept forever, yet many of us hang onto them like keepsakes.  

According to a recent article in the New York Post, 85 percent of Americans say they will not throw away their holiday cards this year, with the average reader claiming to have 17 cards. We get it! We like seeing our loved ones’ handwriting, and we love looking back at the old photos and re-reading the funny stories contained within. The beauty of Artifcts though is that you can capture the memory and meaning before letting go of the physical card.  

Step-by-Step: From Card Clutter to Meaningful Memories

1. Artifct the Best Ones 

Take a photo of your favorite holiday cards—the ones with truly personal, handwritten messages or special photos. Upload the images to Artifcts and add a story or description: who sent it, what the message meant to you, and why it stood out. You can even add audio or video too. This way, you preserve the heart of the card forever, even if the paper gets recycled later.  

One of our co-founder Heather's favorite holiday cards. Sorry, this Artifct is private!

Pro tip #1: Consider grouping cards by year or theme (e.g., “Holiday 2025”) so you can see how handwriting, designs, and messages change over time. Add a custom, private tag to the grouping so you can easily sort and search through your collection years from now. Our co-founder Heather uses a tag #frommattwithlove to quickly find the cards her husband has sent her over the years. 

Pro tip #2: Feeling overwhelmed by the number of cards? Group the photos into a single PDF and upload the PDF to Artifcts thus creating a single Artifct for all your cards this year.   

2. Let Go Without Guilt 

Once you’ve preserved the memory with Artifcts you can recycle generic or less meaningful cards and maybe keep only a few select physical favorites if you really want. Downsizing your card collection from 17 (!) to three creates a more manageable, meaningful collection. This approach keeps holiday clutter under control while also preserving the memories, without bins and boxes taking over your home. 

It also helps you avoid the bin of forgotten cards. How many of us have that bin? And when was the last time we looked at it?  Feelings of guilt around tossing holiday cards are common but holding onto every single one can quickly become a burden rather than a joy. 

Creative Ways to Give Cards New Life 

Feeling creative? Hate the thought of simply recycling your old cards? If you enjoy repurposing things physically, here are some fun ways to reuse parts of old cards in lieu of recycling them: 

• Cut out decorative fronts to make gift tags
• Use images in a holiday scrapbook (with your Artifcts QR code inside!) 
• Repurpose card pieces in crafts or family projects
• Donate card fronts to local schools or nonprofits that reuse them  

These ideas let you enjoy the look and feel of your cards without storing them all year long AND ensuring the paper that they were printed on is kept out of a landfill.  

Make It a Holiday Habit 

In case you missed last week's ARTIcle, it should come as no surprise that we're all about habits here at Artifcts. Next time you finish celebrating (be it a birthday or a holiday), take a moment to Artifct your favorite cards. In a short time, you’ll have a beautiful digital collection of holiday love that you can revisit and share anytime with family, inspire future generations, or simply enjoy reflecting on year after year.  

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Old cards, photos, and letters on your mind? You might also enjoy these related ARTIcles:

What Should You Do with Old Scrapbooks?

Rescue Mission! That's More Than a Photo

How to Artifct Cards & Letters

© 2026 Artifcts, Inc. All Rights Reserved.

As we kick off a brand new year, it’s the perfect moment to reflect on how small shifts in our routines can create lasting change. With 2026 underway, many of us are thinking not just about resolutions, but about building habits that genuinely stick and bring more meaning to our everyday lives.

Changing habits isn’t easy — especially when it comes to creating new ways of preserving memories, stories, and the things that matter most. Whether you’re looking to be more intentional about documenting family histories, organizing meaningful items, or simply wanting to make sure important moments aren’t lost, we're here to help.

At Artifcts, we're big fans of the book, Atomic Habits by James Clear, it's a must read in our view because it speaks to all of us no matter our day-to-day way of living. 

For example, are you the type of person for whom the moment an item is added to your to-do list you ignore it as though it were written in invisible ink? Or do you sweat that list out until it's done, hopefully as soon as possible, and then cross it off your list with great satisfaction? 

Yup, James Clear sees us all and has strategies to help. 

In case you haven't read, or have no interest in reading, his book, we've developed some practical strategies and insights to help you turn #HabitChange into lasting practices, and make 2026 the year you preserve what matters most in ways that are simple, sustainable, and personally meaningful. 

Read on for tips that will help you shape routines that support your goals — from starting new habits to keeping them — and bring purpose and clarity to how you care for the memories and items you treasure.

Three Habit Strategies for our Artifcts Community 

STRATEGY ONE 

Like everything else in life, to create new habits, you need to consider first what “rewards” you want from, in this case, Artifcting. Depending on your situation, maybe you identify with one of these, and it will help guide you to the right habit-based approach to Artifcting and what you do with your Artifct once you create it: 

• I need to be better organized and in greater control of the ‘stuff’ around me. Consider our 5 Ways to Start Artifcting, room by room, most valuable, most cherished, that closet you hate to open … 
• I want to make sure my loved one is not forgotten. Artifcting need not be a solo experience. Create an invite-only circle to share and remember those who you have lost. 
• I want to document and share my family history. Invite-only circles on Artifcts are one place to start so that you can invite family in to see heirlooms, but social media groups are often another great source of information, and you can easily share your Artifcts into social media for more fact and family lore gathering. 
• I love swapping good stories, laughing and remembering with friends and family. So try sharing an Artifct or two and see how that works for you; add audio or video too so your loved ones can hear your story in your voice.  

STRATEGY TWO 

Frame Artifcting as a "when" activity so it becomes intentional. The key here is to be very specific! 

• "Every Sunday when my husband watches the football game, I'll grab my phone and create two new Artifcts." 
• "When I add something into storage, I'll Artifct it first."
• “When I buy something over $100, I will ask myself, “Is this an Artifct?” and Artifct it on the spot (with receipt!) and fill in the full details later. 
• "When I unpack my suitcase, I'll Artifct my new mementos along with the photos from the trip." 
• "Every Friday when my son brings his art folder home, I’ll Artifct his projects with him while he has an after-school snack.” 

STRATEGY THREE 

Try out what Clear calls "habit stacking" to incorporate Artifcting into your regular routines and existing habits. 

• "Each season when I organize my closet, I'll Artifct any sentimental pieces, and then sort the items into three piles: keep, consignment, or donation." 
• "As I review my estate plan each year, I will check that my Artifcts are included in the tangible assets memorandum."
• “As I add an item to my daughter's baby keepsakes box, I will Artifct it. Then I will put the box away immediately.” 
• "While we put away the holiday decorations each winter, we will take breaks. During the breaks we’ll Artifct special ornaments, cards, etc.” 

The best way to build a new habit is to start small — and start now. Create one Artifct. See how easy it is. No pressure, no perfection required — just one story, one moment, one memory captured.

From there, build a rhythm that works for you, on your schedule. One Artifct a week adds up faster than you might expect. By the end of the year, you’ll have 52 Artifcts, 52 stories, and 52 memories preserved — a meaningful collection of what matters most.

This is how preservation becomes a habit — not a task. Begin today by creating your first Artifct. Happy Artifcting!

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© 2026 Artifcts, Inc. All Rights Reserved. 

Any mistakes in the interpretation of the habits to Artifcting belong to Artifcts. In fact, we would encourage you to download the free habit cheat sheets from the author at atomichabits.com/cheatsheet!