5 min readAs you and your child get ready to move them into their college dorm, your to-do list may be filled with buying XL twin sheets, roller bags for laundry, and noise-canceling headphones. But don’t overlook the opportunity to declutter. While there may be cherished grade-school mementos—artwork, first-place trophies, and other keepsakes—that neither of you is ready to part with, chances are there’s plenty of other stuff that can go.
“Your young adult is already in a transitional mindset,” says Regina Lark, founder of organizing firm A Clear Path. “That psychological openness—the willingness to shed an old self—makes them far more receptive to letting go of the physical artifacts of that self than they will be at 35, when nostalgia has fully set in, and those objects have calcified into ‘my stuff.’”
Sorting through and getting rid of those extras together can also save you from dealing with them later. Instead of being left with a room full of belongings that feel too sentimental to toss but stand in the way of moving forward, you can decide together what deserves to stay. Once the clutter is cleared, you’ll also have room to embark on a new design chapter.
To make the process easier on everyone, Marissa Hagmeyer, NEAT Method cofounder, COO, and author of The NEAT Method Organizing Recipe Book, recommends starting with the no-brainers.
“Start with the easy decisions like items that are broken, well-loved, don’t fit, or have missing pieces. From there, move on to anything that hasn’t been worn or used in a year or more,” Hagmeyer says.
Ahead, we break down the pre-college decluttering process by category, turning it into a manageable weekend project that can give both you and your young adult a fresh start.
Clothing
The Items: Anything that no longer fits or didn't make the packing list for the dorm; prom dresses or articles that could be used in a Halloween costume.
Why They’re Ready to Go: “Start with clothes, because that is often the biggest and easiest category that will provide the most reward,” says professional home organizer Jean Prominski of Seattle Sparkle.
If you haven’t seen them wear it in a year, encourage them to bag it up. A hoodie that isn’t good enough to wear as a high school senior surely won’t be a part of their college wardrobe.
Why It Could Get Emotional: Even clothes that don’t fit, are worn out, or are filled with holes can be challenging to part with.
“Sometimes these can be the hardest to get rid of, because they are sentimental or are really comfortable (like a worn-out T-shirt), but remember, this is a new phase of life your kid is entering,” Prominski says. “Small tweaks to a wardrobe for the better will help increase confidence.”
Sports Equipment and Trophies
The Items: Any specialized sports equipment that they have outgrown or are unlikely to pick up again, shin guards and cleats, trophies and ribbons.
Why They’re Ready to Go: “This equipment is frozen in a chapter that closed quietly, without ceremony,” says Lark. “Releasing it is a way of finally honoring that ending.”
Why It Could Get Emotional: Lark points out that playing competitive sports is often tied to a kid’s identity. Donating the equipment may feel like a loss, but if you frame it as making memories for another family, parting with a scuffed-up bat feels generous.
When it comes to trophies and ribbons, keep the ones with the most meaning and part with those participation medals. To capture the nostalgia, take photos of your kid surrounded by their loot. “Trophies are stand-ins for pride and accomplishment,” Lark adds. “The accomplishment doesn't disappear when the trophy does.”
Old Tech and Accessories
The Items: Charging cables for devices they no longer own, outdated tablets, broken headphones, old gaming controllers.
Why They’re Ready to Go: “Technology has a built-in obsolescence that makes this category surprisingly easy to release once you look at it clearly,” says Lark. “Most of it is already useless.”
Why It Could Get Emotional: Tech is one category that tends to carry less emotional weight, but it can still be surprisingly difficult to part with old devices. Because electronics are often expensive, getting rid of them can feel wasteful—even when they’re no longer being used. Remember, though, that money is already spent. And while they may have fond memories of playing Wii Sports in the basement, this could be an opportunity to bond over new games in the future.
Childhood Decor and Sentimental Artifacts
The Items: Posters, room accessories, and keepsakes.
Why They’re Ready to Go: This is the ideal time to present decluttering as a win when you go shopping for all that dorm decor for their new space.
“If your college-bound kid wouldn't hang it in their dorm room, they've already emotionally released it; they just haven't physically released it yet,” Lark explains.
Why It Could Get Emotional: Be gentle with your kids as they part with this area of their youth; remind them that not every keepsake needs to be preserved, like a present from an ex-boyfriend or girlfriend. “Keeping this type of stuff tethers you to the past, and not in a good way,” Prominski says. “It prevents forward growth.”
Years-Old School Supplies
The Items: Years of accumulated study guides, test papers, art supplies, and collections of book series.
Why They’re Ready to Go: The good news is that your kid will be more than happy to chuck any SAT prep worksheets. But they may still have stacks of notebooks, art books, and boxes of half-dried markers they feel like keeping “just in case.” Realistically, these are just going to take up valuable storage space.
Why It Could Get Emotional: “Some parents keep these as proof of effort, of years, of showing up. If that's what's happening, acknowledge it, then let it go,” says Lark. “The proof is your kid made it to college! Not the binders.” Anything that can actually be used should be donated to a local school or library.
Duplicate Linens and Towels
The Items: Extra bedding sets, mismatched towels, sleeping bags.
Why They’re Ready to Go: Take the pre-college decluttering outside the kid’s bedroom. “Families accumulate soft goods quietly and abundantly,” says Lark. “Once the house has fewer people in it, the excess becomes visible.”
Why It Could Get Emotional: Thankfully, getting rid of ratty old towels almost always feels good and productive. Just note that most donation centers won’t take bedding or towels; bring these soft goods to a nearby animal shelter instead, Lark suggests.
Toiletries, Trinkets, and Trash
The Items: Old makeup and skin care, half-finished art projects, and birthday favors.
Why They’re Ready to Go: “This may sound funny, but sometimes people keep stuff that should really be put in the trash,” Prominski says of items that are either broken or difficult to recycle. That half-used bottle of Bath & Body Works lotion is just a dust collector.
Why It Could Get Emotional: These random objects may represent interests that were explored and discarded, well-meaning gifts that were never used, or ambitious hobbies that quickly fell by the wayside. But they’re also a reminder that no one needs to hold on to half-finished projects or half-empty bottles. Teaming up with your kid to clean out their bedroom before starting their new life on campus offers you both a fresh start.
“What you're left with isn't an empty room,” says Lark. “It's a little more breathing room for your house, and for whatever comes next for both of you.”
