There are some common types of clutter that are easier to deal with than others, and it’s no secret that sentimental clutter is one of the hardest things to go through. When you’re grappling with handwritten cards, clothing, gifts, and other meaningful items, it’s tricky to choose what can be thrown away for good because of guilt, worries, or sincere attachment.

General decluttering advice isn’t always helpful when it comes to this type of clutter, so we enlisted the help of three organization experts for their best tips on working your way through sentimental clutter with as little pain as possible.

Reframe the Wording

Saying that you’re getting rid of or throwing away sentimental items can sometimes add to the stress or sadness that comes up with going through these items. Professional organizer Liora Seltzer recommends avoiding these kinds of phrases.

Instead, it’s a good idea to give a little more thought to these objects and mementos and honor them. Then you can let them go.

“Letting go of them is hard enough, so we need to allow the right space and mindset for it,” Seltzer says.

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Try a Sensory Approach

Decluttering coach Emily McDermott agrees that these kinds of items can’t be handled in the same way as less meaningful objects and recommends the sensory approach. This involves holding your item, looking at it, and possibly smelling it to understand your feelings about it and see if it actually holds sentimental value for you.

This is the first step in determining where this object sits in your memory and what kind of emotions and memories it evokes. This method can be done yearly to stay on top of clutter.

“Don’t assume that something that is meaningful to you today will be as meaningful to you in the future,” McDermott says. “Commit to using the sensory approach to revisit the sentimental items you’ve kept.”

Save Sentimental Items for Last

If you’ve just kickstarted a big declutter of your home, sentimental items shouldn’t be the first thing on your list. Seltzer says that the KonMari Method purposely saves this category for last.

“The reason is simple, you need practice in decluttering before you get to the heavy lifting duty of parting with sentimental items,” she explains. “So in other words, start with other decluttering projects before getting to the sentimental items.”

Give Yourself Time

Don’t put pressure on yourself to hurry up or keep this process as quick as possible. Professional organizer Barbara Brock acknowledges that the emotional toll of decluttering meaningful items can be huge.

Instead, she encourages smaller steps, like starting with one drawer, as this is essential for your mental wellbeing, shows you progress, and helps you understand the emotional benefits when letting items go.

Seltzer also points out that it can be helpful to have a trusted family member, friend, or expert by your side so you’re not going through it alone. You can stop and start as often as you need. She also points out that if there’s a deadline, “you can always pack up the items and deal with them at a later time.”

Focus on Bigger Items

It’s easy to first gravitate to an old box of letters and cards, but Seltzer says it’s often better to put your energy towards the larger items taking up space.

“It will take the same amount of time and mental energy as a box of photos or old letters, but it will definitely award you with more space for your effort,” she says.

Think About What You’re Gaining and Losing

After you try the sensory method, McDermott says you should be left with items that evoke specific positive memories of tenderness, joy, and nostalgia. Now the process involves figuring out whether or not the physical item has to be around to keep these memories alive.

Consider what you lose by parting with the item, and also think about what you gain: Letting the item go and keeping a copy isn’t the same as having the original around, but the emotional freedom and extra space that can come with saying goodbye sometimes outweighs the loss.

“Write down the memories that the item evokes and what you think will be lost if you get rid of it,” she says. “Parting with anything we are emotionally attached to will cause us to grieve, and it’s important that we allow ourselves to feel that fully.”

Find Time to Decompress After

Working your way through sentimental objects can be emotionally draining. One simple tip from Seltzer is simply giving yourself time to decompress after and understand that you might not be able to take on other big tasks immediately.

Honor These Items in Other Ways

There are so many ways to honor the items that you decide to physically part with and keep their memories around. Seltzer recommends making a photo album of the objects you let go of or turning loved ones’ clothes into one or two keepsake items like a quilt.

“Once you’ve fully captured the significance of the item and the memories surrounding it, you may find that you don’t need the physical item after all,” McDermott says.