What to Do With Old Cards and Letters: Keep, Scan, Store, or Let Go
You open a shoebox looking for one birthday card, and an hour later you’re sitting on the floor surrounded by every card anyone has ever sent you.
I’ve done exactly that, more than once, and I’ve never once managed to finish sorting the box that afternoon.
Old cards and letters are some of the hardest things to declutter, because they hold people’s handwriting and, sometimes, people who aren’t here anymore.
You don’t have to keep them all, and you don’t have to throw them all away either.
Here’s the gentle method I use to decide what stays, how to look after the ones you keep, and kind ways to let the rest go.
Why Cards and Letters Are So Hard to Let Go Of
A card is more than paper.
It’s proof that someone thought of you on a particular day, and getting rid of it can feel like getting rid of that moment.
But the moment already happened, and it’s yours whether or not the card stays in a box.
Sentimental things are the last category in decluttering by category for exactly this reason, so if you’re struggling, start with something easier and come back to the box later.
Step One: Gather Them All in One Place
Cards tend to live everywhere, in drawers, books, handbags, and that one folder labelled “important.”
Bring them all together before you start, so you can see how much you actually have.
Give yourself plenty of time, a cup of tea, and permission to stop halfway.
Step Two: Sort Into Three Piles
Keep
Letters and cards with real handwritten words that still mean something to you.
Anything from someone who has died, if it still feels precious.
Cards from milestones you want to remember, like a graduation, a wedding, or a first home.
Scan or photograph
Cards you like but don’t need to hold, such as a funny one from a friend or a pretty design.
A photo keeps the memory and the handwriting without taking up a box.
Let go
Cards with a printed verse and only a signature.
Cards from businesses, banks, dentists, and estate agents.
Cards you have no memory of receiving or from people you can’t place.
Duplicates from the same person for the same occasion every year, keeping one or two favourites.
Questions That Help When You’re Stuck
Would I notice if this card disappeared?
Does it say something only this person could have written?
Would I want someone to read this after I’m gone, or would I rather they didn’t have to sort it?
If I were choosing just ten letters to keep from my whole life, would this be one of them?
That last question is the one that usually settles it for me.
How to Store the Cards and Letters You Keep
The ones you keep deserve better than a damp shoebox in the loft.
The Library of Congress recommends storing paper in acid- and lignin-free folders and document boxes, keeping it away from attics and basements, and avoiding paper clips, fasteners, and rubber bands.
The US National Archives also advises not folding papers to make them fit a box, so choose a box big enough to store letters flat.
If a letter is already brittle or crumbling, handle it as little as possible and ask a conservator for advice rather than forcing it open.
Keep the box somewhere cool, dry, and stable, like the top of a wardrobe in a bedroom.
I keep one box only, which is my limit, and when it’s full, something has to leave before something new goes in.
How to Scan Old Cards and Letters
Scanning is a lovely middle ground for the ones you don’t need to hold.
The Library of Congress suggests scanning documents and photos at 300 dpi in general, which is plenty for reading handwriting and printing a copy later.
A phone scanning app works well for cards if you don’t have a scanner, as long as you use good light and a flat surface.
Name the files with the person and the year, like “Grandma, birthday 2009,” so you can find them again.
Keep the scans in two places, such as your computer and a cloud backup, and if digital clutter is your weak spot, my digital declutter checklist helps keep the folders tidy.
Ways to Enjoy the Cards You Keep
Frame one special letter or a card with beautiful handwriting.
Make a small memory book with your favourite cards from one person.
Reread the letters from someone on their birthday.
Share old letters with family members who knew the writer, because they might treasure a copy.
Cards you look at are doing far more good than cards hidden in a box you’re afraid to open.
Kind Ideas for Letting Go
Cut the fronts of pretty cards into gift tags or postcards.
Give them to a child or a crafty friend for collages and scrapbooks.
Recycle plain paper cards where your local service accepts them, and check the rules for cards with glitter, foil, or ribbons.
Remove the batteries from musical cards before recycling the paper, and recycle the batteries separately.
Before you let go of a card from someone you love, you can read it one last time and say thank you, which sounds silly and works.
Letters From Someone Who Has Died
Take your time with these, and don’t let anyone rush you, including yourself.
There’s no right amount to keep.
Some people keep every word, and others keep one letter and feel lighter for it.
If you’re not ready, put them in a box, label it kindly, and come back in a year.
I wrote more about this in letting go of sentimentality, and there’s a gentler middle ground in what to do with the sentimental things you can’t throw away and can’t keep.
Love Letters From Exes
These are complicated, and only you know whether they make you smile or wince.
If they’re part of a story you’re glad you lived, keep a few.
If they reopen something you’d rather leave closed, let them go, and you can still keep the lessons.
If you’re in a new relationship, ask yourself whether you’d be comfortable if your partner found them, and decide from there.
Children’s Cards and Drawings
Children produce cards at a wonderful and alarming rate.
Keep a few favourites from each year in a folder per child, and photograph the rest with the child holding them, which is often a better memory than the card itself.
When they’re older, they can decide what they want to keep.
How to Stop the Pile From Growing
Sort new cards once a year, in January, after the birthday and holiday cards have arrived.
Keep a card on display for as long as you enjoy it, then decide straight away whether it’s a keep, a scan, or a let go.
This little habit means you’ll never face a whole shoebox again, and it’s one of the easiest things to let go of once you’ve done it a couple of times.
And Remember
The hour on the floor surrounded by cards was a reminder of how many people have thought of you.
Keep the words that matter, store them so they last, and let the rest go with a thank you.
The love in those cards was never in the paper.
It’s in you, and it doesn’t need a shoebox.
Frequently Asked Questions
Should I keep old greeting cards? Keep cards with meaningful handwritten words, cards from milestones, and anything from loved ones who have died if it feels precious. Cards with only a signature or from businesses can usually go.
How do I store old letters so they last? Store them flat in acid- and lignin-free folders and boxes, away from attics and basements, without paper clips or rubber bands, somewhere cool, dry, and stable. Ask a conservator about brittle letters.
What resolution should I scan old letters at? The Library of Congress suggests 300 dpi for documents and photos in general, which is enough to read handwriting and print a copy.
What can I do with old cards instead of throwing them away? Turn the fronts into gift tags or postcards, give them to children or crafters, or recycle plain paper cards if your local service accepts them. Remove batteries from musical cards first.
How do I let go of letters from someone who has died? Take your time, keep the ones that feel most like them, scan others, and box the rest to revisit in a year if you’re not ready. There’s no right amount to keep.
How many cards and letters should I keep? There’s no rule, but setting a limit, such as one box, makes it easier to choose the most meaningful ones and keeps the collection from growing forever.