How to Get Rid of Junk Mail at Home

What You’ll Need

Recent pieces of unwanted mail, including envelopes and any customer or account numbers you choose to use.
Internet access or a phone for contacting senders and official opt-out services.
A shredder, or scissors for cutting through sensitive information, plus a recycling bin for paper that is safe to recycle.
A simple list or folder to track which organizations you contacted and when.

Step-by-Step

Sort the mail by type. Separate catalogs and retail advertisements, charity appeals, credit or insurance offers, mail from organizations you do business with, and mail addressed to someone else. The best opt-out route depends on the sender. Keep one example of each type so you can refer to its return address, customer-service details, or account number.
Identify the sender behind each piece. Check the envelope and the first page for the company or organization that mailed it. A brand name on an advertisement may differ from the name of the company handling its mailing list. Look for a privacy notice or instructions such as “update preferences” or “unsubscribe from postal mail.” Avoid scanning QR codes or following links in suspicious mail; find the organization’s official website independently instead.
Opt out of prescreened credit and insurance offers. In the United States, use the official OptOutPrescreen service to request removal from lists used for prescreened offers. The service provides choices for an electronic opt-out or a longer-term request that requires a signed form. Follow the instructions on the official site, and enter personal information only on the verified service. This stops certain prescreened offers, not every advertisement or offer sent by a company with which you already have a relationship.
Use a mail preference service for general advertising. Register with the Direct Marketing Association’s consumer preference service, commonly called DMAchoice, to limit mail from participating marketers. Make selections for the types of mail you want to reduce, and provide the requested identifying details so your preferences can be matched to mailing lists. This is not a universal block: organizations that do not participate, and some mailings tied to existing relationships, may continue.
Contact catalogs, retailers, and charities directly. Use the organization’s official website, customer-service phone number, or mailing address to request removal from its postal mailing list. Be specific: ask to stop promotional mail, or to stop all postal solicitations if that is what you want. If you are a customer or donor, ask whether the organization shares or rents its mailing list and whether you can opt out of that use. Keep a note of the date and any confirmation.
Handle mail addressed to a previous resident. Do not open mail that is not addressed to you. Write “Not at this address” on the envelope and place it back in the mail for return, following the carrier’s or postal service’s instructions. For mail delivered to the wrong address, mark it as misdelivered and return it appropriately. Do not write over a barcode or use the return process for mail that is actually addressed to you.
Reduce future exposure of your address. When signing up for a service, entering a sweepstakes, or making a purchase, review whether postal promotions are optional and leave those selections unchecked if you do not want them. Ask businesses to limit promotional mail and mailing-list sharing. Avoid giving your home address when it is not required, but do not provide false details where accurate information is necessary.
Dispose of the remaining mail securely. Remove or shred pages that show account numbers, barcodes tied to an account, or other personal details. Cut through the information rather than merely tearing off a name. Recycle clean, uncoated paper where your local recycling program accepts it; discard glossy inserts, plastic windows, or mixed materials according to local guidance. Do not return unwanted mail with personal information exposed.
Review and repeat when needed. Keep checking your mailbox after submitting requests; mailing lists are prepared in advance, so mail may continue for a while. If it persists, contact the sender directly and confirm that the request was received and applied to the correct name and address. Submit a new request if you move or change the name used on your mail.

Common Mistakes

Assuming one opt-out stops every kind of junk mail is a common mistake. Prescreened financial offers, catalogs, charity appeals, and marketing from existing providers can be governed by different lists, so use the relevant service and contact individual senders.

Do not assume that writing “return to sender” on a piece addressed to you will remove you from a marketing list. It may simply be returned or discarded without changing the sender’s records. A direct, clear request to the organization is more useful.

Another mistake is sharing sensitive information with an unverified website or phone number printed in suspicious mail. Find official contact information independently. Also, do not throw out mail containing account details intact; shred or obscure those details first.

Tips

Make a short tracking list with the sender, request date, and any confirmation number. This makes follow-up easier and prevents duplicate effort.
When contacting a sender, ask whether the request covers everyone at your address, just your name, or only one mailing category. State exactly what you want stopped.
Use a dedicated email address for promotional sign-ups if you want to keep those messages separate, but remember that this does not reduce postal mail unless you change postal preferences too.
When you move, update your address with organizations you still use and make new opt-out requests for your new address. Address-forwarding services do not necessarily update every marketer’s list.
Give list changes time to take effect. Mail pieces can be prepared before a request is processed, so a few later arrivals do not always mean the request failed.

Troubleshooting

Mail keeps arriving after you opted out: Check whether the sender is covered by that service and whether your request was completed. Contact the sender directly, include the name and address as printed, and ask for removal from postal promotions and any shared or rented lists.

You receive mail for someone who moved away: Leave it unopened, mark that the person no longer receives mail at the address, and return it through the postal service. If the same sender continues, contact it using official contact details and request an address correction.

Your request asks for more information than expected: Stop and verify that you are on the organization’s genuine website or calling its official number. Do not provide sensitive information to a link or caller you cannot verify. Use another official contact route if necessary.

You want to stop mail from a company you still use: Ask it to stop promotional mail while keeping essential account, billing, safety, or service notices. Some operational communications may not be treated as advertising and may not be optional.

You are unsure whether an item can be recycled: Follow your local recycling program’s rules. When a piece combines paper with plastic or other materials that cannot be separated, use the program’s disposal guidance rather than placing it in paper recycling by default.

Frequently Asked Questions

How long does it take for junk mail to stop?

It can take time because mailing lists may already have been prepared when you submit a request. If the mail continues, contact the individual sender and confirm that it has your correct name and address.

Does opting out stop all catalogs and advertisements?

No. Preference services cover participating organizations or specific types of offers. Contact senders directly for catalogs, charity appeals, and promotions from businesses with which you have a relationship.

Can I stop prescreened credit offers without affecting my credit?

Opting out of prescreened offers does not cancel existing credit accounts or change your credit score. It limits the use of certain consumer information to send prescreened offers; it does not prevent you from applying for credit.

Should I open mail addressed to a previous resident?

No. Keep it unopened, mark that the person is not at the address, and return it according to postal-service instructions.

Is it safe to recycle junk mail?

Often, clean paper mail can be recycled, but local programs differ. Shred pages with personal information first and check local guidance for glossy paper, envelopes with plastic windows, and mixed materials.

Further reading: Federal Trade Commission. Details can change, so check the official page for anything that matters to you. Spotted a mistake? Tell us. How we write an answer.