Can every item in Skyrim be used for something? I find a lot of objects like ruined books, embalming tools, etc. that I haven't found a use for yet.

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6 Answers

Some items that seem useless at first do have a hidden use.

For example, ruined books can be used to create summon Atronach spell tomes

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If you can pick it up, you probably need it.

— Holkins, Jerry; Krahulik, Mike (November 14, 2011). "Thulsa Broom". Penny Arcade.

But seriously? Unless it has no interesting value, leave them be. You'll get one when you need one.

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Once you learn Telekenesis you can 'use' all objects as projectiles.

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Ruined books are used in atronach forge under the winterhold college.

The atronach forge provides a use for that "stupid" broom as well, actually!

To be quite honest, all items have a use... depending on your taste of Medieval living, you can decorate your house with whatever you deem worthy!

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Many of the items are useless or have very limited uses. Everything could certainly be sold to merchants or used to decorate homes. However, beyond that, the following list of things have no use

• Basket
• Bellows
• Bloody Rags
• Bowl
• Bucket
• Burned Book
• Candlestick
• Cast Iron Pot
• Clothes Iron
• Cup
• Drum
• Embalming Tool
• Empty Skooma Bottle
• Flagon
• Flower Basket
• Flute
• Fork (non-weapon)
• Goblet
• Hammer
• Inkwell
• Jug
• Kettle
• Key to Wintersand Manor
• Knife (non-weapon)
• Lantern
• Linen Wrap
• Lute
• Pitchfork
• Plate
• Platter
• Pot
• Quill
• Saw
• Shovel
• Silver Candlestick
• Soul Gem Fragment
• Spigot
• Spoon
• Tankard
• Tongs
• Torture Tools
• Troll Skull (Now actually can be used to build a trophy in your homestead)
• Wooden Bowl
• Wooden Ladle
• Wooden Plates

As have been noted by the other answers/comments, all of these items could be used with telekinesis to create a projectile. Furthermore, buckets could be used to cover shopkeeper's heads, allowing you to steal with impunity.

Beyond these items, many other items have very limited uses and are in general not worth picking up. These include ruined books and brooms.

Most things labeled "clutter" would fall under the above two categories. These items are in general not worth picking up. If you ever find that you have a need for them, they are also easy to find.

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