21 Items NOT to Bring to Your White Elephant Gift Exchange

Companies everywhere are gearing up with festive happy hours, parties, and often white elephant gift exchanges. Participants are asked to bring a wrapped mystery gift before picking numbers that dictate the order of "stealing" a gift from someone else. But not every gift is a good gift for co-workers! Read on for items you probably shouldn't bring.

Fruit infuser bottles, insulated containers, thermos bottles -- who doesn't have half a dozen bottles lying around the house? Spare your giftee cupboard space and pass on that trendy new bottle, which they will likely re-gift.

These days we're glued to our smartphones, tablets, and laptops in our spare time. A handcrafted notebook and gel pen set may seem like a beautiful gift, but they tend to accumulate if the giftee isn't a journaler.

Want to bring an ugly sweater as a gag gift? Don't! There's almost nothing worst than a tacky shirt or sweater that gets worn for a few hours before getting tossed into another donation pile.

Magnets, figurines, and commemorative sculptures are cute, but unless your giftee has an empty display cabinet, stay away from small knickknacks that don't have a purpose. They'll most likely collect dust for a while before getting packed away in a storage closet.

Rolls of film and disposal cameras are things of the past; almost everyone snaps high-quality photos with their phones. Unless you have an amazing moment to share in a photo print, skip the photo frame. You don't want to pressure your giftee to display it, too.

Avocado slicers, egg timer, herb scissors ... these are very niche tools that take up space and may get utilized only once in awhile.

A new cuddly buddy may catch your eye in the store, drawing out your snuggle instincts. But keep walking - babies and toddlers will love new stuffed animals, but your co-worker probably doesn't need it.

If your co-workers enjoy cooking and eating at home, themed dishware and cute utensil sets may seem like a fun, useful idea. But most people already have a fully stocked kitchen, especially if they're chefs at home.

For a team gift exchange, it's best to keep things professional. Avoid awkwardness and stay far away from anything naughty, whether it's condoms, toys, or lingerie.

Enough with the coasters! Wooden sets, sassy paper coasters, custom printed plates, they're everywhere! Unless there's a big gathering, how many spots actually need protection from watermarks?

How many long baths have you taken in the past month? The answer is probably few if any. Think about our busy lifestyles and the amount of time and water needed to draw a relaxing bath. So drop the bath bombs, no matter how tempting they look and smell.

Unique bookends can be found at retail stores like Bed, Bath & Beyond and Barnes & Noble. But before considering these as a gift, does your giftee read as a hobby? Do they have a bookshelf for this niche gift?

Motivational art is everywhere these days, whether it's pretty quotes posted on social media or on display at the local coffee shop. Avoid getting blocks of inspirational art; it may be deemed cheesy or a waste of space.

Just like plastic bags, tote bags and reusable grocery bags can build up. Avoid gifting bags that may get left in the back of a closet.

Put down that mug, even if it's witty or hilarious! It may seem like a genius gift to you, but your co-worker probably has a cupboard full of mugs collected over the years.

If your co-worker doesn't have a selfie stick by now, they most likely won't need or want one.

The fidget cube was first released on Kickstarter, and cheap knockoffs quickly took over the world. They're a dime a dozen, so avoid bringing one to the white elephant exchange.

Meat and cheese boards are great, but they're mostly used for entertaining guests. Skip these niche boards unless one of your co-workers is a generous, frequent party host.

This one is a no-brainer. Most of us have one too many piled in our closet, and not enough special occasions to light them.

Key chains can hold only so much, and no one wants a heavy, clunky set of keys. There's also the pressure to attach it once it's gifted, so skip this knickknack.

Skip the lotions, shampoos, body wash, and hand creams. Everyone has a different skin type, so let your co-workers get the products that work best for them.