diff --git a/esphome/core/scheduler.cpp b/esphome/core/scheduler.cpp
index 2cebd23cbd7..63e1006b03c 100644
--- a/esphome/core/scheduler.cpp
+++ b/esphome/core/scheduler.cpp
@@ -734,7 +734,7 @@ void Scheduler::recycle_item_main_loop_(SchedulerItem *item) {
 #ifdef ESPHOME_DEBUG_SCHEDULER
     ESP_LOGD(TAG, "Pool full (size: %zu), deleting item", this->scheduler_item_pool_.size());
 #endif
-    delete_item_(item);
+    delete item;
 #ifdef ESPHOME_DEBUG_SCHEDULER
     this->debug_live_items_--;
 #endif
diff --git a/esphome/core/scheduler.h b/esphome/core/scheduler.h
index d7fba5df70b..3e74cad0023 100644
--- a/esphome/core/scheduler.h
+++ b/esphome/core/scheduler.h
@@ -353,9 +353,6 @@ class Scheduler {
   // IMPORTANT: Caller must hold the scheduler lock before calling this function.
   void recycle_item_main_loop_(SchedulerItem *item);
 
-  // Helper to delete a SchedulerItem
-  static void delete_item_(SchedulerItem *item) { delete item; }
-
   // Helper to perform full cleanup when too many items are cancelled
   void full_cleanup_removed_items_();