Minimalist shares 10 common items everyone should get rid of to eliminate unnecessary clutter from their homes
Most people are guilty of holding on to a few unnecessary household items, but one home organizer has shared the stuff she thinks everyone should throw away.
Gulnaz Abdrakhmanova, who regularly shares her home-cleaning tips on Instagram under the username @practical.minimalist, is a self-proclaimed minimalist who helps people simplify their homes and storage.
The 49-year-old recently shared a post to Instagram where she listed the 10 things she doesn't keep as a 'practical minimalist' in the hopes of helping others eliminate unnecessary clutter.
Abdrakhmanova said she gets rid of anything she doesn’t use every day, advising people to buy smarter and live with more peace and less stuff.
She started by sharing that she has no 'just in case' items or spares of anything in her house, explaining that 'if it hasn’t been used in years, it’s not helping your real life.'
That means no extra sheets - just two sets per bed - or dishes, just the right enough for her family.
She also doesn't have duplicates, explaining that 'one good item is better than five average ones.'
'Less to manage, less to clean,' she quipped.
Gulnaz Abdrakhmanova, who regularly shares her home-cleaning tips on Instagram, shared the stuff she thinks everyone should throw away (stock image)
The professional also recommended against buying items for the future, explaining: 'My home serves who I am today, not who I might be someday.'
Abdrakhmanova explained that she also never keeps broken or half-working items, declaring them 'not functional' and 'mental clutter.'
The professional stays away from trendy decor, instead choosing 'timeless, calming pieces that don’t create visual noise.'
While some people may think that having storage bins for their extra possessions is a nifty way to hide them, Abdrakhmanova said it is just avoiding the issue.
'Storage without intention just hides the problem,' she declared. 'Decluttering comes first.'
The mom-of-three shared that she also doesn't keep clothes that don't fit, paper she doesn't need and even some of her kids' toys.
'Fewer toys mean calmer kids and easier cleanup,' she added.
Abdrakhmanova also shared the methods she uses when purchasing anything new, which consist of asking herself five precise questions.
Abdrakhmanova said she gets rid of anything she doesn’t use every day, advising people to buy smarter and live with more peace and less stuff (stock image)
She started by sharing that she has no 'just in case' items or spares of anything in her house. That means no extra sheets - just two sets per bed - or dishes (stock image)
While some people may think that having storage bins for their extra possessions is a nifty way to hide them, she said it is just avoiding the issue (stock image)
She first asks herself if she actually needs it, how often she will use it and if it will make her life better. She then assesses if she can truly afford it.
'If it only fits on a credit card… it probably doesn’t fit in your budget,' she warned.
Abdrakhmanova also advised people to buy fewer things, but better quality items, encouraging them to think of every purchase as an investment and consider the resale value or if it can be passed on.
Finally, she said she asks herself if she has the capacity to care for the item, noting that every item needs space, storage, cleaning and maintenance, and takes time to decide if she really loves it.
'Give yourself one to two days before deciding,' she advised. 'Most impulses fade.'
