Keeping your home clean isn’t always easy. Between your busy social life and work commitments, finding the time to clean up is a challenge. However, if left unchecked, clutter can start to overrun your home — a minimalist list of things to get rid of should help, so we created one for you!
It may surprise you to learn that the average American spends three weeks cleaning in a year. That alone may make you want to learn how to simplify life and get rid of stuff!
In addition, since more of us are staying at home than before — thanks to the rise in remote work — it’s logical that we are becoming more house proud.
One of the easiest ways to make your housework more manageable is to declutter your home. Because this approach can help you simplify your life and give you more headspace.
So in this article, we’ll look at the process of decluttering and dive into a list of things to get rid of.
What does decluttering down to a minimalist list of belongings involve?
Basically, decluttering down to a minimalist list of belongings is the process of getting rid of things that you no longer use in your home.
One of the most popular approaches to decluttering is minimalism. In order to lead a minimalist lifestyle, you have to decide what is important to you and get rid of everything else.
The Minimalists say it's “a tool to rid yourself of life’s excess in favor of focusing on what’s important — so you can find happiness, fulfillment, and freedom.”
To quote Chuck Palahniuk’s cult classic, Fight Club: “The things you own end up owning you. It's only after you lose everything that you're free to do anything.”
In addition, you may have heard of the KonMari Method™ made famous by Marie Kondo. Her book “The Life-Changing Magic of Tidying Up” showed us how to clear items from our homes that no longer bring us joy.
However, there are many different approaches you may choose to take. So it’s simply about figuring out what works for you and your home.
When your home is a mess, it can be hard to value the things that you own. So a minimalist list of things to get rid of could be the answer.
A minimalist list of things to get rid of room by room
The positive news is that there’s a wealth of resources out there. In fact, if you decide that you want to declutter your home, check out our list of books to help you get started.
Additionally, using our minimalist list of belongings you should get rid of, you can begin decluttering your home.
So let’s check out each room of your home to get started, and highlight some of the things you likely do not need. Without further ado, here’s a minimalist list of things to get rid of:
Kitchen
Let’s be honest — there is likely a whole load of things lurking in your kitchen. When we talk about how to simplify life and get rid of stuff, this is a great room to start with. So here are some of the items that you can look out for and throw in the trash:
- Expired food
- Dried-up spices
- Extra linen and tablecloths
- Old cutlery
- Food that you don’t like
- Recipe books you don’t use
- Duplicates of cooking items
- Chipped plates or cups
- Spare salt and pepper shakers
- Worn oven gloves or aprons
Bathroom
Moving into the bathroom, you’re going to need to check out your cabinets. If you haven’t cleaned them out in a while, there will be a load of stuff in there that you don’t need.
So remember you should only be keeping minimalist items. Everything else can go here. Here’s a minimalist list of things to get rid of in this room:
- Dried-up nail polish
- Makeup you’ve had for more than six months*
- Misc. hair bands, hairgrips, and clips
- Samples that you don’t need
- Hotel toiletries
- Old cloths and/or sponges
- Out-of-date medication
- Toothpaste tubes
- Packaging and bags
* Check the Period After Opening (PAO) dates on each individual cosmetics product. You can use it as a helpful guide when it comes to how long you should keep it.
Bedroom
When you have completely decluttered your bathroom, you can move over to your bedroom. If you keep things for sentimental value, this room may be a big job, but it's a key part of how to simplify life and get rid of stuff.
Let’s take a look at the minimalist list of belongings you need to get rid of here.
- Old bedding that you no longer use
- Dead plants
- Used-up candles and jars
- Pillows that don’t give you neck support
- Pictures you don’t like
- Gifts that you have never used
- Old jewelry or trinkets
- Teddy bears or stuffed animals
- Tatty throws and blankets
Closet
Do you have a bad shopping habit? Are you obsessed with buying new clothes? Do you press ‘pay now’ on a whim?
When you buy things impulsively, that can quickly turn into a shopping addiction which can impact your life. Firstly, you should clean out your closet. Here’s a minimalist list of things to get rid of in this area of your home:
- Clothes or shoes that don't fit you
- Clothing items that you meant to return
- Clothing you have not worn for a year at least
- Duplicate clothing items
- Broken clothes (that you won’t ever fix)
- Bridesmaids' dresses and/or shoes
- Wire or broken hangers
- Socks or pantyhose with rips in them
- Odd socks
- Old underwear
- Shoes that make your feet ache
Living room
The living room is arguably the space where you spend the most time. In addition, if this area of your home is cluttered, it will affect your mental well-being.
However, there’s a simple way to solve that problem. So here are some of the things that you can get rid of in this room:
- Old or ugly ornaments
- Souvenirs
- Used candles
- VHS tapes, CDs, and DVDs
- Old magazines
- Books (that you don’t plan on reading)
- Tatty blankets and throws
- Artwork (that you don’t love!)
- Trinkets and small plates
- Spare table cloths
- Junk mail
Kids room
If you have a family, you need to declutter your kids’ room regularly. Children grow up so fast. Consequently, that means that they outgrow clothing, toys, and everything else in their rooms.
So in addition to teaching your children how to be financially literate, you should show them how to be tidy. With that in mind, here's the minimalist list of belongings to get rid of:
- Broken toys or games
- Gifts your kids don’t use
- Pictures they have drawn
- Messed up crayons or chalk
- Clothes they have outgrown
Declutter your home today with this minimalist list of things to get rid of!
Decluttering your home may sound like a momentous job. But it doesn’t have to be, using our minimalist list of things to get rid of.
You can tackle the rooms separately, one at a time. Break it down — step by step and keep only minimalist items. In addition, as you move through your home, notice how clean and tidy it now looks.
Ready to declutter your finances too? In this case, read our guide on creating a minimalist budget or simply start looking at some ideas to cut back on your spending. It makes all the difference!