7 things minimalists always throw out daily – it's a 'small habit that prevents clutter avalanches', say professional organizers

Whether you're a staunch minimalist or a lover of all things maximalism, one thing is for certain – if your home is filled with things minimalists always throw away, chances are you don't need them.

Whether you're hoarding reams of receipts that you never look at, hanging onto expired food, or keeping drawers and drawers of old makeup and skincare, a tidy home reflects a tidy mind, and these items are just taking up unnecessary space in both spaces.

If you're in need of some decluttering tips, here organizational experts and professional cleaners share the things minimalists throw out every day – so you can too.

7 things minimalists throw out every day

1. Packaging boxes

It's common to hang on to packaging boxes under the impression that they might be needed one day, but when was the last time you actually used them?

As Lauren Hammer, founder and lead organizer at Revive My Spaces, says, 'Most people hold onto boxes thinking they'll need them for returns or moving, but 95% never see use again.'

For electrical items, or anything you're unsure of getting rid of, Lauren recommends taking photos of product details and warranty info, before breaking down the boxes immediately and recycling them where possible, to be sustainable at home.

Then, if you haven't even looked at the photos in a few months, you can safely delete them permanently.

2. Expired food

This one goes without saying, but getting rid of expired food should be top of your kitchen decluttering checklist if you want to reduce clutter like a minimalist.

Aprille Loney, owner of Perfectly Organized OKC, a home organization business in Oklahoma City, says, 'Boxes and cans can easily get pushed to the back of the pantry and forgotten. Make it a habit to know what is in your pantry, and throw things out as you find them to reduce waste.'

To help make this easier, Aprille recommends investing in some clever pantry organization ideas, such as the 12-Inch Non-Skid Turntable Lazy Susan Organizers available at Amazon, to prevent things getting lost in corners.

All prices correct at time of publication.

3. Temporary items

According to Joseph Passalacqua, owner and CEO of Maid Sailors, 'Daily decluttering starts with ditching "temporary" items that can stealthily pile up.'

Most commonly, these include single-use packaging such as bread bags, takeout containers and scraps of paper including grocery lists and sticky notes. 'These create visual noise and make cleaning harder, as crumbs hide in wrappers, and paper clutter slows down dusting,' and makes it more difficult to remove dust properly.

Receipts also fall into this category, professional organizer Aprille explains. 'You may be tempted to keep all of your receipts,' she says, 'but if it is something you cannot or will not return, or if you have an app for that store that keeps a copy of your receipt, like Target, throw it out!'

As a solution, Joseph recommends using a drawer organizer, such as the Fabsome Drawer Organizer available at Amazon, to corral items and keep counters clear, and a wall-mounted trash can, such as the SONGMICS Hanging Trash Can available at Amazon, to make tossing packaging effortless.

'Why daily?' asks Joseph. 'Small habits prevent "clutter avalanches." For instance, a client saved empty spice jars for "someday" crafts until they filled two cabinets. We added a "daily discard" bin under the sink and now, she recycles jars weekly.

'Start today – keep a "toss bin" in high-clutter zones, like the entryway and kitchen, and empty it nightly,' as part of your closing shift routine. 'Less stuff means less to clean – and more room to breathe.'

4. Expired coupons and gift cards

Coupons and gift cards are great, but once they've expired they're useless, says Jennifer Q. Williams, owner and professional organizer at Saint Louis Closet Co.

'That 10% off coupon from size months ago? Expired. That gift card with $0.75 left? You'll never use it,' she advises. 'Toss anything outdated or useless from your purse or junk drawer. Maybe try a coupon organizer!'

For this, we recommend the Small Receipt Coupon Organizer available at Amazon, with 13 pockets and a compact, portable design that's perfect for taking to the shops.

5. Worn linens

Old clothes often build up before you've even realized, and before you know it you have piles of items with holes, pulls, and thinning. 'These are another daily target,' says cleaning expert Joseph. 'Repurpose them as rags, or donate them to animal shelters,' making use of closet decluttering tips to be more ruthless when decluttering.

Professional organizer Lauren also suggests keeping a designated "goodbye bag" in your bedroom or entryway, to collect any damaged items you notice while getting ready in the morning. She recommends using a sturdy laundry bag, such as the Polecasa Heavy Duty Large Mesh Laundry Bag available at Amazon.

'When the bag fills up, you can donate or sell the decluttered items, or take items in good condition to the textile recycling while damaged pieces hit the trash,' she explains.

6. Old makeup and skincare

Recently, I decluttered my makeup collection by 'body doubling' and got rid of 32 products. This might sound like a lot, but the truth is that makeup and skincare expires much faster than you think.

Professional organizer Lauren warns, 'Using old products can lead to breakouts and skin irritation, so check expiration dates regularly and toss anything that's past its prime.'

To help keep track of what you actually use, she recommends getting an organizer with labeled compartments, or make your own by simply labelling up the current solution you use for organizing makeup.

7. Mail

One of the lessons I learned from Marie Kondo's book, The Life-Changing Magic of Tidying Up, available at Amazon, is that you almost never need to keep mail, and throwing it away daily is one of the quickest and easiest ways to get rid of paper clutter.

As professional organizer Lauren says, 'Mail creates endless paper chaos in homes. My team and I have transformed countless kitchen counters from mail dumping grounds into peaceful meal prep spaces.

'The key? Sort mail immediately.' To do so, Lauren recommends using a letter organizer, such as the number one top rated EasyPAG Wall File Holder 5 Slot Mail Organizer, available at Amazon. Then, sort mail accordingly.

'Bills go in the "action" slot, reading materials in "later," and junk straight to recycling,' she advises. 'This system prevents paper piles from forming while keeping important documents visible and accessible.'

To avoid even having to throw them away, there are a number of things minimalists never buy. From duplicates to disposable items, sometimes it's easier to just not own something in the first place, particularly if you're keen to avoid losing control of clutter.