As you embark on a home organization project or two, why not take a page out of the minimalist book? As it turns out, there’s a lot we can learn from self-proclaimed minimalists and their approach to getting rid of things.

Read on for four key tips that minimalists stick to when cleaning their space, and get ready to witness big changes in your own home after implementing these helpful techniques.

1. Set your intentions

Before you begin the big cleaning process, you’ll want to set your intentions.

“Minimalism is really about living more intentionally and creating a home and life that reflects your personal values,” says organizing expert Shira Gill. “When we invest in setting up our physical environment with care and treating the things we own with respect, our homes become less of a landfill and more of a sanctuary.”

“Start by clarifying why you want to clear yourself first,” she urges.

Setting a clear goal will help you stay on track and help you understand why you’re splurging so you can hold yourself accountable. Having a values-based reason for organizing will help you stay motivated and maintain space, Gill believes. And it will be easier to stay organized moving into the future.

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2. Think about why you are getting rid of something

According to Jennifer Burger, founder of the minimalism-focused blog Simply + Fiercely, there’s a reason we have so much clutter.

“Clutter comes from a lack of clarity, which means the more you learn about your taste and lifestyle, the better,” she explains. “For example, let’s say you’re clearing out an old sweater. Before you let it go, ask yourself why you’re not keeping it—and be specific! Is it the color, the fabric, or the fit?”

You can then use this information to determine what types of other items to keep or discard. This method will help you save more time and energy. And, moving into the future, knowing that a certain color or fabric will eventually filter out of your closet could save you money and headaches by simply not buying those pieces.

Not sure where to donate those pre-loved pieces? Consider looking for local donation sites near your area for more options.

“Think outside the box: Preschools, churches, theaters, community centers, and parenting groups are great resources for giving your unwanted items a second life,” says Gill.

3. Use a maximum of 15 minutes

Minimalists intentionally want to keep their spaces neat and clutter-free everything of that time, not only after the great purge. One easy way to reduce clutter? Download the 15-minute organizational project.

“Try to clean one surface such as a nightstand, dresser or dining table,” says Gill. “Throw away any expired products cluttering up your bathroom or medicine cabinet.”

You might be surprised how relieved you feel after completing one of these small tasks. A little effort will go a long way in making your space feel more caring and comfortable.

4. Do not store items that you will use in the future

Burger admits that it can be difficult for people to part with certain items for fear that those pieces will one day come in handy. But she suggests reshaping this approach.

“Ask yourself, ‘If I ever needed this and didn’t have it, what could I do instead?'” suggests Burger. “Your focus is on all the ways you would manage if you didn’t have your item (and chances are there are a lot), making it easier to let go.”

If the only thing keeping you from getting rid of the clutter is an eventual trip to the pharmacy, maybe just reduce the clutter.

Your bathroom can often be the main source of clutter in your home as bathroom cabinets, cupboards and closets can easily accumulate tons of unwanted stuff if you’re not careful. To help you get the tidiest space possible, we asked two household experts to find out, and they shared with us the most overlooked spots in the bathroom.

Bathroom Countertops

Although a beautiful and well-designed bathroom countertop is nice in theory, Isfira Jensen, interior designer at Jensen & Co. Interior, says that he believes that this area is usually one of the biggest problem areas.

“People like to keep their most-used items within easy reach, but that often turns into a cluttered collection of toiletries, makeup and even decor,” she says.

Jensen also says he notices this especially in luxury bathrooms where there’s plenty of space to fill. Understandably, people want all their favorite things on display. Instead of frantically cleaning your countertops, Jensen recommends a storage system to help keep your space clean.

“Group similar items in drawers or bins and avoid cluttering visible spaces,” she says.

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The back of any shelf or cabinet

If your medicine cabinet or linen closet has any depth, Barbara Brock, a professional organizer at Barbara Brock Inc., says you probably have accumulated clutter that needs to be removed.

In these areas, it’s all too easy to scan what you have on the surface, or keep only your most-used items up front and push the rest to the back. Unfortunately, this usually results in things getting lost or pushed to the far corners.

Brock says the best approach here is to remove everything and inspect what you have. Once you’ve determined that, throw away or donate anything you don’t need, use or want.

Vanity Drawers

Not every bathroom has a vanity with drawers, but Jensen says these can be major problem areas if not maintained properly. This is especially true for anyone who uses drawers to store smaller bathroom items, such as hair ties, bobby pins, and travel products.

“They can quickly turn into junk drawers without regular maintenance,” explains Jensen.

Fortunately, this is also a great space for smaller bins, baskets or bags and can help you keep track of your belongings.

Cupboard under the sink

Under-sink storage is a great place to store bathroom cleaners and spare toiletries, but it’s also a major problem area in terms of clutter. Brock explains how since it’s a big space it can hold a lot and how people don’t want to clean this area very often.

Jensen agrees, noting that this is another big problem he sees among his clients. She suspects it’s because this is the easiest place to drop anything randomly, making it an obvious place to forget it completely.

“Over time, this space becomes a mess of things you can’t find or use, making it difficult to access what you need,” says Jensen.

Along with routinely sorting through cleaning supplies and throwing away anything empty or expired, it’s also a good idea to check this area regularly for leaks or moisture.

Anywhere in your store items that may expire

Whether it’s a vanity drawer, medicine cabinet or your linen closet, Brock says all too often, she finds stashes of old products, lotions and potions in her clients’ bathrooms.

“(This) needs trimming at least once a year,” says Brock. “The shelves also get dirty and a thorough cleaning would help.”

Jensen agrees, noting that some expired items can cause problems. It’s important to really look at expired medications, skin care products, and makeup to make sure you’re not getting stuck with something that may be contaminated.