A Minimalist’s Favorite Cleaning and Organizing Products

Christine Platt is a writer and the Managing Director of The Antiracist Research and Policy Center at American University. And as you saw from her recent house tour, she also embraces many tenets of minimalism. But it’s not the empty, barely-own-anything minimalism you may be familiar with. It’s her own beautiful, bold, colorful brand that you can see on full display on her Instagram account, The Afro Minimalist. As it’s evident this is a woman who’s got a few things figured out, find below her recommendations on a favorite organizing tool, cleaning supplies, and where to go for minimalism inspiration.

“I’ve always tried to use as many natural products as possible and especially now that my family lives in a small space. My favorite store brands are Mrs. Meyer’s and Trader Joe’s Cedarwood and Sage Multi-purpose cleaner. And making my own blends with thieves oil, white vinegar, or lemon have never failed me.”

“Organization can be tricky—it really depends on what works for you. For example, I am not a fan of dressers and chests. If I can’t see something, there’s a big chance I won’t use it. So I hang all of my clothing. My daughter is the exact opposite and loves to fold everything!”

“But there is one organization tool for time management that I recommend. It’s called the Productivity Planner. It has helped tremendously! I focus on five major tasks each day rather than a long to do list. Learning to organize your home is wonderful. But learning to organize your time? It’s the best!”

“I am a big fan of The Minimalists, Joshua Fields Millburn and Ryan Nicodemus. They are the two people who really inspired my journey and made me look around and say, ‘What am I doing?’ That was years ago, and I’ve taken bits and pieces of advice from other minimalists along the way, both mainstream and lesser known personalities. Which leads to my philosophy on minimalism…”

“I think it’s so important to define what minimalism means to you. Don’t try to fit your life into someone else’s definition of minimalism. For me, minimalism means owning just those things that I need and love, and to be mindful of over-consumerism, emotional spending and reducing waste. (And to decorate my home with bright colors and bold prints!) It’s your minimalist home/life—you should love it.”

Thanks Christine!