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Garlic press -

Let's be real: most recipes call for chopped garlic, plus, these are a pain to clean. So instead of using a garlic press, use a knife like a professional chef.

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Filing cabinets -

Buying tons of filing cabinets is just an invitation for more paper clutter. The amount of paperwork you should keep is definitely a smaller amount (think tax returns, real estate records, and important contracts).

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Piggy banks -

You might have kept one as decoration from when you were a kid, but getting the change out of a piggy bank is always more of a pain than anything.

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Popcorn machine -

It's not even worth counting the amount of popcorn you'd have to make for this personal popcorn machine to be cost-effective. It's another single-use item that will only gather dust.

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Wire hangers from the dry cleaners -

Now, it might be a plus to get some free extra hangers. But these are too thin and always end up leaving extra stretch marks on your clothing.

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Electric egg cooker -

Appliances for very specific purposes are often justified by promising the perfect boiled egg and the like. But, in reality, you rarely use them, and they take up a lot of space.

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Exercise gadgets -

Countless homes are littered with untouched exercise gadgets from New Year's resolutions. Try instead to commit to a free-equipment exercise before splurging on new weights.

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Fax machine -

Unless you're still living in the '80s and '90s, there is no reason for keeping fax machines. These dust-collecting relics have now been replaced by scanners and printers.

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Mosquito zappers -

There's actually no evidence what mosquitos are attracted to ultraviolet light, which is the lure that backyard bug zappers rely on to draw and eliminate bugs.

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Salad spinner -

With a push of a button the salad is tossed around and dried. However, these salad spinners are usually huge and made of several parts, making it more practical just to wash your salad in a normal bowl.

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Deep fryer -

This purchase is all fun and games when you think about the onion rings and French fries you can make. But it definitely won't see enough use to justify its size, cost, and labor.

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Pizza cutter -

That rickety sharpened wheel on a stick is probably one of the most useless things you own. It's rarely used, and most often it never properly works.

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Steam mops -

Sadly, steam mops can actually damage floors, especially hardwood and laminate, by leaving behind too much moisture. Some flooring manufacturers will even void your warranty if you've been using a steam mop to clean.

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Old and generic birthday cards -

Sure, it's nice to receive birthday cards, but adding another generic one to the pile is just extra clutter collected. Instead, save only the unique and sentimental ones.

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Paperweights -

Unless you work outside in the wind or surrounded by super powerful fans, there's no use in keeping a paperweight. This is by far the most useless thing on your desk.

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Bread maker -

You may have gotten one as a wedding present, and sadly it isn't practical. It's big, clunky, and only does one thing. If you really want to make bread, just use your oven.

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Extra salt and pepper shakers -

If you open your spice cabinet, you probably have many repeated items, salt and pepper shakers being two of those. And one pair is more than enough.

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Air fresheners -

Today, you can find a crazy amount of air-freshening systems, some being super expensive and energy-consuming. So opt instead for some small opened containers with lemon juice or rose water.

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Egg separator -

A dedicated egg separator seems especially superfluous when most of us have long used the shell itself to isolate the yolk and the white. And you don't have to wash any extra item later.

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Robot vacuum cleaners -

These robot vacuum cleaners sound like a dream, but sadly they can't handle corners or stairs. Instead, save money and some hassle by vacuuming with a traditional vacuum cleaner once every few days.

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Dictionaries -

This one might be controversial, but unless you're a professional translator, there isn't much use in having physical dictionaries. Especially nowadays with many excellent websites available. The issue is also the tendency of getting a new one for a specific travel destination, creating piles of unused books.

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Banana slicer -

Considering its shape and size, it would work if bananas were always the same size and curve, which isn't the case. In the end, it's easier and quicker just to slice a banana with a knife.

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Space-saving vacuum bags -

In theory, these bags sound like a good idea. But in practice, they just don't work properly. With hard-to-use zippers, to air slowly entering, anything inside is likely to become a wrinkled, smelly mess.

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Coffee pods -

Sure, coffee pods are convenient and quick to use, but they're expensive, bulky to store, and create a lot of unnecessary plastic waste for the environment.

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Bottled water -

This might be one of the more expensive and unsustainable habits in the long run. So if you don't like the taste of tap water, buy a filter.

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Electric can opener -

Electric can openers can be convenient and easy, but not every kitchen has space for a good one, which come in bigger sizes.

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All the bags ever given -

Even with the rise of eco-bags, we still seem to pile up on old plastic or paper bags. Make sure to reuse them so they don't go to waste.

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Label maker -

These might make sense in an office, but at home do you really need to label everything? In most cases, this gadget will only be left in the drawer.

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Ultrasonic pest repellents -

Plug-in rodent and insect repellents claim to blast pests with intolerable invisible currents that drive mice and bugs from your home. However, these claims have not been backed by science and show little evidence of actually working.

Sources: (Cheapism) (Wall Street Insanity)

See also: Practical ideas for organizing your home office

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