Valerie Bertinelli Turns To Fans For Advice On How To Let Go Of The Past

Valerie Bertinelli turned to her Instagram followers with a universal problem: how to let go of old stuff. The actress posted a video showing off piles of past keepsakes, asking fans for practical advice on how to pare down items packed with memories.

The vulnerable update quickly resonated with followers, sparking thousands of comments filled with practical tips, emotional support, and shared stories of home clean-outs. For Bertinelli, the post served as a quick sanity check, proving that even life-changing milestones like decluttering are easier to face with a little crowd-sourced wisdom.

Valerie Bertinelli is Emotional As She Reflects On Letting Go of Family Treasures

In an Instagram video posted on August 23, 2026, the former “One Day at a Time” star opened up about the family treasures she continues to hold on to. She walked viewers through her space, pointing to boxes filled with decades of personal history, old wardrobe pieces, and sentimental items tied to major life moments.

The actress admitted that while her head tells her to clear out the physical clutter, her heart pulls her back, making it almost impossible to toss things out without feeling a wave of guilt. That constant tug-of-war is what finally prompted her to pause the clean-out and ask her followers for a reality check.

She pointed towards her late mother Nancy Bertinelli’s sewing machine, boxes of fabric and yarn, claiming she’s a “sentimentalist.” Bertinelli noted that she hadn’t sewed “in decades” but said she was not ready to donate these items yet.

The actress added that she has “let go of a lot of stuff.” She pointed to another box, telling her followers that the items inside were “old Van Halen shirts.” She added, “I can’t, I have narrowed it down to a single size of each at least.”

Her vulnerable admission struck an immediate chord with her social media followers, who quickly flooded the comments with a mix of emotional support and tough-love advice. Fans weighed in with their own decluttering rules, offering strategies ranging from taking photos of sentimental keepsakes before tossing them to using strict time limits on items that haven’t left a box in years.

Fans Weighed in to Help the Veteran TV Actress Out

In the post’s comments section, fans weighed in to try and help Valerie Bertinelli make sense of her dilemma. They shared their responses, which ranged from practical advice to agreeing that not every sentimental item needs to be discarded.

One fan wrote, “Same. Totally a crazy sentimentalist. I actually took a Waterford crystal canister half full of Q-tips from my Momâs bathroom and refill it when itâs half full so I donât use any of ‘her’ Q-tips.”

“Sit with it for as long as you need,” penned a second social media user. “Physical objects are direct connections to loved ones who have passed. These last physical linkages just need your company, but one day, you will both know when they can be released.”

A third Instagram user claimed, “You donât have to donate or get rid of anything until youâre ready. One day the time may come that you can let it go, and if it doesnât, thatâs ok too. Thereâs no time limit for our emotions, no expiration date that has to be met. Youâll know when youâre ready.”

Valerie Bertinelli currently hosts a digital cooking series, Valerie’s Place.

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