Clutter. We all have it in our homes, but we keep it hidden in a junk drawer, the back of a closet, or under the bed. It is out of sight and out of mind. On moving day, these items can quickly become a nightmare as you stress about the overwhelming amount of stuff you forgot you had.
Deciding which items will make the cut and come with you to your new home in a hurry can be stressful. Taking it all with you leads to problems finding places to store it all again.
Organizing your belongings before a move is key to a smooth transition. By decluttering and getting rid of unwanted items well before moving day, you can make packing and unpacking much simpler.
Why Should You Declutter Before You Move?
- It will make your move less stressful – The less stuff you have to move, the fewer things you have to pack and unpack. Plus, when you declutter before you move, you’ll know exactly what items you are bringing with you and where they are located. You will be able to quickly find what you need when you get to your new home.
- It will save you time and money – If you don’t declutter before you move, you’ll spend hours packing and moving everything—That’s time and money that you could be spending on other things. If you declutter, you won’t have to spend as much time packing, as much money on boxes and supplies, and you won’t have to pay for full service movers to move everything.
- It will make your new home feel more like home – When you move into a new home, the last thing you want to do is sort through box after box of your belongings to find the items you use daily. Decluttering allows you to get your new home set up sooner, making your new home feel more like home.
- It will help you get organized – By clearing out unused items and getting rid of clutter, you pair down your possessions to those that you need and use. You simplify the move and allow yourself some headspace to focus on all that is good about the change.
Tips to Help You Declutter Before Your Move
1. Plan Ahead of Time
It’s never too early to start decluttering in preparation for a move. In many ways, the earlier you start, the easier it’ll be. Here are some tips to get started:
- Get rid of anything you don’t use or need. This includes clothes, furniture, appliances, and anything else you don’t need or use.
- Sort through your belongings and donate what you don’t need. There are many charities that would be happy to receive your donations. Many will even come to you to pick up larger items. Be sure to keep receipts. Many donations are tax-deductible.
- Make a plan. Decide what you’re going to do with each item in your home and create a plan for packing and moving them. This will help make your move go smoother and minimize the chances of anything getting damaged.
- Stay organized. Keep a detailed inventory of everything you’re packing and make sure you have enough room in your new home for everything. If there won’t be a place for it, consider finding a new home for it now.
2. Sort Your Belongings
Not sure where to start? Begin by organizing things into three piles: keep, donate, and toss. If you’re having a hard time deciding whether to keep or donate something, ask yourself these questions:
- Do I use this often?
- Does this bring me joy?
- Is this necessary?
If the answer to any of these questions is ‘No,’ then you should probably donate or toss the item. Once you’ve sorted through your belongings, it’s time to start packing. Begin by packing the items you plan to keep.
3. Start on One Room at a Time
Decluttering the whole house is an overwhelming task. Break it down into manageable chunks. Start by decluttering one room at a time. You can start with the room that is the most cluttered or the room that you use the most. Focus on getting rid of things that you don’t use or that are taking up space.
Kitchen
When it comes to kitchen gadgets and small appliances, it can be tempting to keep them all. Here are a few suggestions:
- If you haven’t used something in six months, you should probably get rid of it.
- If you use it daily, it is a must-have item that you should keep.
- If you use it sometimes or it is a specialty item, consider whether you are likely to use it in your new house and how much space it will occupy in your new kitchen.
Remember to keep the size of your new kitchen in mind. If you are moving to a house with less storage space, you may have to get rid of more items.
Pantry
The pantry is a great place to start decluttering your kitchen. Food items can hide in the back for years unnoticed. Throw away any food that is expired. Donate anything that is still good, but you are unlikely to eat before you have to move. Food pantries are happy to take these non-perishable items off your hands. You can also donate any dishes or cookware that you don’t use anymore.
Bedroom
Now is the time to go through your wardrobe piece by piece and ask yourself: “Do I really need this?” Be honest with yourself and get rid of anything you haven’t worn in the past six months. Clothes that are still in good condition can be donated to a local charity.
If you have many different types of items in your bedroom, start by decluttering one category at a time. For example, start with clothes, then move on to accessories, then to books, and so on.
Bathroom
Begin by getting rid of any expired or unused products. If you have a lot of items in your bathroom, start by decluttering one category at a time. For example, start with toiletry items, then move on to cleaning supplies, then to towels and linens.
Opened shampoo bottles, soap, and bathroom cleaning products can spill during transit. Be sure to check with your moving company for rules regarding what you can safely pack.
Even if you are just moving a few streets over, it’s in your best interest to declutter before you do. Remember, whatever you pack, will be waiting for you when you open the boxes in your new home. Instead of making your life more difficult by moving all that clutter with you, start decluttering now to make the move much simpler.
By taking some time to declutter before moving into a new place, you will give yourself a clean slate— a chance to start fresh. And isn’t that what moves are for?