The moving process is already a stressful experience, so the last thing you want to do is add more stress by trying to tackle everything yourself. One of the best ways to save time and energy (and money!) is to declutter your home before you even start packing. But where do you begin? And how do you make sure you don’t miss anything?
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Do You Really Need To Declutter Before Moving?
The answer is: it depends. If you’re only moving a short distance, and you have a small home, you may not need to declutter as much as someone who is moving across the country. But in most cases, decluttering will make your move less stressful.
The first step is to decide what needs to be decluttered. This can be anything from clothes to furniture to kitchen gadgets. Some people find it helpful to make a list, while others prefer to just go through each room and get rid of anything they don’t need.
Once you’ve decided what needs to go, it’s time to start getting rid of it. You can sell or donate items, or if you’re short on time, you can simply throw them away. Just be sure to follow any local laws regarding trash disposal!
Decluttering before moving can seem like a daunting task, but it’s worth it in the end. Not only will it make your move less stressful, but with all the stuff you get rid of, it’ll make your life easier when you’re making a fresh start in your new house.
On the other hand, you may not have enough time before the big move to do the whole decluttering journey. Start early and do what you can. Even if you only do half the job, your decluttering efforts will mean you have fewer boxes to pack, move to the new place, and then unpack.
How Can Decluttering Help With The Packing And Unpacking Process?
When it comes to decluttering before a move, there are a few key ways that it can help make the packing and unpacking process easier:
- Decluttering will help you to stay organized. Packing and unpacking can be a lot less stressful when everything is neatly sorted and labeled. When you have fewer items to deal with, it’s much easier to stay organized.
- It will help you to avoid packing mistakes. It’s easy to accidentally pack something when your home is cluttered. But when you declutter, you’ll know exactly what you have and you won’t have to worry about packing anything twice.
- Purging will make the unpacking process so much quicker and easier. When everything is already in its place, unpacking in your new home becomes a lot simpler.
Why Decluttering Feels Good
When most people think of decluttering, they think of the mess it will create. However, what they don’t think about is how good it feels to declutter. Decluttering your home can have a lot of benefits, including reducing stress, improving your mood, and even helping you save money.
- One of the best things about decluttering is that it can help you reduce stress. When your home is cluttered, it can be hard to relax. You may feel like you’re constantly being nagged by the mess and that you can never get ahead. Decluttering can help you break free from that stress and make your home a more relaxing place to be.
- Decluttering can also improve your mood. A cluttered home can often feel like a cluttered mind. All of the mess can be overwhelming and distracting. When you declutter, you’re able to focus on the task at hand and clear your mind. This can lead to a more relaxed and happier mood overall.
- Finally, decluttering can help you save money. A cluttered home is often a messy home. This means that it can be harder to find things when you need them and that you may be more likely to lose things. When everything has a place, it’s easier to find what you need and less likely that something will get misplaced. This can save you both time and money in the long run.
So, if you’re feeling overwhelmed by the amount of clutter in your house, don’t worry – you’re not alone! There are plenty of benefits to be had from decluttering, so why not give it a try?
Ideas For What To Throw Away When Moving
When it comes time to move, many people find themselves overwhelmed with the task of decluttering. There are so many things to sort through and decide what to keep and what to get rid of. If you’re looking to simplify the process, here are a few things you can get rid of before moving.
Old Magazines And Newspapers: If you’ve been hanging on to magazines and newspapers for months or years, it’s probably time to let them go. Chances are you’ve already read them or don’t plan on reading them again.
Medicine Cabinet: Take this opportunity to go through your medicine cabinet and get rid of any expired or unused items. Ensure you return any unopened medications that you won’t be needing to the local pharmacy so they can be disposed of safely.
Clothes You Don’t Wear: If you haven’t worn a piece of clothing in over a year, it’s probably time to get rid of it. The same goes for clothes that don’t fit anymore or are in bad condition. Donate them to a charity or sell them online.
Unnecessary Appliances And Furniture: If you have an appliance or piece of furniture that you never use, it’s probably time to get rid of it. Sell it online, donate it to charity, or trash it.
Kitchen Gadgets You Don’t Use: If you have small appliances or kitchen utensils that you never use, they’re taking up valuable space. Get rid of it and free up some room.
Pantry: Take this opportunity to go through your pantry and get rid of any expired food items. If you have non-perishable food that you know you won’t eat, consider donating it to a local food bank.
Old Toys: If your kids have outgrown their old toys, it’s time to get rid of them. Donate them to a charity or sell them online. You can also put them in storage until your kids are ready for them again.
Holiday Decor: If you have holiday decorations that you no longer use, it’s time to get rid of them. You can donate them to a charity or sell them online.
Outdated Electronics: If you have old electronics that you don’t use anymore, it’s time to get rid of them. Many people hold on to old electronics because they think they might be able to use them again someday. But chances are, you’ll never use them again. So recycle them or trash them.
VHS Tapes: Call around your recycling centers to check how these tapes can be recycled. I recently went through my old tapes and found myself watching them before deciding what to do with them. I had about 5 boxes of them, now I’m down to about a dozen tapes. By the way, if you have any classic tapes in their package and in good condition, check if you can sell them.
Pet Supplies: If you have pet supplies that your pet no longer needs, it’s time to get rid of them. You can donate them to a local animal shelter or sell them online. But don’t get rid of their favorite slobbery comfort toy!
Cleaning Supplies: If you have cleaning supplies that you don’t use anymore, it’s time to get rid of them. Most cleaning supplies have a long shelf life, so chances are you won’t be able to use them again. So recycle them or trash them.
Moving is a great opportunity to declutter your home and make start fresh. By getting rid of these items before you move, you can simplify the moving process and make your new home more organized and clutter-free.
How To Declutter Before Moving
Starting early (as soon as you know you’re moving) is the least stressful way to declutter. Follow these simple steps for purging before the move, and you’ll be on your way to a stress-free move in no time!
1. Prepare An Area For Sorting
There are a few things you’ll want to do before beginning the decluttering process.
- Choose an area in your home specifically for sorting and storing your items. This could be an entire room or simply a corner of the family room.
- You’ll also want to make sure you have enough storage containers on hand to hold everything you plan to get rid of. Use boxes or trash bags so you can easily move them to the trash or donation bin.
- Designate areas for storing your items in four categories: sell, donate, recycle, or in a trash bag to throw away.
- It’s best to dispose of items in batches where possible; don’t wait until you’re finished the whole job. This will make the process less overwhelming and more manageable. Get rid of the trash as you go, and put the donation bags in the car to be dropped off the next time you’re out.
2. Where To Start Decluttering
Start with the easy stuff. Don’t try to tackle everything at once – that’s just overwhelming. You might have an area in mind that will be easy to decide what needs to be turfed. Start with one room, one closet or one drawer to begin with. Once you’ve tackled the low-hanging fruit, you can move on to the tougher items.
- Start by decluttering the easiest spaces in your home. These are typically smaller areas like the bathroom, bedroom, or pantry. These spaces are usually less complicated to organize and don’t require as much time or effort.
- Once you’ve decluttered the easy spaces, move on to the tougher areas like the garage or attic. These areas can be more time-consuming to organize, but the results will be worth it.
- Finally, tackle the biggest spaces in your home like the living room or kitchen. These areas can take a lot of time and effort to declutter, but the payoff is worth it.
The best way to declutter is to go through your things systematically, one group of items at a time. For example, start with your clothes. Go through your entire wardrobe and pull out anything you haven’t worn in the past year or no longer fits. These are the items you can get rid of without much thought. Somebody somewhere will appreciate your unused clothes!
Once you’ve gone through your clothes, move on to another category such as books, movies, or kitchen gadgets. Again, go through each item and ask yourself if you really need it or if you’ve used it in the past year. If not, get rid of it.
3. Be Honest With Yourself
When you’re going through your things, be honest with yourself about what you really need and what you can live without. Of course, anything with true sentimental value should be kept, but that doesn’t mean you need to keep everything.
If you’re having trouble getting rid of something, here are some questions to ask yourself when decluttering:
- Do I use this regularly?
- Do I love it?
- Is it in good condition?
- Do I have room for it?
- Will I use it in the future?
It’s easy to hold on to things because you think you might use them someday. But chances are if you haven’t used them in the past year, you probably never will. So don’t keep them just in case – get rid of them and free up some space.
The same goes for clothes that don’t fit or are in bad condition. If you haven’t worn them in the past year, chances are you never will. Get rid of them and make room for clothes that actually fit and that you’ll actually wear.
4. Set Aside Some Time Each Day
Dedicate at least 30 minutes each day to decluttering. This may seem like a lot, but it’s really not when you break it down into manageable chunks. And the more time you can dedicate, the better – but don’t beat yourself up if you can only spare 30 minutes. Every little bit helps!
5. Don’t Forget About The Closets
Closets are often one of the most forgotten areas when it comes to decluttering, but they can actually be some of the worst offenders when it comes to clutter. Take everything out of your closets and sort through it, getting rid of anything you don’t need or wear.
6. Get Rid Of Duplicates
Do you really need sixteen coffee mugs? Or four toasters? If you have multiple items that serve the same purpose, get rid of the extras. Not only will this declutter your home, but it will also make packing and unpacking a lot easier.
7. Don’t Forget About The Garage
The garage is another area that often gets overlooked when it comes to decluttering, but it’s actually one of the most important areas to focus on. After all, you don’t want to be moving things you don’t need or use – and the garage is often full of things like this. So, go through your garage and get rid of anything you don’t need, want, or use.
8. Don’t Forget About The Outdoor Spaces
Just because something is outdoors doesn’t mean it doesn’t count when it comes to decluttering. If you have any outdoor furniture or decorations that you don’t use, get rid of them. The same goes for garden tools, sports equipment, and anything else that’s taking up space in your yard or on your patio.
9. Consider Hiring A Professional
If you’re feeling overwhelmed by the whole process, there’s no shame in hiring a professional to help you out. A professional declutterer will know exactly what to do and how to do it, and they’ll be able to get the job done a lot faster than you could on your own.
10. Take Your Time
Don’t try to get through everything in one day. You’ll want to take your time so that you don’t miss anything important. Decluttering your home before moving doesn’t have to be done overnight. In fact, it’s better if you take your time and do it gradually. So, don’t try to rush through it – just take your time and do it at a pace that’s comfortable for you.
By following these simple steps, you can declutter your home before moving and make the whole process a lot less stressful. So, what are you waiting for? Get started today!
11. Sell, Donate, Recycle Or Trash It!
Once you’ve gone through everything and sorted out what you’re keeping and what you’re getting rid of, it’s time to get rid of the stuff you don’t want. You can sell it, donate it, chuck it or recycle it – but whatever you do, just get rid of it!
- One way to do this is to make a few bucks by holding a garage sale, yard sale, or selling your unwanted items online. This extra cash can offset some of your moving costs.
- Another option is to donate them to a local charity or thrift store. Contact your local charities to see if they can pick them up.
- If you have a lot of stuff that needs to go to the local dump, consider a dumpster rental. Then there’s only one trip and you won’t need to do it!
Conclusion
By following these simple steps, you can prepare your home for moving day with minimal stress and hassle. Just think how amazing your new space will be without all that clutter!
