Moving house is both exciting and stressful. Among the boxes and logistics, there’s one step that can make your move simpler—decluttering. Removing unnecessary items before you pack saves time, energy, and space in your new home. These tips for decluttering before moving will walk you through why decluttering is essential, offer actionable tips, and show you how to handle your unwanted items responsibly.

Why You Need These Tips for Decluttering Before Moving

Decluttering before moving is like hitting the refresh button on your life. It’s a chance to decide what truly matters and leave behind what doesn’t. This saves you time packing and unpacking and reduces your moving costs by lightening the load.

Beyond practicality, decluttering has mental health benefits. A tidy space can help you focus, reduce stress, and create a sense of accomplishment. Plus, moving into a clutter-free home allows you to organise your belongings from scratch, setting the tone for your new space.

Check out how decluttering benefits our well-being.

 

Here’s a Checklist of What You Need to Declutter

It might feel overwhelming, but a step-by-step decluttering checklist makes it manageable. Here’s what to focus on:

1. Wardrobe and Clothing

• Sort through clothes and accessories.
• Keep only what fits, suits your style, or holds sentimental value.
• Donate or sell items in good condition.
• Recycle worn-out clothes responsibly.

2. Kitchen and Pantry

• Check expiration dates on pantry items. Toss anything expired.
• Get rid of duplicate kitchen tools and gadgets. Do you really need three spatulas?
• Consider eco-friendly cleaning products for your new home and dispose of old ones safely.

3. Garage and Storage Areas

• Review items stored in the garage or attic. Old sports equipment, tools, or boxes of forgotten things may no longer serve you.
• Recycle or donate usable items.
• Properly dispose of hazardous materials like paint, chemicals, or batteries at your local recycling centre.

4. Living Room and Furniture

• Evaluate your furniture. Does it fit your new space? Is it still in good condition?
• Donate or sell large items like sofas or tables you won’t take with you.
• Minimise decorative items to avoid cluttering your new home.

5. Sentimental Items

• Sort keepsakes like photos, letters, or memorabilia.
• Keep only what truly matters, and consider digitalising photos to save physical space. You can store your files on tools like Google Drive, Dropbox, and One Drive for free.
• Store sentimental items in a dedicated box to keep them separate from everyday belongings.

6. Bathroom Supplies

• Toss expired toiletries, makeup, and cleaning products.
• Keep only essential items for the move.
• Switch to reusable or sustainable items for your new home, such as bamboo toothbrushes or refillable soap dispensers.

7. Office and Paperwork

• Shred or recycle old documents you no longer need.
• Scan important papers to create digital backups.
• Declutter office supplies and organise what you’ll take.

8. Kids’ Rooms and Toys

• Involve your kids in deciding which toys to keep or donate.
• Pass along outgrown clothes and unused toys to friends, family, or charities.
• Pack cherished items separately to help kids settle into their new home.

How To Declutter Before Moving?

Here’s how you can systematically declutter without feeling overwhelmed:

• Divide and Conquer: Focus on one room at a time. This prevents you from scattering efforts across multiple areas.
• Set Clear Goals: Decide what you’ll accomplish in each decluttering session. For example, finish the kitchen in one day.
• Three-Pile Rule: Sort everything into Keep, Donate, and Discard piles. This strategy helps you stay organised.
• Use a Checklist for Cleaners or Helpers: A checklist ensures you don’t miss overlooked spots like cabinets or under furniture.
• Be Ruthless: If you haven’t used an item in the past year, it’s time to let it go.

 

 

Extra Tips for Decluttering Before Moving

• Schedule Decluttering Sessions: Block off time to focus solely on decluttering without distractions.
• Plan for Furniture Placement: Use floor plans of your new home to decide which items will fit before moving.
• Digital Decluttering Matters Too: Go through files, photos, and emails to reduce digital clutter.

Also, check out this Best 5 Tips for Spring Cleaning.

What To Do With the Decluttered 

Once you’ve decluttered, you’ll need a plan for those unwanted items:

• Donate: Clothes, furniture, and toys in good condition can go to local charities or shelters.
• Sell: List valuable items on online marketplaces like Gumtree or Facebook Marketplace.
• Recycle: Electronics, batteries, and plastics should be taken to proper recycling facilities.
• Dispose of Responsibly: For bulky or unusable items, call JUNK for eco-friendly removal services.

No Time to Declutter?

Life can get busy, leaving little room for extra tasks. If you’re running out of time:

• Prioritise high-impact areas like the kitchen and wardrobe.
• Hire professionals to help with packing and sorting for household rubbish removal.
• Use JUNK’s reliable junk removal services to quickly dispose of unwanted items.

Call JUNK for Decluttering and Removal Help

Decluttering before a move doesn’t need to be difficult. With these tips and a solid plan, you’ll be ready to pack and settle into your new home stress-free. For fast and responsible junk removal services, contact JUNK today and let us help make your move smoother.