Declutter Before a Move (or Anytime)

Tips for successful decluttering

Before a move is one of the best times to declutter your home. Because who wants to pay to ship things they don’t need?

But moving isn’t the only time your place could benefit from downsizing unwanted things. If you’re like most of us, you’ve been holding on to some stuff you could do without. 

Roll up your sleeves, and let’s get started on a foolproof decluttering plan from the moving experts at U-Pack®. It’s designed to lighten your load, whether you’re moving or staying put.

How to declutter your home

If the thought of downsizing a whole household full of belongings feels overwhelming, don’t worry! Follow these tips to take the stress out of the task ahead.

1. Give yourself plenty of time

Allow enough time to make thoughtful decisions. If you’re moving, don’t wait until days before the moving equipment arrives. If you can, start the process several months in advance. If the move is sooner, prioritize the areas with the most clutter.

2. Work on one room or area at a time

Stay organized during the process by focusing on one room or type of item at a time. For example, decluttering the kitchen all at once, or sorting through all the closets in your home.

3. Sort items into categories

As you work through each room or area, sort things into four categories: 

• Keep: For stuff you’re keeping, consider packing it to save time later or just set those things aside for now.
• Sell: Valuable items for which you wish to recoup some money.
• Donate: Things in good condition to give to a charity, friends or family for reuse.
• Trash: Anything left over.

4. Be realistic about what to keep

You don’t have to declutter everything, but you can’t keep it all, either. Make realistic decisions about what’s useful and what isn’t. 

Do you use the item regularly enough to justify keeping it? If you’re moving, would you want to pay to ship it? Not everything deserves a place in your home.

What things to throw out before moving out

The plan is to downsize anything you don’t want or need. Here are some of the most common items to declutter:  

Kitchen and dining room

• Dishes and silverware. Get rid of broken, unused or mismatched items.
• Food. Check your refrigerator, freezer, cabinets and pantry for food that’s expired or that you won’t eat before the move.
• Linens. Keep only your favorite tablecloths, kitchen towels and dishcloths.
• Pots and pans. If you haven’t cooked with something in the past year, you might not need it.

Bedrooms and closets

• Bedding. Keep only the sheets, blankets and other bedding you regularly use.
• Clothing and shoes. Purge anything stained or torn, that doesn’t fit or that you simply don’t like.
• Throw blankets and pillows. If you have more than you need, consider giving some away.
• Toys. Get rid of broken, disliked or outgrown toys.

Living room and entertainment areas

• Décor. Purge old holiday decorations, wall décor, rugs and other items that won’t work in your new home.
• DVDs, CDs, records and books. If you’re not using something and aren’t sentimentally attached to it, pass it on.
• Electronics. Donate or recycle electronics, such as outdated media players.
• Unmatched cords. If you can’t remember what a cord goes to or no longer own the device it belongs to, you probably don’t need it.

Home office, den, hobby areas

• Craft supplies. If you’ve moved on from a project, give the supplies away for someone else to enjoy.
• Paper. Shred old records and recycle outdated magazines, paperwork and advertisements. Keep important records.
• Exercise equipment. If you have unused equipment, consider donating it to someone who will.

Bathrooms and medicine cabinets

• Makeup and beauty products. Get rid of products you don’t like or that are past their recommended shelf life.
• Medication. Check your medicine cabinet and properly dispose of expired medications.

Outdoors and storage areas (including attics, garages and workshops)

• Auto parts. Dispose of old batteries, oil containers and other automotive products properly rather than moving them.
• Building supplies. Dispose of broken items. Leave behind extra flooring tiles, fence posts and similar materials that may be useful to the next owner or renter.
• Cleaning products. Use them to give your apartment or house a thorough cleaning or dispose of them appropriately.
• Flowerpots and planters. Keep only your favorite flowerpots, planters and gardening supplies.
• Large outdoor toys. Donate bicycles, skates and skateboards that are still in good condition. Consider whether larger items, such as playsets, can be left for the next residents.
• Outdoor furniture. Make sure outdoor furniture will work in your new space before paying to move it.
• Paint. Donate any usable paint or dispose of leftover cans properly if you don't need them at your new home. 
• Pet supplies. Get rid of old or broken pet toys and other supplies. 
• Tools. Get rid of duplicate or unused tools.

What to do with unwanted stuff before moving

Now that you have your sell, donate and trash piles, it’s time to dispose of them. But how?

Sell unwanted items 

• Consign it. Look for a local resale shop that offers consignment. 
• Host a sale. If you have a lot of things still in good shape, a moving sale is a great way to make some extra cash while clearing out your home. 
• Sell it online. Try Facebook Marketplace, eBay, ThredUp, Vinted or other online resellers. 

Make donations   

• Drop off at a donation center. Look for a Goodwill, Salvation Army, Habitat for Humanity or another charity in your area. 
  Donate to schools, libraries or senior activity centers. These places might be a good home for books or craft supplies. Just call and ask what they want. 
• Give it to a local animal shelter. They usually need extra blankets, towels and cleaning supplies. 
• Offer it to family and friends. If something is useful for a loved one, let them have it.

Properly dispose of household waste

Recycle what you can and properly dispose of the rest. Some items might need special care, like the ones listed below:

• Cleaning supplies, oil, liquid paint or other chemicals. Contact your trash service or city hall for proper disposal instructions. 
• Medication. According to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA), the best way to dispose of unused or expired prescription or over-the-counter drugs is through a local take-back program. Check with the police station or pharmacy for drop-off locations. 
• Metals, batteries, appliances and e-waste. Search for scrap metal recycling locations in your area, or check with city hall for rules on disposing of these items. 

Moving less stuff means saving even more money with U-Pack

Now that you’re finished decluttering ahead of your out-of-state move, follow these tips to pack everything well. 

And don’t miss out on your free U-Pack quote. We base our rates on the space you fill in the moving trailer or the number of ReloCubes® you use. That means moving fewer belongings will save you money!  

Request your personalized estimate online or call us at 844-362-5303844-594-3077. Let us know in the comments if you have any questions or want to share your best decluttering tips!