Most Americans have far more things than they need. Whether in the form of old clothes, toys, furniture, or food, houses and apartments are brimming with extra belongings that take up valuable space. Moving is a great time to declutter and get rid of all of the extra stuff. Below are a few suggestions to get the decluttering started.
As soon as the decluttering starts, it may be clear that a Roll Off Dumpster may be helpful. These can be delivered right to your home and provide plenty of space to purge.
1. Kitchen
In the kitchen, get rid of anything that is broken, not used, mismatched, or surplus. This includes cookware, small appliances, and cookbooks. Attempt to match all of your container lids. Whatever is left in the end gets tossed out! Consider getting rid of appliances with loose cords and rusty or exposed wiring. Water bottles and coffee tumblers are the latest fads. Make sure to keep only the ones being used.
2. Family Room/Living Room
The family room or living room gathers things from all people in a family. Cleaning it up and throwing things out will give you more space in your new house and provide a sense of calm and order. Look for things that are broken, out of date, or just not in style anymore.
Kids’ games and toys should be sorted through. If the children no longer play with the item, it can simply be donated to a friend, a church, or a charity. If the item is broken or missing parts, it is usually best to throw it away.
Books are heavy to move and require small boxes. It is a good idea to evaluate books before packing them. If they won’t be read again, they shouldn’t be kept. Some books are sentimental or very useful. Certainly, keep those.
3. Bedrooms
Clothes that don’t fit or that haven’t been worn in years can be donated if in good condition. Don’t keep something that you haven’t worn thinking that “someday” you might have the chance to wear it again. Those items are just taking up space in the closet that could be used more wisely.
Jewelry and accessories go out of fashion quickly, so be sure to sort through these and get rid of the ones that aren’t worn and used.
4. Linen Closets
Old linens can make excellent cleaning rags and drop cloths, and they can also be great donations to animal shelters. The linen that you do want to keep can be a great packing material for fragile items in your home.
5. Home Office
There are usually lots of old documents, manuals, and papers in a home office. Spend a bit of time sorting through these, and dump or shred whatever is not necessary. Get rid of old electronics (printers, computers) that are no longer used.
6. Garage
The garage is often home to a lot of stored items and trash. Sort through things and get rid of yard decor, tools, party decorations, old kiddie pools, skateboards, or bikes that are just taking up space. Construction materials and gardening supplies are often stored in the garage, and these require organizing and cleaning out before a move.
Decluttering before moving will give you space as well as peace of mind that your new home only contains those things you truly love and need.
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