The day before you move is never as fun as it should be. You’re clucking like a chicken with its head cut off, scrambling to pack and prepare everything for transport.
On top of that, you have to figure out how to declutter your space so that everything fits into the moving truck. Take a deep breath and look at these suggestions for decluttering before you pack up your house for good.
With a little bit of planning and some elbow grease, you can make sure that everything goes off without a hitch – and your new place will be clutter-free from the get-go! There are ways to make the process less daunting and even (dare we say it?) enjoyable.
Motivation is a Super Power:
You’ve been living with this stuff for months, maybe years! Looking around to find heaps of things you no longer want or need can be daunting, but look at it as an opportunity.
This is your chance to get rid of anything cluttering up your life – and your home for far too long. It could be your grandma’s china that you never use or the clothes you’ve been hanging onto “just in case.” Whatever it is, get rid of it!
Consider how wonderful it will be to enter your new home and discover that everything in it has a purpose. That’s some serious motivation right there!
Plan your Move:
We all have those ‘close-to-heart’ items that we can’t part with, but removing everything is not an option either.
So, the best way to declutter before moving is by making a plan. Look for mini storage options near you so that you can keep your precious belongings close but out of the way. Obviously, who wants to part ways with that adorable armchair you bought last year? No one!
But, if it doesn’t fit the vibe of your new apartment, oh well!
You can also plan by considering what you need and what you don’t. For example, if you know you’re never going to use that old coffee table again, get rid of it before moving. That way, you won’t have to find a place for it in your new home.
It’s also safe to sort everything into categories of things you often use, things you love but don’t need right now, and items that can be thrown away. It will help the process go more smoothly on moving day.
If something hasn’t been used in the past year, it won’t be missed in the next one either. So unless it has sentimental value, get rid of it!
Look Forward to Making New Memories:
‘Oh, I can’t let go of this beautiful frame I got from Italy in 1987’, well, don’t you think it’s time to make room for 2022 memories?
It may be initially challenging, but once you start looking through your things with a more critical eye, it will become easier to part with them.
Start by going through each room and making three piles: keep, donate/sell, and trash. Be as ruthless as possible; you can always buy new things if you need them again. So go forth and purge!
Where Are The Kids?
Generally, whenever you need a hand with home chores, your kids start playing hide and seek (except they hide behind screens). And when you want to talk or spend some quality time, they conveniently disappear. But don’t worry, it’s nothing personal.
It’s just that they’re kids, and their attention span is shorter than yours—plus, let’s be honest, most of us can’t compete with Fortnite now, can we?
But that doesn’t mean you can’t find ways to get them involved in decluttering. Like anything else, getting your kids on board with decluttering will take some creativity and patience.
Here are a few ideas to make them pitch-in:
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- Make it a game: See who can collect the most items to donate or sell. The winner gets a prize, like a toy or an extra hour of screen time.
- Get them involved in the decision-making process: Ask them which items they want to keep and why. It will help them understand why it’s important to declutter in the first place.
Don’t Wait Until the Eleventh Hour:
Procrastinating is real! When it comes to managing the clutter, there’s no doubt it can be a huge pain! You don’t want your moving truck honking outside while you’re still trying to figure out what to do with all your stuff.
Start early, like maybe two weeks in advance? You can declutter at your own pace and avoid throwing everything in the box to take along simply because you ran out of time *facepalm*!
One Room at a Time:
It might be difficult to declutter your entire home at once, and chances are you’ll end up quitting before you even make a dent. So take it one room at a time.
Begin with the simplest room, such as a guest bedroom or home office, and ascend to the more challenging ones, like the attic or basement.
To make things easier on yourself, you might want to sort your old documents, stationary, and books while you’re at it.
And once you’re done with one room, pat yourself on the back—you deserve it!
Now, moving on to the next room.
Check For Facts:
You love stocking up your kitchen pantry and spoiling your kids with candy love, but do you need ten bottles of ketchup or five pounds of sugar?
An extremely helpful way is to check for expiration dates! They don’t lie. Please let it go if you’re past the “use by” date.
We get it; it’s hard to let go of things, especially when you paid good money for them. Consider this: if you never used it, there’s a possibility that you won’t miss it.
The same goes for clothes. We all have that pair of jeans we bought years ago and swore we’d fit into them again someday *cough* never *cough*. But if you haven’t worn them in the past year, it’s time to let them go.
We know, we know. When it comes to personal favorites like cosmetics, apparel, and jewelry, you’re probably thinking, “This is easier said than done.”
But hold on a second: do you need that lipstick you only put on once or those earrings that give you a rash? We don’t think so.
Wrapping Up:
Moving to a new home is exciting! The thrill of putting your wardrobe back up, planning what goes in the kitchen cabinet, and developing creative ideas for shoe storage to keep it tidy is part of the adventure.
You aren’t pulling your hair out yet. You’ve gotten off to a good start; you’re making progress and almost there. If it makes you feel any better, once you decide to let go, it will never bother you again. We promise.
