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Do you plan on moving? Decluttering should be a priority. It is one of the best ways to simplify your moving process. It helps you cut costs and start a new chapter in your new home. Even if your home doesn’t feel cluttered, you probably hold on to a few things you don’t need.
A close look may help you realize how much clutter you have. It could include expired stuff, broken equipment, and surplus. You only realize how much stuff you have once it is time to move. Here is a guide to decluttering your home for stress-free moving.
Room-by-Room Decluttering Checklist
Decluttering can be more challenging than it seems. It would help if you had a systematic plan to cover every part of your home. Use this room-by-room checklist and consider allocating about a week for every room.
1. Kitchen
Before moving, look for anything in your kitchen that is broken, mismatched, or never used. Common items to declutter in the kitchen include:
- Old cookbooks
- Plastic water bottles, lids, and containers
- Expired foods
- Older appliances
2. Living Room
Since the living room is a shared area of your home, it accumulates clutter from every household member. It might be one of your most cluttered rooms. Scan it for items that may be outdated, broken, or no longer in use.
Decluttering your living room before moving will give it a sense of calm. It can minimize the stress and anxiety of moving. Look out for the following when decluttering your living room:
- Old books and magazines
- Game consoles
- Old media, including DVDs, cassettes, and CDs
- Kids’ and pets’ toys
3. Bathrooms
Since the items in your bathrooms may have long shelf lives, you will likely deal with a lot of clutter. Get rid of anything that is past its prime or expired. This may include:
- Hair dryers, makeup brushes, flat irons, and other beauty tools
- Toiletries
- Expired medicine
- Old cosmetic products
4. Bedrooms
When decluttering your bedroom, take time to look through all your shoes, clothes, and accessories. Get into the habit of decluttering your bedroom at least once every year. Things pile up fast, and you may find yourself with a lot of junk in no time. Consider the following when decluttering your bedroom:
- Clothes and shoes
- Accessories and jewelry
- Hangers
5. Garage
Usually, the garage also doubles up as a storage room. It is where most people go to hide their clutter. When decluttering your garage, you must consider the space in your new home.
You don’t want to be left with more than you can fit in the home you’re moving to. Paying particular attention to the garage could trim down your moving expenses significantly. Here are a few items to declutter in your garage:
- Toys
- Gardening tools and supplies
- Camping gear
- Yard décor
- Appliance parts
- Party supplies
- Broken items
All garages are different. However, you’ll probably need to spend more time in the garage than in any other part of your home. Evaluate everything you’ve stored over time and determine if it is still essential.
Start Decluttering Before Your Move
Now that you have a checklist for every part of your home, it’s time to get to work. Start in rooms with items you rarely use. This way, you can ease the anxiety of decluttering before you get to items you may be hesitant to let go of. Here are some helpful tips to guide you through the process:
Start Early
Don’t wait until the last minute to start decluttering. Start as soon as you decide to move. Attempting to do it all in a few days could make the process more stressful than it needs to be.
Take a few days in each room, ensuring you do your best before you move to the next. When in a rush, you may have trouble giving every item the fair consideration it deserves.
Be Discerning
While the goal is to eliminate all the clutter in your home, you must be able to determine what qualifies as clutter. You don’t want to get rid of items you may need in the future.
Think of how often you use each item. Consider where it’ll go in your new home and if it holds any sentimental value. If you haven’t used it in a year, you probably need to get rid of it.
With clothing and décor pieces, ask yourself if you really love them. If you don’t have strong feelings about something and don’t use it, consider letting it go. Remember, whatever you keep adds to your moving fee and will take up space in your new home.
Keep Going
Even after covering every room, you may decide to get rid of some items while packing. Add them to your decluttering pile. The process only stops once you’re done packing.
In conclusion, decluttering for a move is a great idea. Even if you don’t realize it, your home could use some decluttering. Preparing for a move is the perfect opportunity to do so.
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