5 Tips to Help You Declutter Before Moving
Streamlining Your Space: The Importance of Decluttering Before You Move
Moving to a new home can be both exciting and stressful. Among the many tasks involved in the process, decluttering is often one of the most daunting. However, it's also one of the most important steps to take before you start packing. Decluttering not only makes the moving process more manageable but also helps you start fresh in your new space.
Here are five tips to help you declutter effectively before moving:
- Have an Exit Plan
Once you've identified items to discard, it's essential to have a plan for how to dispose of them responsibly. Consider donating gently used clothing and household items using a free collection service such as iCollect or Anglo Doorstep Collections. For furniture items which you no longer need, list for sale online well in advance of your move, list for free collection on local Facebook groups or book a British Heart Foundation furniture collection. For items that are no longer usable, such as old electronics or broken appliances, take to your local recycling centre.
If you have an enormous amount to declutter, and feel that sorting out where it all goes is beyond your bandwidth, book a clearance service such as
Just Clear. They not only physically clear the items from your property, but take care of recycling and charity donations so you don't need to do a thing!
- Start Early
One of the biggest mistakes people make when preparing to move is waiting until the last minute to start decluttering. Begin the process as early as possible to avoid feeling overwhelmed. Start with one room at a time, tackling smaller areas like cupboards and drawers first. Setting aside just a few hours each day or weekend to declutter can make a significant difference and prevent you from feeling rushed as moving day approaches.
- Sort Items into Categories
When decluttering, it's helpful to sort your belongings into categories so that you can identify duplicates and audit your possessions as a whole. These categories will help create systems in your new house by grouping items by type and creating a natural 'place for everything'. Not only this, but packing and unpacking will be far easier if boxes are clearly labelled and the contents identifiable rather than random chaos.
- Keep The Best
It's common for households to accumulate duplicates of various items over time. Before moving, take inventory of these duplicates and decide which ones you truly need. For example, do you really need three sets of measuring cups or five pairs of jeans? Keep only the best-quality or most-used items, and consider donating or selling the rest. Not only will this help reduce clutter, but it will also lighten your load when it comes time to pack and unpack.
- Stay Organised While Packing
As you declutter each area of your home, start packing up the items you've decided to keep but won't need before you move. Invest in sturdy boxes, packing materials, and labels to keep your belongings organised during the moving process. Label each box with its contents and the room it belongs in to make unpacking easier at your new home. Pack similar items together to streamline the process even further. By staying organised while packing, you'll save time and energy both during and after your move.
Decluttering before a move can feel like a mountain to climb, but it's an essential step in simplifying the process and starting fresh in your new home. By having an exit plan, starting early, sorting items into categories, getting rid of duplicates, and staying organised while packing, you can make the decluttering process more manageable and ensure a smoother transition to your new living space. Happy decluttering and happy moving!
