Declutter Before You Move: What to Keep, Donate, or Toss
We all feel like Marie Kondo’ing our room or homes every once in a while. There’s no better feeling than starting afresh as that truly introduces you to endless possibilities. It’s kind of like pressing restart when playing a video game; you definitely get to start from zero, all over again.
Unfortunately, the only time we ever feel the need to declutter and reorganize is when we are moving homes. Deciding what to keep, toss, or donate becomes a crucial decision without which moving on feels impossible.
Although this activity should be undertaken every once in a while, regardless of whether you move to a new home or not, that’s an argument for another time. For now, organizing your current belongings and lightening your load is a top priority. So, let’s get started.
Four Simple Steps at the Heart of the Process
If you are looking to declutter your home with minimal effort, the following steps might help;
- Plan ahead of time to avoid stressing out and feeling overburdened at the last minute.
- Focus on one room or one type of item at a time. For example, you can choose to begin with the bedroom or simply tackle shoes first.
- Label items with “keep,” “donate,” “sell,” or “toss,” (the four box method) as you begin to sift through them. This helps you reduce the clutter one at a time and get rid of items you likely won’t use ever again.
- Identify items that have deep sentimental value for you or ones that you use most often and set them aside to ensure they are packed last (you might need them as soon as you enter your new home)!
What Does it All Mean?
What does it really mean to keep an item, donate it, sell, or toss it? Sure, we know the definitions, but do we truly understand the meaning behind those words?
Let’s dissect the items to “keep” first as those are the ones that would be most important for you. We tend to immediately think of practical and daily-use items such as bathroom essentials, dishware, or nightwear when we think of “keep” items. It’s a lot deeper than that. Items you keep can also be things that hold some sentimental value.
On the other hand, items you choose to “donate” are ones that haven’t deteriorated and are still in good enough condition to be used. However, if you think you are NEVER going to use an item, there’s no use keeping it.
Donating these items to someone allows them to make the most of it and reduces waste. These could be clothes you have outgrown, artwork you aren’t going to put up, shoes that don’t fit anymore, or expensive décor items that you don’t have space for in your home.
Speaking of expensive décor, you could also choose to “sell” certain items. For example, if you own a pair of sunglasses that you don’t use but could sell for a good price on eBay or Craigslist, go ahead and put them up for sale. You could earn some extra cash and put it toward moving expenses.
Last but not the least is “toss.” The idea is simple; if you find any broken, unusable, frayed, or expired item in your home, feel free to toss it in the bin or recycle it if possible.
How Do I Get Started?
Most people book the best moving company OKC in advance and find themselves stuck the night before, wondering how they can sort out the mess in one night. Here’s a plan that can work well for you;
1. Start Small and Keep Building
Don’t let the immense pile of responsibilities bog you down so much that you are unable to get started. Begin the process at least a few weeks, if not months before the move. Pick one room or one category, as described above, and tackle it first. Set a goal, and once you have accomplished it, feel free to move on.
Your goals must be smart and measurable. For example, if you are starting out with items to recycle, do not stop until you have two garbage bags full of whatever you can find that is worth recycling.
2. Organize the Smart Way
Sift through your belongings and categorize all the items into three broad classes; keep, toss, and donate. Now assign a cardboard box to each category (feel free to add a huge label to the boxes to make them stand out).
Go through the room you have picked and start tossing items into the boxes, wherever they fit. Keep items that you are going to use more often or ones that mean more to you. Donate ones that you definitely won’t use in the future. Finally, toss those that are beyond repair.
3. Unravelling the Mental Confusions
If you are unable to figure out what to put in those boxes, we can help! We find it is easier to make a decision when you begin asking yourself the right kinds of questions.
For example, you could ask yourself when you used the item last, does it bring you any joy anymore (hint: KonMari), would you buy it again someday, does it fit into your new home, and does it serve a purpose anymore? If it isn’t an instant yes, you should consider letting it go.
A Few More Tips Before We Go
Don’t forget to take extra caution when disposing of items. For instance, used batteries and air freshener cans aren’t meant to be thrown in the trash as they are combustible. Read the manual and proper disposal guidelines for all items before disposing of them.
Before you recycle, read up on local guidelines on proper recycling methods. The same is true for donations. Some shelters might not accept a variety of items so be very careful before you send them in and find the items returned.
Time to Move!
Moving day is just around the corner. It won’t be long before you’re packing up all those belongings into bags and setting off. Don’t put off the decluttering process and get it done way before the moving day. It’s just going to get harder as the days go by!
If you find it hard to keep tabs on your progress, don’t shy away from involving your family in the process! That could work wonders on keeping you accountable and ensuring you are packed well in advance.
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