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- I’m a professional declutterer. I help clients let go of things they don’t need.
- Ideally, you’d declutter before you start packing for a move.
- Give away things you haven’t used in a while for free.
I’m a professional declutterer and often get asked by clients when they should start decluttering while planning a move. Ideally, you should start a year before your move date. The second best time, however, is today.
Even if you’re moving soon, it’s not too late to jettison some of your clutter rather than packing it into boxes that will remain unopened in the basement of your new house for the next decade.
Here’s how to do it.
Put 2 boxes out — things you’re moving and things you’re donating
When packing small items, use two boxes: one for the stuff that’s going with you and one for the things you’ll drop off at the thrift store. This is particularly good for packing the kitchen, the bathroom, linens, your clothes closet — anywhere you’re boxing up small or easily foldable items.
Don’t overthink it. If you open a kitchen drawer to find four spatulas and three serving spoons, none of which you’ve used in the past couple of years, toss them in the donation box. The same goes for t-shirts you never wear, the unopened shampoo you keep shoving into the back of the cupboard, and any orphaned sheets or pillowcases.
As long as you’re touching each item, you may as well make a quick decision about it. If you’re agonizing over whether to keep or toss an item, you’re allowed to keep it and move on. The point here is to lighten your load, not increase your stress.
Out is out
One thing that keeps us from getting rid of stuff we no longer want is not knowing what to do with it. In an ideal world, you’ll find the perfect home for every discarded item. But here in the real world, you are allowed to get rid of things in any expedient way. Yes, this includes the trash can.
You might be able to find someone who can extend an item’s usefulness for a few years, but unless you’re talking about a cast iron skillet or hand-crafted wooden bookshelf, chances are your stuff is going to be trash one day. It’s okay if that day is today. I’m not encouraging you to toss everything you’re done with into the garbage, but it’s allowable if it’s impossible to figure out who might want it.
The same goes for donations. You may prefer to donate to local organizations that give things away for free, but if taking everything to the Salvation Army thrift store is the easiest solution, then do that.
Give, give, give
Technology makes it easy to give things to people who want them. Post your stuff on Craigslist, Facebook Marketplace, Nextdoor, and anywhere else you can think of. Don’t worry about taking beautiful photos — just let the people know what you’ve got. It’s first come, first served, so haul it away yourself. If you’re willing to give rather than sell your stuff, finding takers is pretty easy.
If you’re holding out for money, be realistic about how much you think you can earn by selling your things. Factor in the time it takes to photograph, list, and ship your stuff, and see what others charge for the same things online.
We tend to think our possessions hold their value, but sadly, most do not. Holding on to things you don’t have the time or motivation to sell is not bringing you riches or peace of mind. Let it go and revel in the freedom of owning less.
Remember to make it fun
Moving is a drag, but it doesn’t have to be miserable. Try one of these ideas:
- Have a big party and let your guests help themselves to anything not tagged for removal.
- Host a yard sale where everything is free. Collect donations and give them to your local food pantry.
- Haul things down to the curb and bet on how long they’ll stay there before someone takes them home — the winner buys ice cream for everyone.
