Before you move from one home to another, there are some things that you want to consider getting rid of instead of packing every little thing in your home to take with you. When you get to your new home, it will be a time to start over. You can paint the walls, get new furniture and make the home look different than what you moved from because it is a different environment. If you have a lot of items from your previous home that you don’t even want, then your new house can become cluttered very quickly.
Divide your belongings into a few different categories: anything functional and frequently used, items that have a special place in your heart, and items that bring beauty to the home that you have used for some time. If you go through your belongings and can’t think of a reason to keep something, then it’s time to purge those items instead of packing them on the moving truck. Here are some of the best things to toss before your move:
Losing the Linens
When you pack the items in your bathroom and linen closet, pay attention to the condition of your towels, washcloths, and sheets. If they have holes in them and look like they could be used for rags instead of their designated purpose, then it’s probably time to purge them and get new ones for your new home. Your fitted sheets will usually lose their elasticity after a few years and your towels may be stained from years of make-up removal. Use moving as an opportunity to purchase new linens for all the beds in the home as well as soft towels for your family to use.
Small Appliances
If there are appliances in the kitchen that don’t work or pieces of equipment that you no longer use, moving is the time to get rid of them. Items that still work can be donated or sold. Throw away or recycle broken appliances. If there’s something in your cabinets that is just collecting dust, then consider tossing it instead of trying to salvage it because it’s likely something that you’re not going to use in your new home.
Clothing and Accessories
Before packing all your clothes and accessories, go through your belongings to get rid of what you can’t wear and what you don’t want. There are probably items that you haven’t worn in a while that could be given to someone else or sold. The trinkets that have dust on them or that don’t seem to go with any kind of other decoration in the room can also be purged so that you can get new decorations for your new home.
Things You Haven’t Unpacked Since the Last Move
If you still have boxes in your attic from the last time you moved, take time to consider whether this is stuff you really need to keep. If you haven’t even opened the box or don’t remember what’s inside, and you’ve lived without it for several months or years then now may be the time to part ways with some of the extra baggage.
Books and Magazines
If you’re an avid reader with stacks upon stacks of books and magazines filling up every nook and cranny, consider paring down your personal library. If it’s a text or publication you don’t plan to read again, consider donating it to your local library or selling it to a used bookstore. Getting rid of heavy books is one of the easiest ways to cut down on moving costs.
This list is a great starting place for decluttering before you start the packing process. Remember to think twice before packing anything in a box to ensure you keep your new home as clutter free and easy to organize as possible.