Moving takes effort. While it’s our passion (and line of work) at MASH Movers, we’ve also been on the other side many times. We know that getting organized can help minimize stress on moving day, and that starts when you declutter before moving.
Knowing how to declutter your home is critical for a smooth relocation process. Not only can it simplify your packing routine, but it can also lower costs for house movers in Austin, TX, and get you settled into your new home faster. And that, we can all agree, is the ultimate goal!
Why Decluttering Before Moving Helps
Answer this question: Do you get a headache thinking about moving a closet full of outdated clothes, kitchen tools you never use, and seasonal decor you haul out for one week each year?
Many people say yes. That’s also why decluttering before moving should be the go-to tactic. No one wants to move things they don’t want—or forgot they owned in the first place. Decluttering clears the mental and emotional cobwebs you get from holding onto stuff you should have tossed years ago.
When to Start the Decluttering Process
To ensure you have enough time to go through everything, start the decluttering process eight weeks before you move. You don’t need to spend all eight weeks decluttering, but consider setting aside the first four weeks for this task. If you get it done in four weeks, you can use the last 30 days before Moving Day to pack, book Austin-area movers, and set up your new utility services.
How to Decide What to Keep, Donate, or Toss
Deciding what to do with your belongings is primarily a personal decision, but you can use some tried-and-true decluttering tips to guide your approach.
Get rid of duplicates: It’s time to rethink your strategy if you tend to buy in bulk. For perishable items, start using them up now and don’t buy more. For household items, donate extras that are still in good condition, but don’t toss them if you actually need them. Otherwise, you’ll end up spending money after your move to Austin, TX.
Consider the new floor plan: Are you moving to a place with more or less square footage? Upsizing is easier. Downsizing means you need to be more decisive about the furniture pieces, clothing, products, tools, decor, and other items you bring.
Say goodbye to anything you haven’t used in a year: If you haven’t used that dumbbell set you got as a gift three years ago, it’s unlikely you’ll start now. As you go through boxes, drawers, and closets, inspect each item and think about the last time you used it.
Set aside sentimental items for secondary review: These items deserve a little special consideration. Wavering on whether to part with a specific item means you need more time. Set those items aside and look at them again in a few days.
Donate items suitable for a second use: If it’s gently used, someone else might make good use of it. Local shelters, libraries, thrift stores, animal shelters, refugee resettlement nonprofits, and consignment shops may accept your donated goods for those in need.
Toss anything that’s broken, obsolete, or expired: Start by creating separate piles for landfill, scrapyards, and green waste. Old, broken objects could go into the landfill, but they might also qualify for scrapyards. Scrapyards usually take steel, copper, cast iron, vehicle parts, appliances, pipes, aluminum, rebar, and brass. Expired food should go into green waste if your city has a composting program.
Room-By-Room Decluttering Tips
Go from room to room and determine how much stuff your house movers in Austin should transport for you. Here are some key items and areas to declutter before you start packing:
Kitchen
Mismatched storage containers
Expired pantry food
Duplicate gadgets, pots and pans, cooking tools, and dish towels
Extra cups, mugs, and dish sets
Junk drawer items
Laundry Room
Excess laundry detergent and cleaning supplies
Broken hampers
Unused ironing boards
Bathrooms
Expired medications (Take for safe disposal at drugstores like CVS or Walgreens.)
Personal care items you don't use
Duplicate towels and linens
Bedrooms
Outdated clothing and accessories
Uncomfortable or worn-out shoes
Broken hangers
Garages and Basements
Storage boxes with seasonal decor and miscellaneous items (a.k.a. junk)
Old electronics and hazardous materials like paint (Take to designated waste disposal facilities).
Living Room, Halls, and Foyer
Excess furniture and rugs
Unwanted decor
Declutter and Get On With Living
Moving and decluttering go hand in hand. When you get rid of clutter, you cut down on packing time and reduce your moving costs for labor fees, truck size, and the time it takes to move.
Now that you're on your way, book with MASH Movers, your friendly Texas movers in Austin, and get excited about your new living space.