Can you hear that? It’s the sound of old football sticker albums hitting the scrap heap. It’s the sound of the once used, now rusty pasta maker meeting its own maker (the bin). But more than anything, it’s the sound of heart strings being tugged across the land, as items of sentimental value are thrown away.
Instead, turn it into a tune of decluttering clarity, with a simple, methodical approach. Here’s how to play it right; our 9 top tips for clearing out the clutter when you move house.
Give Yourself Time
Foresight is a valuable thing. Combine it with a much needed ruthless streak, and this whole process of shedding a little domestic weight might not be so difficult after all. So, start the decluttering process at least two months before you move to get yourself well and truly ahead.
If you’ve been living somewhere for 10 years, do you really think you’re going to be able to get through all the things you’ve accumulated the weekend before moving day? Such a clearout is a process, and requires a little-by-little approach to prevent it from becoming overwhelming.
Get Rid Of Items Before You Move (Not After!)
It makes no sense to bring clutter with you. There’s the packing it away, the transporting it, and the unpacking, only to realise you’ve no space for it in your new crib and it’s surplus to requirements anyway. Then, there’s another trip to the skip to make. Negate the need for all these redundant extra journeys and that superfluous weight by being completely ruthless before you move. Every step of the moving process will be easier and lighter for it.
Read: The transformative power of having a clean home
Does The Item Bring You Joy?
If you’ve been bingeing on tidy guru Marie Kondo’s YouTube channel, then you’ll know that unless an item sparks joy in your heart, you should let go of it. Nope, not disrespectfully throw it in the bin. But rather, carefully consider each item, hold it close to you, and see if you envisage a future together. If you don’t, then it’s best to bid a kind and gentle farewell to that particular culprit of clutter and move on. Yep, the KonMari method, as its known, can certainly help here.
Create A ‘Maybe’ Box
Sometimes, the decision to keep or discard an item isn’t as straightforward as we’d like. For such items, create a ‘Maybe’ box. This is where you can temporarily store items that you’re unsure about. The rule is simple: if you haven’t used or missed the item after a set period (say, six months), then it’s time to let it go. This approach allows you to make decluttering decisions without the pressure of immediate finality, making the process less daunting.
Digitise Your Memories
In the age of digital technology, there’s no need to hold onto physical copies of everything. Old photos, letters, and documents can take up a lot of space and are susceptible to damage over time. Consider digitising these items to preserve them better and free up physical space. There are numerous services available that can help you scan and store these memories securely online. Remember, the goal isn’t to erase your past, but to make it more accessible and less cluttered.
Involve The Family
Decluttering shouldn’t be a solitary task, especially when you’re moving house. Involve your family in the process. Make it a fun activity where everyone gets to decide what they want to keep, donate, sell, or discard. This not only lightens your load but also gives everyone a sense of participation and ownership in the move. Plus, it’s a great way to teach younger family members about the importance of organisation and letting go of unnecessary items.
Adopt The ‘One In, One Out’ Rule
Once you’ve successfully decluttered and moved into your new home, it’s important to maintain the state of uncluttered living.
As Vella, a Dallas move out cleaning service, so sagely suggest, you should adopt the ‘One In, One Out’ rule when settling in to your new home. For every new item you bring in, one item should leave. This helps to keep your possessions at a manageable level and prevents the accumulation of clutter over time.
It’s a simple, yet effective strategy to ensure your new home stays as serene and clutter-free as the day you moved in.
Have A Carboot Sale Or Donate To A Charity Shop
Sustainability and a deep regard for our environmental impact has never been more vital. Simply commiting items to landfill in the name of a clearout, in the current climate, can feel pretty callous and irresponsible. Instead, embrace what some have coined a ‘circular’ attitude to goods, and donate anything and everything you can to a charity shop or sell it on at a carboot sale. In doing so, you’ll reduce the demand for new stuff. We know it’s only a small gesture, but every little helps, right?
Get Professional Help
Or, you could commit to doing things in reverse. Instead of decluttering, and throwing stuff away, you could only pack up the items you need for moving and leave the rest to a professional home clearing service or express waste removals company. This is basically a declutter, but in reverse, with a dedicated company doing the hard work of physically moving the stuff, as well as finding a legal way of disposing of it. The nuclear approach, some might say, but we did say it was high time to be cutthroat.