Decluttering Before Moving: Tips, Lifehacks, Steps to an Easy Start in a New Place

Moving is always an exciting event, often associated with stress and fuss. Packing things, transporting, settling into a new place — the to-do list seems endless. But there is one step that can significantly ease the entire process and even bring tangible benefits — decluttering. Getting rid of unnecessary things before moving not only reduces the amount of work, but also gives the opportunity to start a new life lighter, freed from the burden of the past.

In this article, we will look at a detailed action plan, useful tips and effective life hacks that will help you declutter before moving as productively and without unnecessary stress as possible.

Step 1: Prepare to Declutter

The first and perhaps most important step is preparation. Without a clear understanding of goals and a well-thought-out plan, the process of decluttering can turn into a chaotic sorting of things, which will take a lot of time and effort, but will not bring the desired result.

• Defining goals. Ask yourself: Why do you need to declutter before moving? What results do you want to achieve? Maybe you want to reduce the amount of things you need to move, save on the services of a moving company, or just want to start life in your new home with a clean slate, getting rid of everything that no longer brings joy and benefit. A clear understanding of the goal will motivate you and help you make decisions as you declutter.
• Drawing up an action plan. Divide your entire apartment into zones that require your attention. These could be closets with clothes, storage rooms, shelves with books, kitchen drawers, etc. Make a list of these zones and determine their priorities. Start with those places that cause you the greatest discomfort or seem the most cluttered. This will allow you to immediately feel progress and increase motivation to continue working.
• Setting time frames. Decluttering is a process that takes time and effort. To avoid burnout and not drag it out indefinitely, set time limits for each area or category of things. For example, you can set aside 30–40 minutes a day to sort through your clothes, or dedicate an entire weekend to decluttering the kitchen. The main thing is to stick to the plan and not put it off for later.
• Preparing tools. Gather the supplies you need to declutter: large boxes or bags for items you plan to donate, sell, or throw away, a marker to label the boxes, rags, and cleaning supplies to clean up the surfaces you’ve cleared. Also, have a notebook or spreadsheet ready to keep track of the items you’ve gotten rid of.

Step 2: Decluttering Methodology — How to Declutter Properly

Once you have set your goals, made a plan, and prepared everything you need, you can begin the process of decluttering. There are several effective methodologies that will help you make decisions about each item and not get stuck on unnecessary memories.

Divide all things into groups by category: clothes, shoes, books, dishes, documents, toys, electronics, etc. This will allow you to assess the scale of the problem and focus on each category separately.

Evaluate each thing, asking yourself a few questions:

• Do I need this item? Do I use it regularly? If not, when was the last time I used it?
• Does this thing bring me joy? Does it evoke positive emotions? If not, is it worth keeping?
• Does this item fit my current lifestyle? Is it the right size, style, functionality?
• Is this item replaceable? If it breaks or is outdated, can it be easily replaced with a new one?

Start with one room or area. Don’t try to tackle everything at once. Start with one room or area that seems easiest to you. This will give you confidence in your abilities and help you avoid getting overwhelmed by too many things.

The “four boxes” method. Prepare four boxes: “Keep”, “Give away”, “Sell”, “Throw away”. For each item, make a decision: keep it, give it to charity, sell it or throw it away.

The “one year” rule. If you haven’t used something for a year, you probably won’t need it anymore. Feel free to get rid of it.

Step 3: Lifehacks for Effective Decluttering — Speed Up the Process

To make the decluttering process faster and more effective, use the following life hacks:

• Use of temporary storage. If you have things that you don’t use, but aren’t ready to part with them yet, put them in temporary storage (for example, in a rented storage box). After some time, you will be able to assess how much you miss these things and make a final decision.
• The “one room” method. Pack your things by room, not haphazardly. This will help you systematize the process and avoid getting lost in the boxes.
• Labels and box markings. Label all boxes, indicating what they contain and which room they should be delivered to. This will make the unpacking process at your new place much easier.
• Give away what you don’t need. Don’t throw away things that could be useful to other people. Donate them to charity, sell them on online platforms, or organize a garage sale.

Step 4: Organizing the Move — Logistics and Planning

Once you have completed the decluttering process, you can begin organizing the move itself.

• Preparing for packaging. Purchase a sufficient number of boxes of different sizes, wrapping paper, bubble wrap, tape and markers.
• Hire professionals. If you have a lot of things or you don’t want to spend time and effort on packing and transporting them, contact a specialized moving company.
• Make a loading and unloading plan. Decide what items need to be loaded and unloaded first. This will help you avoid chaos and settle into your new place faster.

Step 5: Decluttering After Moving — the Final Touch

The process of decluttering doesn’t end after you move. In your new place, you may have the opportunity to evaluate things from a different perspective and get rid of those that you no longer need.

• Experience new spaces. Think about how you want to organize the space in your new home. What things do you really need, and what can you give away or sell?
• Keep getting rid of the excess. Don’t be afraid to get rid of things you packed but never unpacked. You may not need them.