How to Declutter Before a Move: 6 Easy Steps

Your new home is a blank canvas. Before you start filling it, take a moment to think about how you want it to feel. Calm and minimalist? Vibrant and creative? The process of deciding what to bring with you is your first opportunity to shape that vision. Learning how to declutter before a move is less about subtraction and more about curation. You are the curator of your own life, and this is your chance to select only the items that are useful, beautiful, or that you genuinely love. This guide will help you shift your perspective from what you’re losing to what you’re gaining: a home filled only with things that support the life you want to live.

Planning to relocate anytime soon? Now is the time to get started with decluttering before a move. Getting rid of unwanted stuff well before the scheduled move will help you save on the time and effort needed to pack them. Take the time to sort through possessions you don’t need and certainly won’t use in the new place. At the same time, you’ll also save on the moving costs for transporting the stuff. Read ahead for some practical tips on how to declutter your home so you bring only the essentials. Schedule Your Move Today

Get in the Right Mindset for Decluttering

Before you even open a closet or tackle that junk drawer, the most important work happens in your head. Decluttering is as much a mental exercise as it is a physical one. Going in with a clear purpose and a positive attitude can transform this task from a dreaded chore into an empowering first step toward your new life. Without the right mindset, it’s easy to get overwhelmed and give up. By setting your intentions first, you create a filter that makes every decision—what to keep, what to toss, what to donate—significantly easier. Let’s explore a few ways to get your head in the game for a successful pre-move purge.

Define your “why”

The first step is to get clear on your motivation. Why are you doing this? It’s not just about having less stuff to pack. Think about how you want your new home to feel and what your vision is for it. Do you imagine a calm, minimalist sanctuary or a vibrant, creative space? Write down a few words that capture this feeling. This “why” becomes your North Star. When you’re staring at a sentimental item you haven’t used in years, you can ask yourself if it aligns with your vision for a more organized and peaceful home. Having a clear goal makes it easier to let go of items that don’t fit into the life you’re building.

View the move as a fresh start

A move is one of life’s great reset buttons. It’s the perfect opportunity to build a home you truly love, not just a place to store things from your past. Think of this process as curating your future. Every item you decide to keep should earn its place in this new chapter. This isn’t about erasing your history, but about intentionally choosing what parts of it you want to carry forward. Letting go of things that no longer serve you—whether it’s clothes that don’t fit or furniture that doesn’t match your style—creates physical and mental space for new experiences and memories in your new home. This perspective helps you prepare for your move with excitement instead of dread.

Adopt a “dream home” mindset

Here’s a powerful mental trick: imagine you’re moving into your absolute dream home tomorrow. Now, look at your possessions and ask, “What would I not want to take with me?” This simple question can instantly clarify your decisions. Would that wobbly bookshelf or those old, chipped mugs make the cut for your ideal living space? Probably not. This “dream home” filter helps you detach emotionally from clutter and focus on quality over quantity. It shifts the focus from what you’re losing to what you’re gaining—a home filled only with things that are useful, beautiful, and that you genuinely love. It’s the ultimate strategy for making faster, more confident decluttering choices.

1. Feeling Overwhelmed? Start Small

Sorting through the things you absolutely need and the ones you can get rid of is a challenging task. As soon as you’ve made the final decision to move, start getting rid of unwanted items. Each time you spot something you know you won’t use, relegate it to different piles. Just remember that the sooner you start, the easier will be the move when you get down to it. Starting with one room at a time over the weekend is also a great idea. How about the garage, basement, attic, or even, the laundry room?

Specific Decluttering Methods

If the idea of decluttering your entire home feels like a monumental task, don’t worry. You don’t have to do it all at once. The key is to find a method that works for your personality and decision-making style. Trying a structured approach can break the process down into manageable steps, turning a dreaded chore into a series of small, satisfying wins. These specific techniques are designed to help you focus, make clear-headed decisions, and keep your momentum going. By being strategic about what you keep, you’ll make the entire packing process simpler and ensure your new home starts off as a clean, organized slate.

Sort by category

Instead of trying to clear out one room at a time, which can feel chaotic, try tackling one category of items throughout your entire house. For example, gather every single book you own from the living room, bedroom, and office, and put them all in one place. This method forces you to confront exactly how much you have of a single type of item. When you see five copies of the same novel or a stack of cookbooks you haven’t touched in years, it becomes much easier to identify duplicates and items you no longer need. Go through all your clothes, then all your kitchen gadgets, then all your linens. This approach streamlines your decisions and helps you avoid packing redundant items for your move.

Use a timer

It’s easy to get sidetracked or overwhelmed when you’re surrounded by years of accumulated belongings. To combat this, try using a timer to create focused bursts of activity. Set it for just 20 or 30 minutes and commit to decluttering one small area—like a single drawer or a shelf—without stopping until the timer goes off. This technique, often called a “decluttering sprint,” keeps you moving and prevents you from getting lost in nostalgia or bogged down by tough decisions. Once the time is up, you can take a short break before starting another sprint. These small, concentrated efforts add up quickly and make the entire project feel much more achievable without demanding hours of your undivided attention.

Try the “Box It and Forget It” method

We all have those items we’re not quite ready to part with, even if we haven’t used them in ages. For these sentimental or “just-in-case” belongings, the “Box It and Forget It” method is a lifesaver. Pack the items you’re unsure about into a clearly labeled box. Once you’ve completed your long-distance move and are settled in, place this box in a closet or storage space. Then, set a calendar reminder for three to six months down the road. If you haven’t needed or even thought about anything in that box by the time the reminder goes off, you can confidently donate or discard its contents without regret. This strategy gives you a low-pressure way to test whether you truly need something in your life.

Create a “Maybe Bin”

Decision fatigue is real, especially when you’re making hundreds of choices about what to keep and what to toss. To keep your energy up, create a “Maybe Bin” or box. As you sort through your things, if you come across an item that stumps you, simply place it in the bin and move on. This allows you to maintain your momentum by focusing on the easy “yes” and “no” decisions first. Set the bin aside and plan to revisit it a day or two later when you have a fresh perspective. Often, after some time has passed, the right choice becomes much clearer. If you find you don’t even remember what’s in the bin, it’s a strong sign you can let those items go.

2. Divide Your Belongings into a Few Parts

A practical hack is to separate your things into piles that will then determine their fate. Sort them according to sell, donate, and discard. Anything that still has some use in it or can be recycled should be sold or given to charity. The choice is yours. Here are some categories:

Keep
Trash
Shred (sensitive documents/personal records)
Sell or Donate
Storage
Recycle

3. Rules for Deciding What to Keep

Once you have your sorting categories, the real work begins: deciding what goes where. This can feel paralyzing, especially when you’re faced with an item you feel ambivalent about. To make the process more objective and less emotional, it helps to have a clear set of rules to follow. These guidelines can act as your decluttering compass, helping you make confident decisions about what earns a spot in the moving truck. By being intentional with what you keep, you not only save on packing time and moving costs but also set yourself up for a more organized, streamlined life in your new home. Think of it as curating your future, one item at a time.

Follow the one-year rule

One of the most effective and straightforward guidelines for decluttering is the one-year rule. The concept is simple: if you haven’t used an item in the last 12 months, it’s a strong candidate for the donate, sell, or toss pile. This rule is especially helpful for things like clothing, kitchen gadgets, hobby supplies, and decor. Be honest with yourself. That bread maker you got as a gift but never unboxed? The collection of magazines you swore you’d read? If a full cycle of seasons has passed without you needing it, the odds are low that you’ll suddenly need it in your new home. This simple guideline helps remove the “what if” anxiety from the decision-making process.

Take photos of sentimental items

Letting go of sentimental items is often the biggest hurdle in the decluttering process. We attach powerful memories to physical objects, making them feel irreplaceable. A practical way to honor the memory without keeping the item is to take a high-quality photograph of it. Your child’s kindergarten art projects, a t-shirt from a memorable concert, or a collection of postcards can all be preserved digitally. This allows you to create a special album on your phone or computer, freeing up physical space. You get to keep the memory and the feeling associated with the item without the burden of packing, moving, and storing it. This approach lets you cherish the past while making room for your future.

Measure your new home

Before you decide to keep every piece of furniture, take a practical step and measure your new space. A common moving mistake is assuming everything that fits in your current home will fit in the next one. Get a copy of the floor plan or visit the new property with a tape measure. Note the dimensions of each room, as well as the width of doorways, hallways, and stairwells. That oversized sofa might look great now, but it’s not worth keeping if you can’t get it through the front door. Making these decisions now will save you the headache and expense of moving items that simply won’t work. This proactive step is a crucial part of any successful moving plan.

Ask yourself key questions

When you’re stuck on an item, run it through a series of direct questions to clarify its value to you. This turns an emotional choice into a more logical one. First, ask: “Do I truly love this?” and “Do I use this regularly?” If the answer to both is no, it’s easier to let go. Next, consider your new life: “Will this item serve a purpose in my new home and fit my future lifestyle?” Finally, think about practicality: “If I got rid of this and needed it later, how difficult or expensive would it be to replace?” Asking these questions helps you focus on an item’s real function and importance, ensuring you only bring things that add genuine value to your life.

3. Get the Whole Family Involved

Respect that each family member should be allowed to decide what to keep and what to bring along to the new place. If your five-year-old insists on bringing their entire stuffed toy collection, respect that. Moving to a new place is a scary prospect for a child and having familiar objects could make the transition easier. Remember not to make decisions for your partner, let them sort through their possessions. Anything that has sentimental value for you or any other family member definitely goes in the keep pile. If you can’t decide, for now, set the item aside for revisiting it later. Accept that decluttering before a move can be an emotional roller coaster.

Set limits for kids’ items

Getting children involved in decluttering can feel like a challenge, but it’s a great opportunity to teach them about making choices. A simple and effective strategy is to use baskets or bins to set physical limits. Explain that they can keep any toys, books, or clothes that fit inside their designated containers. Once the baskets are full, sit down with them and have a conversation about what they might be ready to let go of. This visual boundary helps them understand that space is finite and encourages them to prioritize their most-loved belongings. Framing it as making room for new adventures in your new home can also make the process more exciting for them.

Help your partner with their clutter

Navigating a partner’s clutter requires a gentle touch. Instead of telling them what to get rid of, try a more collaborative approach. If you come across items you suspect they no longer need or use, place them in a separate box or bag for them to review later. This simple act saves them the mental energy of sorting through everything from scratch and shows you’re trying to help, not control. It opens the door for a low-pressure conversation about what’s truly important to bring to the new space. Remember, the goal is to work as a team, and this method respects their ownership while still moving the decluttering process forward together.

Arrange for childcare

While decluttering and packing, your focus is key. To make the process smoother and safer for everyone, it’s a great idea to arrange for childcare and even pet care. With kids and pets safely entertained by a family member, friend, or sitter, you can concentrate on the task at hand without distractions or worrying about little ones getting underfoot. This allows you to make decisions more clearly and work more efficiently, which can significantly reduce stress. A less chaotic packing period sets the stage for a more organized moving day, allowing you to focus on the final logistics while your moving service handles the heavy lifting.

4. Dedicate Time

As the actual moving date draws closer, you’ll have to make a conscious effort to dedicate time every day. Set aside an hour after work and you’ll be surprised at the tasks you manage in that time. Getting close friends and family to help is also a good move. Sometimes, you need a second set of eyes to evaluate whether or not to keep things. You can also get them to help you check every nook and cranny of the house to make sure you don’t miss anything. And, that includes drawers, cabinets, under-the-bed hideouts, and closet corners.

Practical Tips for the Process

Once you’ve committed to a schedule and adopted the right mindset, you can make the decluttering process much more efficient. Instead of seeing it as a separate, dreaded chore, integrate it directly into your moving preparations. These practical tips will help you combine tasks, stay motivated, and make the entire experience feel less like a mountain to climb and more like a series of manageable steps. By working smarter, not harder, you can clear out the clutter and get ready for your new home with less stress, ensuring you only bring what you truly love and need into your next chapter.

Pack and purge at the same time

One of the most effective strategies is to declutter as you pack. Instead of sorting through a room and then returning later to box everything up, do both at once. As you pick up an item, decide its fate immediately: keep, donate, sell, or trash. This approach forces you to be decisive and prevents you from handling the same object multiple times. Keep your donation and trash bags handy so you can sort items as you go. This method not only streamlines the packing process but also ensures you’re only boxing up the things you truly intend to move to your new home.

Remove unwanted items quickly

Once you’ve created piles for donation or trash, get them out of your house as soon as possible. Letting bags of unwanted items sit around can create more clutter and tempt you to second-guess your decisions. Schedule regular trips to a local donation center or arrange for a charity to pick up your items. For things you plan to sell, list them online right away. The goal is to create a clear, organized space that helps you maintain momentum. Seeing the clutter physically leave your home is incredibly motivating and reinforces the progress you’re making.

Label boxes with their future room

This simple step is a gift to your future self. As you seal each “keep” box, label it clearly with the room it will go into at your new home—not the room it came from. For example, write “Main Bathroom,” “Kitchen,” or “David’s Bedroom” in bold marker on the top and sides of the box. This makes unpacking incredibly efficient. When your movers arrive, they can place each box in its designated room, saving you the effort of shuffling heavy containers around later. It transforms the unpacking process from a chaotic hunt into a straightforward task.

Consider hiring a junk removal service

If you’re dealing with a large volume of unwanted items, broken furniture, or old appliances, don’t feel like you have to manage it all yourself. Hiring a junk removal service can be a practical and time-saving solution. They can quickly clear out everything you don’t want, leaving you free to focus on packing the essentials. For more complex situations, such as clearing out an entire property, you might look into specialized services. For instance, some moving companies offer estate cleanouts that can handle the removal of belongings as part of a larger move, simplifying the logistics significantly.

5. Restrict or Stop Shopping Entirely

The weeks before the move are a good time to cut back on shopping. Don’t purchase anything unless it is absolutely needed. When buying groceries, focus on getting only the minimum supplies that you’ll need for the next week or so. When putting away the groceries, get rid of the expired and useless food as you check each cabinet. You’ll save time decluttering the kitchen when it’s time to move. Empty out the fridge and try to use up as much as possible.

6. Have a Garage Sale

A garage sale is the best way for decluttering before a move and getting rid of some of the stuff you absolutely don’t need. Put a reasonable price tag and set up the things in your front yard. Remember to advertise the sale on your neighborhood social media platform or local news website. It’s a great way to raise some extra cash while finding new homes for your pre-loved possessions. Also Read: Should you tip your movers after paying for their services? Continue reading to find out why and how much you should tip movers for a local or long-distance move.

We’re Here to Help!

Moving can be stressful and challenging but here at Starving Student Movers, we have been in the moving business for more than 45 years. That’s the kind of moving experience you’ll have at your disposal. Whether you are moving locally or even across the country, we can help you move at the best possible rates. Call (888) 931-Move(6683) today to book us or get a free quote!

Frequently Asked Questions

I feel completely overwhelmed. Where is the absolute best place to start? The best way to build momentum is to start with a small, low-stakes area. Instead of tackling your bedroom closet or a sentimental box first, begin with the bathroom cabinets or the laundry room. These spaces usually have items with less emotional attachment, like expired products or duplicate cleaning supplies, making it easier to make quick decisions. A few small wins will give you the confidence you need to move on to bigger projects.

What’s the best way to handle sentimental items I know I should get rid of but can’t? This is the toughest part for almost everyone. A great strategy is to take a beautiful photo of the item. You can create a digital album to preserve the memory without needing the physical object. If you’re still on the fence, try the “Box It and Forget It” method. Pack the items into a box, seal it, and set a reminder on your phone for six months after your move. If you haven’t needed or even thought about what’s inside by then, you can let it go with confidence.

How far in advance of my move should I start this process? Ideally, you should begin decluttering at least one to two months before your moving date. This gives you enough time to work in short, focused bursts without feeling rushed or burning out. Trying to do it all the week before you move is a recipe for stress. Starting early allows you to thoughtfully sort through your belongings, arrange for donation pickups, or even hold a garage sale without the pressure of a looming deadline.

What are the most efficient ways to get rid of everything I don’t want to keep? Once you’ve sorted your items, have a clear plan for removal. For things with resale value, list them on online marketplaces right away. For donations, check with local charities, as many offer free home pickups for larger items like furniture, which saves you a trip. For everything else—broken items or things that can’t be donated—consider a junk removal service. It can be a worthwhile investment to have it all cleared out in one go.

Is all this effort to declutter really going to make a difference on moving day? Absolutely. The benefits go far beyond just having fewer boxes. You’ll save real money on moving costs, as the price is often based on weight and volume. Your packing will be faster, and more importantly, your unpacking will be a dream. Imagine arriving at your new home and knowing that every single box contains something you truly want and need. It’s the best way to ensure you start this new chapter with a sense of calm and control.

Key Takeaways

Define your vision before you begin: Get clear on how you want your new home to feel. This purpose will guide your decisions, making it easier to let go of things that don’t fit into the life you’re creating.
Create simple rules to make decisions easier: Use straightforward guidelines, like the one-year rule, to remove emotion from the process. For sentimental items, take a photo to preserve the memory without keeping the physical object.
Combine packing and decluttering into one step: Sort items as you handle them, deciding immediately whether to keep, donate, or toss. Label boxes with their destination room to make unpacking a breeze.

Ethan

Starving Movers

How to Declutter Before a Move: 6 Simple Steps