A new home is a new beginning, and before you go starting this journey, decluttering is a wise choice to make. Not only will you save money on packing costs, but downsizing your belongings is beneficial for our environment.
However, knowing where to get started isn’t always easy. Sometimes it can be challenging to let go of personal items, and the whole process can be a little overwhelming.
If you are looking for some help, then keep on reading. We are going to discuss ten tips for decluttering your home before moving house.
Start with a plan.
The first and most crucial step to take before you get started is to make sure you have a plan. This includes:
- Setting yourself a timeframe.
- Finding friends and family to help.
- Establishing goals for each person.
The more organized you are in the beginning, the easier the process will be in the long run.
Remember, depending on where you are moving to, you may need to declutter more, so adjust your plan as needed. Whether you are relocating to one of these nyc condos for sale or a house in the countryside. It’s always better to be prepared.
Tackle one room at a time.
It’s easy to get excited and start removing things left, right, and center. But that’s often not the best tactic to take. It’s better to tackle one room at a time so that no area is missed.
Try and do your most cluttered rooms first so that you don’t lose interest towards the end of the day. This usually includes your kitchen, office, and bathroom.
Choose your supplies carefully.
In order to effectively declutter your house, you need to have the right supplies. Of course, you want to make these as eco-friendly as possible, so try and use reusable options. (They will help you save more money too).
Rags and cloths work great for cleaning, and cardboard boxes to organize everything can also be recycled. Don’t forget to label all of your containers as well so that your belongings end up in the right place.
Donate what you no longer need.
It’s much easier to let go of items if you know that they will go to good use. Instead of throwing things away, donate them to your local charity. This helps keep our planet clean while helping out those in need.
One piece of advice is to take everything you plan to donate at the end of the day. If you delay this, all of those items might end up working their way back into your new home.
Scan your paperwork.
You probably guessed it; unnecessary paperwork is one of the biggest causes of clutter. While there are some things you certainly need hard copies of, there are others that you probably don’t need to hold onto.
Download a scanner app or use your printer to transfer all of your files into a digital format. Going paperless has many benefits and will clear up a lot of your office space.
Check the expiration dates.
One thing that many people forget to do when clearing out their home is to check the expiration dates on their food items. If something is no longer in date, throw it away! There is no need to take it with you to your new home.
It’s not just crucial for things in your fridge or pantry either. Your makeup, cleaning products, pillows, and even fire extinguishes all have an expiration date. Spending the extra time to check will help you get rid of a lot of trash.
Limit your number of boxes per room.
If you are still having trouble cutting down your belongings, one tip is to limit the number of boxes that you use per room. Once they are filled up, that’s it! If you require anything else, you’ll need to make some compromises.
Remember, the fewer supplies you have to use, the more likely you will have a sustainable house move. Just make sure you aren’t throwing away anything important.
Try on all of your clothing.
We are all guilty of having clothing in our closets that we don’t even wear. Instead of taking it with you to fill up space in your new home, now is the perfect time to sort through everything.
Take the opportunity to try on all of your clothing before you pack it. If it doesn’t fit right, or you just don’t think you will wear it, put it in the donate pile.
You can find more tips to help you here.
Leave sentimental items last.
Sentimental items are the hardest things to get rid of, and because of this, you want to leave sorting them till last. If you throw them all away too early, you may get exhausted and find it challenging to declutter the rest of your household.
If you can’t bear to part with anything, look for an alternative storage solution. You might consider making a memory box for each family member and storing it in the shed or garage instead of having the items around your home.
Resell what you can.
Finally, another great way to motivate yourself to part with your belongings is to sell anything that you think still holds value. You may be more willing to get rid of unnecessary items if you know that you will get something out of it.
Facebook marketplace, Gumtree, and eBay are all great places to get started. You would be surprised at how much extra cash you can make.
Final words.
And that’s it! These were ten tips to declutter your house. While it might seem like a stressful experience, by following the above, you will be able to get through it.
The most important thing to remember is to be patient and work through everything slowly. Trust us when we say it really will make moving into your new home a much easier process.