List of Things To Throw Away Before You Move

At some point in our lives, we just need to move. According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the top reasons people move are due to housing-related reasons such as moving to a new/better home, wanting to own a home, a cheaper housing, better neighborhood, and other housing reasons. Other common motivators include a change in marital status, to establish their household, a new job or job transfer, lost work, easier commute, attending college, and retirement. It is estimated that over 40 million Americans move every year.

We’ve all experienced moving. Once you start preparing and packing, you’ll realize just how much stuff (and clutter) you’ve accumulated through the years. Going through all of these items can be pretty overwhelming. But it is also an opportune time to look for items that you won’t need as you start a new chapter in your life.

Throwing away unnecessary stuff will definitely lighten your load and make it easier to organize your belongings. It can also save you huge bucks – and even earn.

The best advice that experts at TorexMovingCompany can give when preparing for relocation is to identify things that you need and those that you should let go. While this task might seem simple, some people find it hard to part with their belongings.

As the moving day nears, it might seem that every item has some sentimental value and is important. Step back and breathe. Don’t let your emotions control you. This makes it important to start long before the actual moving day. You still have time to process these sentiments, thereby allowing you to think clearly.

On the other hand, you shouldn’t also rash into discarding your stuff. You might throw away belongings that you might still need in the future. Take this task slowly. Start with a small room and proceed to the next.

To help make it easier to identify items that should go, here’s a quick list of things to get rid of before you move.

Bedroom

• Clothes, footwear, and accessories that don’t fit or haven’t used for a year
• Stained, damaged, or torn clothes that cannot be repaired
• Clothes you never intend to wear
• Outdated electronics such as DVD players, VHS players, CDs, and other broken gadgets
• Old and stained linens
• Books, magazines, paper files, and documents that are unimportant
• Bedroom fixtures
• DIY decors and furnishings
• Old curtains
• Chargers and other miscellaneous electronics
• Old greeting cards
• Excess luggage
• Unused blankets or comforters
• Baby gears, toys, or games your kids have outgrown

Bathroom

• Expired makeup and body-care products
• Unused or rarely used products
• Shower curtain and bathroom hangers
• Expired medicines and unusable medical devices
• Broken bathroom tools such as mirrors, hair curlers, blowers, hairdryers
• Old, frayed, and stained towels
• Stuck toothbrushes, shavers, and self-care supplies
• Unused, old soap, shampoo, and conditioner

Kitchen

• Broken kitchen appliances
• Grimy kitchen utensils
• Damaged, stained, or broken kitchenware
• Extra plates that you never use
• Cooking spices (especially the ones older than 6 months)
• Towels that don’t match or have discoloration
• Expired foods and condiments
• Clips, twists, odds, and ends
• Scratched pans and pots
• Mugs and cups
• Excess food storage and boxes
• Tools you’ve never used
• Old lunch box
• Stained or mismatched containers
• Extra vases or knick-knacks
• Water bottles
• Contents of your junk drawer or cabinet

Living Room

• Seasonal and holiday decorations
• Damaged or oversized furniture
• Books you’ve had for years and never read
• Old magazines
• DVDs and CDs
• Bulky appliances and furniture that won’t fit your new home
• Old rug carpet
• Excess décor and accessories
• Busted lamp, light bulbs, and other fixtures

Office

• Old paperwork
• Partially used notebooks or logbooks
• Hobby items/craft materials
• Instructional manuals
• Office supplies
• Tax returns
• Old bills and receipts
• Pens

As a general rule, you should consider getting rid of any item that falls in any of these criteria: you won’t need, don’t intend to use, or won’t fit into your new home. De-cluttering and removing items can save tons of space in the moving truck and ensure savings for you!

Take note that getting rid of unnecessary belongings doesn’t only mean throwing them into the dumpster. There are other ways you can do to let go of your stuff such as hosting a garage sale; donating to a friend, charity, or a local non-profit; selling items or bartering online; and, taking them into a consignment shop or salvage shop. You can even make some money from your useless junk.

Final Thoughts

Preparing for a move gives us many lessons. But perhaps, the most important takeaway is that we tend to gather so much stuff throughout our lifetime. While many of these belongings are important in our life, other items are unnecessary. These items could be overused, never used, or will never use in the future. Now, imagine if you take all of these belongings into your new home, isn’t it just a waste of money and effort?

You must take time to look into your possessions, evaluate the necessities, and be ready to get rid of excesses and junk. If you can do this, your move should be lighter and more exciting. Hopefully, the list above can guide you as you check on your items and make decisions.

Lastly, always remember that you’re moving into a new place to build a new life or start over. You want to keep your tabs clear so you can start right.