Packing Tips - Cleaning Out the Junk Before You Pack

While we suggest hiring expert movers to do the packing for you, we know that a limited moving budget sometimes removes that as an option.  If that's the boat you're in, and you're able to do some of the work on your own, you can definitely save some money (and many people do).  So to help get you started, we're writing a new Packing Tips series revolving around packing for your move.

Today we're focusing on cleaning out the junk before you pack. Check back for more packing tips and techniques each week.

The Urge the Purge
I'm a sentimental slob, I admit it. I can't get rid of many things because, well, just because. I like my stuff and have emotional attachments to things that probably aren't healthy and would make organizational experts cringe. But my dear friend Janie on the other hand can roll through her house and purge and pitch with reckless abandon. We joke about how many garage sales she has.  Seriously it's like monthly. I think there is a happy medium here and I've been working on getting there. So I thought, what better way to share what I've learned than by giving tips to people embarking on a move who need to streamline a bit before they get started.

Define Their Destiny - I think the key to success in "the big clean out" is to have a destination for everything you want to get rid of.  I have several boxes that have been hanging out in my spare room for months…they should have been given to charity long ago, but they're just adding to my clutter problem.  Do you have those kinds of boxes?  If you do, it's pretty likely that on moving day you'll be too busy to think about them and they'll end up making the trip to your new home in the moving truck— especially if you aren't there to supervise. There's nothing like paying to move what you have designated as junk.  My suggestion? Create categories and start sorting items into them.  For example, start with a "keep", "donate", "sell" and "throw away" pile.  That will make it much easier to move only what you intended to move to your new destination.

Some other suggestions for categories are:

  • Garbage (this really isn't a suggestion)
  • Garage Sale – if you have a lot of stuff you think you can make money on. Try it!  You could also put an ad in the paper or on sites like Craig's List.
  • Goodwill – self explanatory but don't forget to take what's left from the garage sale.  If it made it to the curb, it doesn't get to go back into the house.
  • Returns – all of items that aren't yours— those things that were left behind by friends and family. 

Set Goals – Thinking about cleaning out the entire house can be daunting and just overwhelming. If you've started early enough you can set some goals for yourself. Try starting with a room a day, three rooms in a week or just work on it an hour at a time. Give yourself an ending point each time you start so you feel a sense of accomplishment.

Get a Buddy – You may find that you're more successful if you have a buddy help filter through your stuff. They're a great second set of eyes and won't have the same emotional attachment you have— a great way to help you to see your stuff for what it is.  It's similar to the phenomenon of how you can clean your husband's closet out without any problem, but become paralyzed at the thought of throwing out a single t-shirt in your own? I just wish I had the guts to ask my friend Janie to come help me, but I fear I wouldn't have anything left . . .

Ask Questions or Set Rules – I think you'll find it helpful to create a set of questions, rules or guidelines to help you decide what stays and what goes. 

Here are some suggestions:

  • Have you worn it in a year?
  • When was the last time you used it?
  • Do you like it?
  • Is there a good reason you are keeping it?
  • Would (the gift giver) know if you pitched it? (tread lightly when it comes to mother-in-laws, husbands and children)
  • Could you downsize the collection?
  • How much dust did you have to wipe off to even realize what it was?

These packing tips should help you get started on cleaning out the clutter before you move. If you have anything to add, please leave a comment. If I learn anything new as I go through my house, I'll post it here and I'll let you know if I have the guts to ask my friend Janie to help. Happy decluttering!