Decluttering to Move! Tips & Ideas

Thank you so much for watching today! You can find Cambriea's channel here (for TONS of motivation!): youtube.com/c/livingwithcambriea We hope you have a GREAT weekend! - Dawn

Having moved several times, here's my main tip -- pack according to the rooms you are moving TO, not according to the rooms you are moving out of. And LABEL the boxes by the rooms they are going to also, then you or the movers can put them right there. Lastly, don't open any box until you are ready to unpack it all the way and put everything in it where it belongs. If you know this is how you are going to do it, it will change how you pack.

My favorite tip for moving is not so much about the decluttering but the packing. Whenever I move I always pack the most important non-negotiable things first (in regards to decor etc not items being used). That way if I have packed my favorites and I already have two or three boxes I know that what is left didn't make the first cuts and can probably be decluttered.

I spent some time visiting an orphanage in Haiti. They didn't have much in the way of personal possessions, but in the playroom there was a big pile of toys that had been donated. The girls played with them sometimes, but they preferred to be outdoors running around. They loved to sing and dance. When indoors, they chose to engage in the crafts and artwork projects I set up for them while the toys were ignored. Children don't NEED the stuff adults think would make them happy.

When we moved last summer, we were in a different season of life (retired) and only moved to a different suburb about 15 miles away (to be closer to our 3 adult kids and 2 grandkids). We were lucky in that, in this CRAZY housing marker, we could buy a house we even listed our house. So I did a major declutter to get ready for listing photos. I started EARLY!! Like I'm talking the autumn before with the (unfinished) basement. Over the months, I probably got rid of AT LEAST 50% of what I had in our home. Let's be honest...a lot went in the trash. Then there were the things our kids took. But our local thrift shop took almost everything else. By the time photos were taken, our house looked amazing...like did I really want to move?!! Then, when the actual packing started, I got rid of even MORE. I just can not express the feeling of getting rid of all that 'stuff'...it was wonderful! And you know what?? I haven't missed on single thing I got rid of! And now, being here 9 months...I'm ready to purge yet again...

Liquor stores will give you all the boxes you want. Free. The boxes are sturdy/strong and not so big that they're heavy after you fill them up.

Save on packing material and use extra towels, sheets, and clothing instead of bubble wrap. Socks are perfect for glassware. It will also push you to unpack faster since you will want the sheets or other things!

I thought I was a minimalist until last month when I packed to move to a new house and realized how much stuff I actually had! The kitchen took me all day long to pack!

"Allow for some margin of error!" I needed that. Give yourself grace and realize that it's ok if you make a few mistakes when decluttering!

We moved last October from Oregon to Florida. It costs a LOT and I regretted moving as much as I did because it took us a full 5 months to move into our new house. Now I’m glad that we moved so much because of crazy inflation and transport delays. Everyone, please, keep in mind the times that we are in. Lightening our load is wise when we are getting rid of superfluous Knick-knacks but beware when you’re looking at decluttering glass storage for food, like beans and rice. You can put away some clothes for now in sealed up bags and then go shopping in your own clothes in several months. You just might be glad that you did when you need clothes but have a lot less money-power for making those purchases. I am all for decluttering but let’s apply wisdom, knowledge and understanding of the times in which we live.

Just moved cross country a month ago after 36 years in a good-sized house. Since I didn’t want to shop for new furniture during the pandemic, I drew a furniture plan for the new apartment to decide which pieces would fit. When I knew which bookshelves would be shipped, I emptied them out and started refilling them with my just favorite books that I felt were worth their weight. Same idea for my clothes dresser. I collected used moving boxes on Nextdoor or Freecycle, just I am now finding the next people to take my emptied boxes and wrinkled packing paper. Standard box sizes make it easier for the professionals to fill their truck efficiently. Start as early as possible. Give away as much as you can. Sell your bulky items at a low price so other people gratefully haul them away. Take just the best, and label the boxes so you find the essentials quickly in your new home.

I just used 1-800-got junk twice in the last 3 months when clearing out my sister in law’s house who had recently died. I highly highly recommend them- like Cambria said they will recycle and donate whenever possible. And the guys were super nice and helpful!

We just moved 4 months ago. But I began slowly packing a good couple months early. In the kitchen, I went through each drawer and cupboard leaving out the bare minimum--1 spatula, 1 mixing bowl, 3 of each silverwear, 2 mugs, etc. I did the same with our clothing. I left one week of outfits out for each person. We just washed laundry more often, which was easy and fast because we had so few items! Funnily enough, I got really used to wearing the same things and I didn't mind at all! No decision fatigue when trying to get dressed! I also appreciate the reminder that we do need to revisit spaces we've already decluttered. I forget that extra things can sneak in on us and disrupt that minimal vibe! I love that Dana ordered the set of boxes and let THEM be her container limit! Smart!

SO helpful even to those of us who aren’t moving and don’t have small children! Less stuff in a space is always more calming and I find that a second pass through a month or two later, and a third pass through a month or two later more and more stuff goes out the door!

Moving is the BEST way to declutter!!!

I'm kind of embarrassed to share this tip because I know it wouldn't work for many people but before I move I set a "declutter x amount of things" challenge. I moved a few months ago and got rid of 1,000 things. I just keep a sheet of paper in my main walkway and put tally marks anytime I donated anything or threw it away. It does feel like an extra step to mark it off but for me it's so satisfying to see the progress you're making when it isn't so apparent in the actual home. (Does anyone else have a disastrous house when you're packing)? Plus, I love that extra push to look for things that I can add to my list.

I met your channel when I decided to amp myself up in preparation for a move 6 months later (about a year ago actually!) We had had a work move with packers and movers and had so much stuff! When I got estimates done for this upcoming move I was baffled at the cost and we decided to move ourselves. For that to work, we had to move as little as possible! I am a really crappy multitasker so in retrospect I can say my most successful tip was to go through every single room and space of the house (no rush!) being really ruthless in de cluttering, before I even started to think about packing. Over the course of about 2 months that’s what I did, getting into a minimalist mindset. The packing and moving went super smoothly and I feel like we are still keeping up with the good habits. What I first hoped would be a moving hack turned into a life shift that is super beneficial to our entire family. Thanks dawn 🖤

Something about the delight on Dawn's face when she found out 1-800-Got-Junk sorts stuff out for you made me so happy. :-)

I love idea of buying the set of boxes and limiting yourself to that. That’s exactly what I need

Im so glad for Dawn’s guidance. My parents moved many years ago and moved everything! When we had to clean out their house after mom died and dad moved to assisted living, we rented a BIG dumpster and threw away a basement full of unpacked boxes of random junk! It took 2 full weeks, 12 hour days to clean out that house. They were both raised during the Great Depression so I understand their mindset. Im grateful to know there is a different way!