5 places people always forget to declutter before moving – tackling these ‘time-sinks’ will reduce your packing by at least 25%

Moving home is a stressful, high-volume task, but decluttering these five vital areas before you get the packing boxes out will reduce the job by a whopping 25%.

These areas are often overlooked for streamlining, but the benefits of decluttering before packing is substantial, reveal our moving pros. Best of it, it knocks down how much you have to carefully pack, and then unpack and find a storage spot for in your new home.

Here, our moving experts reveal the five spots you might be missing and share how professional organizers declutter to move to make the process as streamlined as possible.

Things people forget to declutter before moving

1. Furniture

If you’re trying to declutter to downsize, or decluttering when moving in with a partner, start with the furniture.

Often forgotten about and packed absentmindedly, Nick Friedman, co-founder at College HUNKS movers, says, ‘Large items like cribs, extra chairs, and oversized artwork can take up valuable packing space and be expensive to transport.

'If these pieces no longer serve a purpose or won't fit in your new home, it’s best to part with them before the move. Donate or sell these items to lighten your load and save on moving costs.’

Consider, too, which items fit with your vision for your new home and its layout. A cozy L-shaped sofa might work for your current home, but will it fit in your new space? Weigh up the cost of moving the existing pieces against the cost of new items.

Mike Fretto, creative director at Neighbor, adds, ‘People often forget about all of their outdoor items – their outdoor furniture, landscaping decorations, large equipment, etc. But, these are the spaces that can take the most time to pack up and organize.’

For those furniture items you are keeping and taking with you, consider investing in some heavy-duty padded moving blankets from Amazon to keep them safe from damage in the process. This will help when you're working out what to pack first when moving house.

2. Off-season clothing

Decluttering clothes is often one of the first tasks we tackle when prepping to pack up for a house move, but those pieces stashed in storage often slip into moving boxes untouched.

Matt Graber, co-owner at Cool Hand Movers, a full-service moving company in Brooklyn, New York, points out, ‘If your wardrobe is seasonal, you likely have your winter clothes packed away for a summer move and vice versa. Instead of packing and hauling everything, take some time to downsize your off-season wardrobe. Donate or sell items that still have life left in them, and dispose of the stuff that wouldn’t be of use to anyone.’

A good litmus test when decluttering clothes for a house move is asking yourself if you have worn that item in the last 12 months? If not, get rid.

While you can use suitcases to pack and move clothing, you can also use hanging moving boxes from Walmart to move clothes on hangers to make unpacking speedy when you arrive in your new home.

3. Old paperwork

Paperwork seems like such a minimal category that many people pass over it when packing for a house move. However, Dana Reder, founder, CEO, and professional organizer at Winnow & Bloom, says, ‘Paperwork, bills, and other personal items and supplies often pile up over time in a home office. Getting rid of paperwork prior to moving can help prevent a family from moving miscellaneous items from home to home.

‘Homeowners should go through tax, medical, and housing paperwork, saving only what is necessary. Office supplies such as Post-its and paperclips can also be decluttered as they are easily replaced.’

You can follow the 30/30 decluttering rule when clearing out practical items like these: If it costs less than $30 and you can be without it for the next 30 days, get rid and replace it after you have moved.

For any paperwork you are keeping and cannot digitize, this Walmart plastic pocket file organizer is ideal for keeping them safe and crumple-free in transit.

When you arrive at your new home, keep important paperwork in the main body of the house. It's one of the items that should never be kept in a basement or attic, especially if these areas are not climate-controlled. Doing so will mean you run the risk of important papers getting ruined by mold, pests or leaks.

4. Cleaning products

Many people throw all their cleaning supplies into moving boxes without a second thought. You need to clean a new home before moving in, after all.

However, Matt says, ‘Cleaning supplies and various kitchen doodads tend to accumulate quickly and are left unchecked. Prioritize decluttering under the kitchen sink and toss and consolidate products, and check for leaky items before you pack everything up.’

Consider putting your cleaning essentials in a portable cleaning caddy from Target, and packing it last so it is ready to quickly disinfect and spruce up key surfaces in your new space when you arrive.

5. Linens and towels

Richard Ortiz, owner of Box Pack N Move, shares, ‘The biggest time-sink we see isn’t heavy furniture – it’s the hidden micro-clutter that sneaks into boxes unfiltered.

'Linen closet storage with orphaned pillowcases, faded comforters, and beach towels that haven’t been used in a decade. Because linens compress well, people assume they’re harmless – but a single queen comforter can fill a four cubic feet carton.'

Richard advises keeping two full sets per active bedroom or bathroom, and donating the rest to local animal shelters, which are always in need of clean, easy-to-wash towels and bedding.

Packing essentials

FAQs

How do you use fewer boxes when moving?

When trying to limit how many boxes you have when moving home, start by decluttering your home thoroughly, being ruthless, and accepting that you may have to replace items when you get to your new home.

Pack heavier items into smaller boxes that will be easier to move, and lighter, smaller items into larger boxes that will still be easier to pick up and move around without the risk of injury.

Maximize space by swapping traditional box padding for clothing and household linens.

Meet the experts

Nick Friedman

Nick is an expert from College HUNKS Hauling Junk & Moving, a national leader in home organization, decluttering and sustainable junk removal. Sustainability is at the core of what they do and they donate or recycle 70% of the items they remove, and often advise clients on creative ways to repurpose household items rather than throwing them away.

Dana Reder

Dana has spent the past 18+ years working with children and families to assess their needs and address their challenges. She's created organizational systems and specialized programming in public, charter, and private schools and manages a team of over 40 staff members.

Tacking these five essential decluttering tasks onto your moving house checklist makes the packing process just a little easier, simplifying an already stressful experience.