Get Rid of These 7 Things Before Your Next Move

One of the best things you can do before a move is to eliminate excess items that you no longer use. Here are 7 things you should avoid taking with you to your next home.

Broken children’s toys

If you have children, there’s a good chance you have more than a few boxes of toys lying around. It doesn’t take long after your children are born to accumulate an almost excessive amount of toys. But when was the last time you went through all those items?

Toys can take up a lot of space and add clutter to your home. Go through your children’s toys and get rid of any broken or missing parts. Ask your children which toys they play with and consider getting rid of any they never use.

To keep this area tidier in future, adopt a one in one out policy.

Excessive amounts of linen

While it’s always good to keep old linens on hand for emergencies like cleaning up after spills, pets or children, how many pairs of worn-out towels, sheets and bedspreads do you really need? If you go through your linen cupboard, you’ll probably find plenty of items worth parting with. Not sure what to do with them? Some animal charities are happy to take blankets and towels off your hands.

If you hold onto some old linens, why not use them in your move? You can use them to wrap the furniture in or lay down on the floor to protect your new home from dirty shoes during the move.

Dishware or serving ware you never use

Like the linen cupboard, your kitchen likely houses dishes and serving plates you never reach for. While it’s always helpful to have various serving dishes on hand, we’re often gifted items that just gather dust in our cupboards.

If you’ve owned an item for two years and never used it, you probably never will. We know what you’re thinking! You’re saving it up for that special occasion. In that case, we’ve got two solutions for you. One, start using your ‘special’ dinnerware for everyday occasions. If you’ve been gifted antique plates or cups by a family member, put them to use! You can still protect your items by hand washing them rather than putting them in the dishwasher. Or, give it away to someone who will use it.

Craft supplies, decorations and costumes that will never get used again

Look, we’ve all gone through a phase of thinking we’d take up pottery, watercolours, or jewellery making at home. While it's important to indulge your creative side, you don’t need to cart dried up paints, marker pens with no caps, or abandoned DIY projects that you’ll never finish to your next home. Ditto for random parts of costumes you’ll never wear again. These items are just taking up space and will, most likely, sit in a box waiting for the next time you move.

Broken, tired or outdated camping, fishing and sporting equipment

That kayak you got in a garage sale. Those fishing rods that were on sale that you need to fix. Those dumbbells you bought during quarantine but gave you blisters? These items all have got to go. It’s easy to accumulate sporting equipment, especially if you have a family with kids who like to dabble in new things.

If no one uses these items, they are most likely just taking up space and looking messy in your garage. It’s time to go through these items and give them away. Hold a garage sale, or list them on Facebook marketplace for cheap. If your sporting equipment is ‘just missing a part,’ keep it for another week. If you still haven’t fixed it by then, it’s time to get rid of it.

Transportable storage that you will no longer need

If you’re moving to a bigger place, make sure you consider whether or not you’ll need some of the furnishings currently storing your items. If you live in an apartment, you might not need that spare bookcase or those portable drawers in your bathroom.

Consider what areas you’ll be able to store your items in your new home. Get rid of these things before you need them, so you’re not paying to carry them to your new home.

Expired and outdated items like makeup, medications and electronics

When was the last time you went through your makeup bag or closet or assessed what was living at the bottom of your wardrobe? Most makeup expires every six months to a year. If it’s been a while since you threw out your old lipsticks or eyeshadows, put it on your to-do list. Your skin will be happier. Speaking of skin, those expired medications, old containers of moisturiser, and razor heads that don’t fit anything don’t need to come with you. 

If you’ve got old DVD players, VHS players or gaming stations that no one uses, donate them or give them away. You’d be surprised at how much space you’ll free up by getting rid of these items.

Are you interested in saving more than just space? Book your next move with Wise Move . You’ll get access to a wider range of moving partners and lower rates.