Moving house has a funny way of revealing how much stuff you’ve collected over the years. The cupboard that won’t quite close. The garage box you haven’t opened since the last move. The drawer you’ll “deal with later”, following you from flat to flat.
That’s why decluttering is the first step to a stress-free move. While it’s tempting to jump straight into packing, clearing out the clutter first can make a big difference on moving day. You’ll have less to pack, and a lighter load can save you time and money on moving costs.
Decluttering might be simple in theory, but getting started is often the hardest part. The good news? There’s no right or wrong way to do it – the goal is simply to shed what you don’t need. And if you need a little motivation, TikTok’s #CleanTok community is full of clear-out inspo and clever organising hacks.
In this guide, we’ve gathered the best decluttering tips and viral CleanTok ideas to help you clear the clutter, get your home move-ready, and start fresh in your new place.
Think of decluttering as a gift to your future self. There are lots of good reasons to spend a weekend decluttering before you move.
Whether you’re shifting a few blocks over in the same city or trekking from the South Island to the North, the sheer volume of stuff we accumulate over the years can be a bit confronting.
The secret to keeping your cool is all in the preparation. Here is a simple, five-step plan to tackle the chaos before the moving truck rolls up the driveway.
Give yourself plenty of time! A practical timeline is to begin decluttering 4-6 weeks before moving day, tackling one room every few days rather than trying to do the whole house in a single weekend.
Don't try to tackle the whole house at once. Break it down into manageable, bite-sized pieces.
Start with the rooms that hold the most storage first – this might be your garage, pantry, or spare room, and don't move on until that space is cleared.
Tip: You may want to try the snowball method of decluttering the smallest spaces first. But keep in mind that leaving the biggest task until last could mean running into your moving day deadline.
Create a container or area for sorting out all your stuff. Anything you want to keep can go straight into a moving box.
Put the items that you want to "Donate", "Sell", and "Toss" into separate bins, ready to donate or to take to the tip.
This is the tough part. Ask yourself if an item is truly useful or deeply meaningful. If it’s just taking up space just in case, it might be time to let it go. Only keep what adds value to your new life.
Consider the “12-month test”: if you haven’t used an item in the past year, and it isn’t seasonal or sentimental, it’s probably safe to let it go.
For sentimental items, ask yourself whether:
Start packing away items from low-traffic areas of your home right now.
While it’s nice to have a perfectly tidy sewing room or a pristine tool bench, if you won’t need those supplies for the next few weeks, get them into boxes today.
Some items that are often safe to pack several weeks ahead of moving day are:
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Mari Kondo’s ‘Kon Mari’ method is about keeping items that ‘spark joy.’ If this question feels hard to answer, try asking yourself the questions above instead. Mari also suggests decluttering by category to create more order as you go.
@melmelbourne_ All the toys were back out 5 minutes later but at least the floor was clean 🥰 when the dust part of the vacuum opened I needed to deep breathe haha #cleantok #housereset #houseresetwithme #aussiemum #melbournemum ♬ original sound - Mel Melbourne
If the thought of a whole weekend of packing makes you want to hide under the duvet, try the One-Hour Method. Set a timer for 60 minutes and focus on one specific task — like the kitchen pantry or the linen cupboard. Even the busiest of households can benefit from a power hour to prevent decluttering burnout.
@destinyybrown Day 8: Hallway Cupboard #fyp #nz #CleanTok #declutter #MomsofTikTok #orgnanisation #cleantok ♬ original sound - dest
The Core 4 is a simple system designed by professional organisers to clear any space:
This ensures you aren’t just shifting ‘organised clutter’ from one house to another. And it can only take an hour to declutter some of the worst offending parts of your home.
@realsimple Coined by associate editorial director Katie Holdefehr in her new book “Embrace Your Space,” the move-out method is perfect for anyone stuck in a bit of a decluttering rut. #organizinghack #declutteringtips #easycleaningtips #organizationtiktok #declutteringhacks ♬ original sound - Real Simple
Only the essentials make the cut and go back into the room. Everything else is immediately banished to the donate or sell pile – no sneaking them back into the drawers!
@brit_cunningham We all have a room of shame, it’s fine, but today I’m cleaning mine! Guess what I’ll do with this space as my temporary solution & follow along to watch it transform ✨👷♀️🧼 #cleantok #cleanwithme #cleaningtiktok #storytelling #deepcleantok #deepcleanwithme #deepcleaning #organising #organisingmylife #organisingtiktok #organisewithme #mumswhoclean #relatable #cleaningmotivation #momtok #sahmtok #sahmlife #sahmlifebelike #honestmom #motherhoodmentalhealth #anxietysquad #nzmum #nztiktok #cleaning #cleaninghacks #newzealandtiktok ♬ Mishaps - Lofi-nimation
By focusing on one room at a time, you get a sense of completion that keeps you motivated. It’s best to start with the hardest rooms first and save the easier ones (like bedrooms) for last.
Now that you’ve seen how the pros do it on #CleanTok, it’s time to make these methods work for your own upcoming move.
Here’s how to find the best method for you:
You can easily book professional movers, no matter where you are in New Zealand, with Wise Move.
Let’s be honest. Even with the best #CleanTok methods in your toolkit, decluttering can eventually feel like a bit of a slog. When the initial excitement wears off, use these tricks to keep your eyes on the prize:
@lisaperese_ Anyone else do a full clean because you’re mum made you do it as a kid? 🥴😂 #cleantok #dailyvlog #dailyroutine #vlog #vlogtiktok ♬ She Share Story (for Vlog) - 山口夕依
Once you’ve done the hard work of decluttering, what do you do with the stuff you’re letting go of?
Here is how to clear it out responsibly:
Check out our guide to e-waste centres near you, or search your local council website for great guides on where to drop off tricky items like old paint tins or batteries.
If you’re left with bulky items like old furniture, broken appliances, or piles of garage junk, it might be easier to book a professional junk removal service rather than doing multiple tip runs yourself. With Wise Move, you can quickly book trusted removalists who can clear out the heavy, awkward items you don’t want to move.
What about the stuff you’re keeping? Wise Move can help with that too! You can book affordable, professional movers that will get your belongings where they need to go, helping you set up your new home, clutter-free!
