Moving is stressful enough without having to pack up years of clutter. One mom decided to get ahead of the problem by decluttering her entire home before a move, and @laura.comes.clean is sharing the process in a series, with each episode taking on a new category. Episode two focused on a cabinet full of mugs, and it began with a tough question she asked herself.
Her stated goal is to declutter every inch of her house until the idea of moving no longer overwhelms her. Judging by how much she got rid of in one session, she may be onto something.
@laura.comes.clean
The One Question That Cuts Through It All
She opens by explaining that there are way too many mugs in her house, and she marvels at how fast things pile up. Then she gives herself a simple rule. For each item, she asks whether she actually wants to pack it and move it to another house. If the answer is no, she can probably let it go.
It is a powerful filter. Instead of asking whether an item is useful or whether it might be handy someday, she asks about the cost of carrying it. Packing, loading, unloading and unpacking take time and energy, and every box costs money in supplies and in moving help. When you put it that way, a lot of things stop looking worth the trouble.
Mugs, Water Bottles and Hard Choices
She admits that mugs are hard to part with. At one point she wonders aloud whether it is just her, but plenty of people feel the same way. Mugs come from trips, gifts, offices and favorite stores, and each one seems to carry a memory. She also asks what the acceptable number of water bottles per person is, and says she does not know the answer, but her goal is to get rid of at least half of the stuff before the day is over.
Along the way, she held up items one by one. A cute mug made the cut. Another item with lots of pieces was set aside because she found it cumbersome and never used it. A cracked wooden spoon did not stay, since she did not want to risk getting a splinter. By the end of the session she had pared the mugs down to almost half, and she was officially 31 items lighter. She says most of what she removed was stuff her family did not even use. Then she teased episode three.
Why Decluttering Before a Move Makes Sense
Many people wait until the week before moving day to sort through their things. That is when the stress is at its highest and the time is shortest. Packing up items you do not need only to unpack them in a new home is a common mistake. Going through your home in small steps, a category at a time, gives you time to think and prevents the last-minute panic of tossing everything into boxes.
It also saves money. Movers often charge by weight or by the hours it takes to load a truck, and if you are renting a truck, fewer boxes mean a smaller vehicle. Even if you do the move yourself, every box has to be lifted.
How to Declutter Before a Move
Ask the moving question. For each item, ask whether you want to pack it and carry it to a new home. If you hesitate, it is likely not worth bringing.
Start with a category that has many duplicates. Mugs, water bottles, plastic containers and dish towels are ideal. You can gather all of one kind in a single place and see how many you really own.
Set a goal. She aims to let go of at least half of her mugs and bottles. A target gives you something to work toward, and it keeps you from stopping after removing only the obvious.
Keep your favorites. The aim is not to have an empty cupboard. Keep the ones you reach for every week, and the ones that make you smile.
Throw out the broken and unsafe. Cracked wooden spoons, chipped dishes and anything else that could cause harm do not belong in your next kitchen.
Be honest about gadgets. Items with a lot of pieces tend to go unused. If you never use it, a move is a perfect time to say goodbye.
Count your progress. She counted how many items she had removed, and 31 is a satisfying number. Keeping a tally can be motivating.
Sell or donate good items early. Do not wait until the last week. Donation centers may have wait times, and selling takes a bit of time too.
Make It a Series of Small Wins
One of the best things about her approach is that she is not trying to do everything in one weekend. Each episode tackles one category, and each one leaves her house a little lighter. By the time the moving truck arrives, she will have gone through the entire home without one marathon of stress.
If a move is in your future, whether it is next month or next year, consider borrowing her plan. Pick one category this week, ask yourself the moving question and see how many things you can say goodbye to. You may be surprised at how freeing it feels.
