Decluttering doesn’t have to be boring! Get creative while you do it. Listen to music or a podcast and go through your stuff! Take breaks and go on walks if you find yourself overwhelmed with the process.
We recently assisted a New Yorker who was anxious about the daunting task of decluttering. We recommended turning it into a fun activity with music and regular breaks. By the end, not only had they reduced their moving load by half, but they also had a playlist named "Junk Jams" and a list of local charities grateful for their donations!
Here are 20 ideas on how to dispose of unwanted items before moving and where to donate them after:
1. GET RID OF OLD, UNWANTED MEDIA
Some CDs, DVDs, Video Games, Blu-Rays and other pieces of media, are just collecting dust for most of us. We don’t have much of a use for them anymore, especially now that almost everything can be streamed online. However, there are some people on the internet who would be happy to buy these mass market media items. By selling some of your old media, you can make your moving day inventory a little bit smaller and make a couple bucks on the side, too. If you have the time, list your wares individually on sites like Amazon, eBay, Craigslist or another online selling database. If you don’t have that much time, sites like decluttr.com will buy your CDs, DVDs, Games and Blu-Rays in bulk; if it has a UPC, they’ll buy it. Search around; there’s probably a market for what you’re trying to get rid of.
2. GIVE OLD COATS TO A COAT DRIVE
You need a winter coat, but don’t need that old, dirty jacket. There is someone out there that does need that coat, however. Winter is brutal and life-threatening to many of those who are less fortunate throughout the country. Your donation of a winter coat can go far to help someone in need. If you’re moving from New York with Oz, consider donating your coat to New York Cares, a fabulous charity Oz has worked with in the past, who conduct a massive coat drive every winter to bring warmth to those around New York that need it. (If you’re not in New York, another local charitable organization would love to have your coat.)
3. RECYCLE OR DONATE OUTDATED ELECTRONICS
Many people keep their old electronic devices around because they simply don’t know how to dispose of them. But old electronics often are useless and just collect dust in old homes. These electronics can be heavy to move, but throwing away computers, televisions, phones, and other electronic devices like throwing away other trash could be punishable by fine. So how are you supposed to dispose of them? Some thrift shops and electronics retailers will take old electronics; they may even take away an old computer from your home if you have a new one delivered there. Other programs such as eCycleNYC allow building residents to recycle electronics in bins within their own buildings. For more information on recycling electronics in NYC, consult the NYC Department of Sanitation webpage on Electronics Disposal.
4. GET INVOLVED WITH CHARITIES
Each holiday season, many less fortunate families don’t get to experience the joy of opening lots of presents with their families. Great organizations like Toys for Tots try to help by collecting toys to donate to these kids who don’t get to experience the same holiday joy. We all know kids are fickle, and they tend to pick toys based on short-lived phases and trends. While some toys stick it out and are definitely worth keeping, some from a parent’s collection should be ideal for donating to a local toy drive.
A family we worked with last winter was overwhelmed by the sheer number of toys their kids had amassed over the years. Recognizing many were barely played with, we connected them with Toys for Tots NYC. By moving day, the family was beaming, knowing that their decluttering efforts would bring holiday joy to less fortunate children.
5. DISPOSE OF OLD LIQUIDS
Liquids are a moving nightmare; they’re a mess waiting to happen. Oftentimes, moving crews won’t allow their customers to bring liquids onto the truck. The chance for the containers to spill and potentially spread to the rest of the belongings is too high. Plus, what liquid is really worth moving with anyway? Make sure you only buy what you absolutely must have for the month before you move for your fridge, your hygienic and cosmetic needs, and other liquids you use. This way you can make sure that you don’t have any left-over liquids that you have to throw out or nervously pack.
6. SELL OLD CLOTHES
Clothes are one of the most abundant items in some people’s homes. Chances are, a significant amount of your personal wardrobe is totally superfluous. So why keep it? Unless you have a great reason to not, consider donating or selling your old clothes that don’t match with anything. You can try selling your old clothes online on websites like eBay, or more specific marketplaces like tradesy.com, but we recommend donating clothes as it’s easier and feels better. A local thrift shop or goodwill will take the clothes you wouldn’t wear and find them a new home. Habitat for Humanity’s ReStores are like goodwill stores, and they use the proceeds from sales of donated items to help finance their charitable operations. If you don’t have the time to visit a store to donate items, DonateStuff.com will send you free pre-paid UPS bags to mail in your clothing; you can even choose the charity to have your donation support. Your donation of clothing is tax-deductible too! It’s a win from all angles; get rid of unwanted clothes, open up more space, get that good-deed do-good feeling, and save a little bit on your taxes.
7. RESELL OLD FURNITURE OR APPLIANCES
These heavy, big items can take up a lot of room in your moving truck or cause a headache to move because of their weight. A move is a great chance to start fresh - and what better way to do that than by purchasing new appliances, furniture, home goods, etc. to turn that fresh start into something great (and chic.) If you’d rather sell your old, damaged furniture or appliances on craigslist, or use a site like AptDeco where you can list your furniture in a marketplace more catered for furniture resale. Donating furniture or appliances is always a great move too - think of all the less fortunate families that would love a sewing machine or a nicer sofa.
A couple we moved from the Upper East Side to Williamsburg were overwhelmed by all of the large items they needed to relocate. "When we started packing, we were like, 'How are we going to move all this bulky stuff?' The Oz team shared a bunch of marketplaces where we were able to sell and donate a bunch of stuff -- total game changer! We came away with enough money to buy some new furniture and it felt good giving back during the whole moving chaos."
8. GIVE AWAY EXTRA KITCHENWARE
If you have at least 1 coffee mug, chances are you have too many. Same goes for tupperware, forks, knives, plates, other cups, bowls, can openers, etc. etc. etc. Packing all these superfluous kitchenware is going to take a while and some of this stuff may never actually get unpacked. Did you ever actually use that blender? More than once? Donate, sell, get rid, etc. etc. Do whatever you need to do to free up a little bit of space and keep your future kitchen nice and neat.
9. DIGITIZE OLD MEMORABILIA
A lot of the stuff people never use but keep around is kept because of its “sentimental value”. Sure, there’s no need to throw away your wedding photos, or your college diploma, but do you really need that 2nd place spelling-bee trophy? Anything you can digitize, digitize. This is the 21st century. Scan that old photo album and turn it into a DropBox folder. Turn an old yearbook into a custom facebook friends list. For the rest, dump or donate. Some young musicians could use your old school band stuff more than you. Anything you can bear parting with makes your moving day that much easier.
10. DONATE ANYTHING YOU DIDN’T REALIZE WAS IN YOUR CLOSET
If you didn’t even remember that you had it, you probably don’t need it. That's a simple tip to consider as you are downsizing your home.
11. DISPOSE OF OLD MEDICINE
If you happen to have drawers full of old medicine (ibuprofen, vitamins, melatonin) go through and see which one’s have expired as they lose potency over time. Get rid of them and buy fresh bottles when you move! Who knows maybe you’ll find some Tylenol that went bad in 2002!
12. REFRESH YOUR BEDROOM
They say you are supposed to replace your mattress every 7-10 years or else the mattress starts sagging. When was the last time you replaced yours? Does it make sense to hold onto it before your move? Another thing to look into is going through your bed sheets and duvets. Old sheets can gather mildew and weird odors -- could be worth a refresh!
13. THROW OUT YOUR 10 YEAR OLD LIPSTICKS
Over time, makeup collects bacteria and can start to go bad. As fun as it may be to have loads of eyeshadows and lipsticks, it might be worth downsizing your collection to avoid using expired products.
14. DO A CRAFT CLEANSE
For those of us who are crafty, we may tend to hoard more than we need. Look through your craft closet and see what can be disposed of (or donated!). If some of your art supplies are in good condition consider donating them to a shelter.
15. DONATE YOUR BOOKS
Books can certainly pile up and there’s no need to take all of them with you, especially if you don’t plan on reading them again. Consider donating books to a prison library or homeless shelter.
16. ORGANIZE YOUR BAGS
If you are someone who loves bags, go through your collection! If your handbags are good quality, consider selling them on Poshmark or Depop or eBay. You can also try and consign them at a store. If you are a tote bag hoarder, maybe decide which tote bags are worth keeping.
17. HELP WOMEN IN NEED WITH YOUR EXTRA BABY CLOTHES / ITEMS
If you’ve got an old car seat, stroller or high chair lying around that you don’t need, consider donating them to a women’s shelter or a non-profit who accepts baby items (lots of donation centers do not!) Also while you are at it, donate some old baby clothes that your child can’t wear anymore.
18. USE EVERYTHING IN YOUR FRIDGE AND PANTRY
In the weeks before your move, start diving into your pantry. Use your spices and get crafty with cooking so you don’t have to deal with moving additional food stuffs that you could simply just eat!
19. CONSOLIDATE AND THROW AWAY EXTRA PRODUCTS
Go through the shelves of your bathroom and kitchen, and look through your products. Do you have doubles of anything? Do you have two half full bottles of the same shampoo? Can you pour one bottle into the other? Do you have empties that could be thrown out? Consolidate your belongings so you don’t have to pay for additional (unnecessary) boxes in the move!
20. GO THROUGH YOUR PET SUPPLIES
Do you have a bunch of chewed up dog toys? Or one of those cat condos that your cat has destroyed? Lots of pet accessories may need to be replaced with time, especially if you have rowdy pets who love to play.
About the author |
Nancy Zafrani | General Manager |
Nancy Zafrani is the experienced General Manager of Oz Moving & Storage, with 30 years in the industry and a lifetime of knowledge as a New Yorker. She helped grow the company from 3 employees to 200 with 50 trucks and locations across the US. Her experience and organizational skills have led to over 500.000 successful moves. She is proud to lead a company that provides the best possible moving experience
