When moving home, it can be tempting to pack everything you own and move it to your new home. It’s easy to form a sentimental attachment with your belongings and believe that everything must keep. Or do you not have the time or energy to sort through all of your stuff, so instead of spending days sorting through everything, you decide to pack and move it all?

Do you have that one box sitting in the back of your closet from your last move? Which you’ve never even opened since, and no longer remember what is inside!

Well, now is a perfect time.

Before you move and drag everything you own with you, start sorting through your belongings and decide what you no longer need or want.

You can also save some significant money with a local home removalist if you reduce the number of items you need to move.

Keep reading to find out what you should throw out when moving home:

Clothes You Don’t Love

Do you have any clothes you have been holding onto because “you might fit in one day”? What about clothes which are faded, worn, torn, or ‘used to fit?

Well, if they are only taking up space in your closet, there’s no need to drag them with you to your new home. Any clothes still in reasonable condition, donate them to charity. You will be doing a good deed and helping someone in need who will treasure them exactly how they are.

Any designer clothes, or any which you paid a lot of money for and don’t feel comfortable to give away for free, try selling them on eBay. You most likely won’t get all of your money back, even if they still are new with tags, but you will get rid of them out of your life.

CDS and DVDs

Do you still have a huge collection of CDs and DVDs? They take up a huge amount of physical space and also require stands as well.

Unless you are a die-hard collector or have some rare and limited edition albums and movies, then consider getting rid of them.

You can import all of them onto your computer, make a digital collection, and either donate or sell the physical copies.

Would you prefer to keep the discs? Then consider getting rid of the plastic cases and buying a CD sleeve. You can store all of your CDs and DVDs in the booklet.

This will declutter boxes and boxes into just a few small and portable cd sleeve books.

Books You Won’t Read.

Do you have books you’ve read and never plan on re-reading, or some you’ve had for years but never opened the cover? If so, it’s time to let them go!

Give them away to someone who will truly love them.

Otherwise, you will regret the amount of weight they add to your moving, especially if you have to carry them up flights of stairs. Then also think about the amount of room they will take up in your new apartment.

Anything You Borrowed

If you’ve borrowed things from friends or family over time and completely forgotten about them, give them back to them and don’t bring them to your new home!

It may be awkward and embarrassing to return something you’ve had for an extended period. But it will feel like a weight has been lifted off your conscience after you’ve returned it.

Unused Kitchen Appliances

People often receive kitchen appliances as gifts that they don’t want or will never use. If you have that juicer or bread maker cluttering up your counter but can’t remember the last time you used it – get rid of them.

Is all of your waste is starting to add up fast? An easy solution is to hire a cheap skip bin to dispose of it easily.

Mismatched Dishes

Perhaps you broke a glass or dropped and smashed a plate. Is your kitchen is a mix and match of cups, plates, bowls, and cutlery that don’t go together? Then it’s time to use it as a chance to buy a new set of dishes and get rid of the spare ones.

Unworn Shoes

Do you have a collection of unworn/broken shoes which is just taking up space? Not only are they difficult to pack, but they are also rather heavy. If you have shoes you haven’t worn for as long as you can remember, now is the perfect time to get rid of them.

Towels

Towels are relatively cheap to buy. However, they are rather bulky and take up a lot of room, making them hard to pack. It’s recommended to replace your towels every few years, which makes it the perfect time to buy new ones to match your new bathroom.

Cheap Furniture

If you have any cheap furniture such as Ikea furniture, it could turn out to be cheaper to re-buy it than to pay for the cost of moving it. Consider selling or giving away cheap furniture, and then re-buy it once you arrive in your new home. You can then also choose the style/colour which works best with the new space.

Half Used Toiletries

If you have toiletries bottles that are empty, consider getting rid of them and starting fresh. Not only do the bottles take up a lot of space, but they may also have expired.

Alcohol Bottles

Bottles of alcohol can be fragile and need to be carefully packed and wrapped, taking up a lot of space. There’s also a chance they may break in transit and end up soaking other belongings you have.

Consider giving away bottles of alcohol to friends or family or have a moving-out party before you leave.

Pillows

Over time, pillows become flat, making them uncomfortable. Unless you have a special pillow which you need to fall asleep on, you should consider getting rid of them and buying new ones for your new home. They may also contain dust mites and take up a lot of space when packing.

Anything You Forgot About

If while you are going through your items to pack, and are surprised how it ever got there in the first place, or how you still have it, then it’s time to get rid of it.

If you didn’t know it existed or miss it enough to look for it, then you don’t need it in your life anymore.

An exception is something you thought was lost and had been upset about for a long time. If this is the case, reunite with your cherished item!

Are you considering donating items and not sure where to donate them? ACNC has a list of all the charities in Australia.

After you’ve thrown out items that you no longer need or are easily replaceable, it’s time to find the right removalist for your needs. Optimove are professional and affordable movers who take the stress out of moving home. For an obligation-free quote, please get in touch with our furniture removalists on 1300 400 874 or email info@optimove.com.au.