Declutter Before You Move: The Ultimate Purging Guide

Here’s a truth that every mover knows: the average American home contains over 300,000 items. That’s an overwhelming number when you’re about to pack up and move. The good news? You don’t have to take all of it with you.

Decluttering before a move is one of the smartest things you can do. It saves time on packing day, reduces moving costs, and gives you a fresh start in your new home. At iHaul iMove, we’ve helped families across Colorado Springs streamline their moves for 17+ years—and we can tell you that the families who declutter first always have smoother moving days.

Why Decluttering Before Moving Matters

Let’s be honest: most of us have accumulated far more than we need. That bread maker you used once in 2019, the exercise bike that’s become a coat rack, the boxes of mystery items in the garage—they all take up truck space, packing time, and money.

The Real Cost of Moving Clutter

• More truck space = higher costs. Moving is priced by the volume and weight of your belongings. Fewer items can mean a smaller truck and fewer trips.
• More packing time. Every item you keep needs to be wrapped, boxed, labeled, and loaded. Decluttering cuts packing time dramatically.
• More unpacking time. Everything that goes on the truck has to come off the truck and find a home in your new space. Do you really want to unpack that junk drawer?
• Emotional baggage. Clutter weighs on you psychologically. Moving into a new home with only the things you love and use is genuinely liberating.

The 6-Week Decluttering Timeline

Starting early is the key to stress-free decluttering. Here’s a week-by-week plan:

Weeks 1-2: Storage Spaces

Start with the areas where things go to be forgotten:

• Garage — Tools you’ll never use, dried-out paint cans, broken holiday decorations, mystery boxes
• Basement/Attic — Old furniture, outdated electronics, kids’ outgrown toys and clothes
• Storage unit — If you’re paying for off-site storage, evaluate whether those items are worth continuing to store

Weeks 3-4: Common Areas

• Kitchen — Expired food, duplicate utensils, rarely-used small appliances, mismatched containers without lids
• Living Room — Old magazines, DVDs you’ll never watch again, decorative items that don’t match your style anymore
• Dining Room — Chipped dishes, incomplete sets, event supplies you’ll never reuse

Weeks 5-6: Personal Spaces

• Bedrooms — Clothing you haven’t worn in a year, old linens, outdated shoes, excess pillows
• Bathrooms — Expired medications, old cosmetics, sample-size products, towels that have seen better days
• Home Office — Old paperwork (shred sensitive documents), outdated tech, broken supplies

The Four-Pile Decision Method

For every item, ask yourself one question: “If I were shopping today, would I buy this?” Then sort it into one of four piles:

1. Keep

Items you use regularly, truly love, or need in your new space. Measure your new home first—that oversized sectional may not fit in a smaller living room.

2. Sell

Items in good condition that have resale value. Popular options:

• Facebook Marketplace — Best for furniture, electronics, and larger items
• Craigslist — Quick local sales, especially for furniture
• Poshmark/ThredUp — Designer clothing and accessories
• Garage sale — Great for clearing out a large volume of items at once

Timing tip: Hold your garage sale 4-5 weeks before moving day. This gives you time to sell, then donate whatever doesn’t sell.

3. Donate

Usable items that aren’t worth the effort to sell. Colorado Springs donation options:

• Goodwill — Accepts most household items, clothing, and furniture
• Salvation Army — Offers free pickup for large donations
• Arc Thrift Stores — Locally popular, multiple locations
• Habitat for Humanity ReStore — Takes furniture, appliances, and building materials
• Local churches and shelters — Often need specific items; call ahead

4. Discard

Broken, expired, or non-functional items. Responsible disposal options:

• Recycling — Check El Paso County recycling guidelines for electronics, batteries, and hazardous materials
• Junk removal — Our junk removal service can handle large-volume disposal efficiently
• Hazardous waste — Paint, chemicals, and batteries require special disposal through El Paso County

Room-by-Room Decluttering Tips

Kitchen

The kitchen is deceptively cluttered. Most families use the same 20% of their kitchen items 80% of the time.

• The duplicate test: Do you really need three spatulas and four can openers?
• The appliance audit: If it’s been unplugged for more than six months, you probably don’t need it.
• The food sweep: Expired items, stale spices (most lose potency after 2-3 years), and mystery freezer items—all go.

Closets and Clothing

• The hanger trick: Turn all hangers backward. Over the next few weeks, turn them forward when you wear something. At packing time, anything still backward hasn’t been worn and can be donated.
• The fit test: If it doesn’t fit today, let it go. Your new closet will thank you.
• Seasonal review: Are you really going to wear that winter coat you haven’t touched in three Colorado winters?

Garage and Outdoor

• Old paint: If the color doesn’t match your new home, don’t move it. Dried-out paint is hazardous waste anyway.
• Broken tools: If you haven’t fixed it by now, you’re not going to.
• Sports equipment: Kids outgrow gear fast. Donate what no longer fits to a local youth organization.

Digital Decluttering: Don’t Forget the Paperwork

Moving is the perfect time to go digital with your important documents:

• Scan important papers and store them in cloud backup (Google Drive, Dropbox, or iCloud)
• Shred old documents — Tax returns older than 7 years, old bank statements, junk mail accumulations
• Cancel subscriptions tied to your current address — newspapers, magazines, delivery services
• Update your address with USPS, your bank, insurance companies, and the DMV

How Decluttering Makes Moving Day Better

Families who declutter before calling us consistently report:

• Faster packing — Less stuff means less wrapping, boxing, and labeling
• Lower moving costs — Fewer items may mean a smaller truck and shorter loading time
• Easier unpacking — Everything in your new home is something you actually want there
• Less stress — A streamlined move feels controlled rather than chaotic
• Fresh start — Your new home begins as an organized, intentional space

Ready to Move Lighter?

Decluttering is the single best thing you can do to prepare for a stress-free move. Once you’ve streamlined your belongings, let our experienced team handle the rest.

With 700+ five-star reviews and 17+ years serving Colorado Springs and surrounding communities like Monument, Fountain, and Woodland Park, iHaul iMove makes moving day the easy part.

Call 719-357-5865 or get your free quote today.

edit_noteGet Your Free Quote