Moving has its advantages and its disadvantages. The downside is that you have to pack and move all the items in the house, which is expensive and laborious. The advantage is that you can use this opportunity to re-evaluate the items in your home and clean up those that are no longer suitable for you or your new home.
If you don’t know where to start, or if you’re having trouble dealing with miscellaneous items, please start from the following four aspects: keep things you use frequently; keep things that can be used with only a small amount of maintenance; Sell the items that you don’t need but may be useful to others; weed out the remaining unwanted items.
Expired and unwanted food
Many (or at least some) of the food you keep may have expired. Moving is a good opportunity to clean up the refrigerator, freezer and pantry. Before moving, use the good ingredients to show off your cooking skills (like your own “Top Chef” (American Cooking Challenge Show), and give the leftover food to the local food bank to avoid waste.Before moving, check your cutlery, pots and pans and other kitchen utensils.
Unused cooking utensils and appliances
Check the utensils, pots and pans and other supplies in the kitchen. Recycle and dispose of unused kitchenware (unsuitable food containers or damaged electrical appliances); donate or sell any new or old extra items that can still be used, such as dusty teapots that you can’t use to those in need. It may be a treasure!
Used cleaning products and personal care products
Our personal and household cleaning products tend to accumulate over time. While moving, throw away those old toothbrushes, loofah cleaning supplies and other sponge cleaning products, which are breeding grounds for bacteria.
Among the remaining items, find out which ones you use every day: Have you bought lipsticks in various colours but only like to use one of them? Is the window glass cleaning sprays that you bought during the sale always being used? If these items are stuffed behind the cabinets, or if you don’t plan to use them in the near future, you can dispose of them. (Some beauty brands can recycle empty beauty bottles, even for a fee.)
Worn bath towels and cushions
Usually, we will prepare a few more towels at home for emergencies (such as laundry days, swimming seasons, or unexpected guests), but once the towels break or no longer absorb water, they should be thrown away. The same is true for those dirty and uncomfortable bathroom mats. If they still cannot be used after washing, they can be thrown away.
Quilts and pillows can accumulate dirt, dust mites and mold and should be replaced more frequently.
Old mattresses and pillows
The importance of a good night’s sleep is self-evident. If your mattress has expired (7-10 years on average) or no longer provides enough support, it’s time to buy a new mattress for your new home.
Quilts and pillows tend to accumulate dirt, dust mites and mold, and should be replaced more frequently than mattresses (allergy experts recommend 6 months to 2 years). If they cannot be cleaned properly during this period, they should be replaced in advance.
Clothes that have not been worn in a year can be donated or sold on consignment, and the gaps can be filled with clothing that can stand the test of time.
Clothes and accessories you never wear
Check your clothes and accessories, and evaluate them according to their condition, fit, practicality, and wearability (whether they are in line with your current lifestyle and aesthetics). Generally speaking, clothes that have not been worn in a year can be donated or sold, and the gaps can be filled with clothes that can stand the test of time.
Furniture and decorations that are not suitable for new places
Moving larger furniture or objects costs more and is more laborious. You need to think more about how to keep them. We recommend replacing worn-out, uncomfortable, unsuitable furniture and any furniture that may have safety hazards (such as damaged or recalled) and buying good-looking and durable furniture.
Used books and extra supplies can be sold or donated to second-hand stores or nearby schools to bring used books or old things to life.
Office supplies and documents
To avoid the accumulation of documents, you can throw away, shred or recycle things that are unlikely to be read or no longer needed, and use labelled folders or binders to separate useful materials for easy search and preservation. Unused old books and extra supplies can be sold or donated to second-hand stores or nearby schools to bring old books or old things to life.
Outdated electronics
Moving is a good time to clean up your electronics or toolbox. What you need to do is to leave the essentials (including spare screwdrivers or charging cables that you can use at any time); dispose of the unused electronic devices, and remember to delete the data inside before throwing away the electronic devices. Some electronic companies can recycle and eliminate them. Electronic products, other safes, still-usable tools can be sent to second-hand stores or local Habitat for Humanity (charity organizations)
Old sports equipment
Finally, check your sports and leisure equipment. Remember when you last played football? In addition, if your place is no longer close to the water, will you still use a motorboat or kayak? If you don’t plan to regain these old hobbies in the near future, you might as well donate unused equipment to the local sports team or summer camp to make others happy.
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