Up to 35.5 million Americans relocate every year. Whether it’s for business or family matters, moving can be quite a difficult transition.
There’s so much to do in such a short amount of time.
However, you can always hire movers to do the heavy lifting for you, but that doesn’t mean you won’t have to do your fair share of work before finding a reputable mover to remove your junk.
Cleaning out your closet is the best way to expedite the moving process. Continue reading to learn about the most efficient way to empty your wardrobe and make the life of your mover, much simpler.
Perform a quick scan
Individuals usually start with their closets when it comes to moving their things. A professional mover would agree. Starting with a quick closet assessment will save you major headaches down the line.
Eyeball what you plan on keeping. Does your closet just house your clothing items and shoes? If so, move onto the next step. If you’re guilty of storing other items in your closet like knickknacks, jewelry, books, and board games, remove everything before moving onto your clothes. Sort through these things first and throw out what you no longer wish to take with you to your new home. Do this first, so by the time you start sorting through your clothes, you won’t have a giant disorganized mess on your floor made up of clothing AND non-clothing related items.
Clean your closet out
Once your closet is empty of any non-clothing related items, take everything out and start sorting your belongings into piles. Remember to keep the hangers on!
Narrowing it all down
To keep the process as organized as possible, make a total of three categories:
- A must keep/essentials pile
- A neutral pile
- A donations pile
Once everything is sorted, review your piles before you make your final decisions and think about where you’re moving. What is the climate like? Do you have a sufficient amount of sweaters in your essentials pile if it’s a colder state or country? This is your last chance to switch some things around.
Other factors to narrow down your selection
Are you planning on hitting the gym more often now? Move some more activewear into your ‘essentials’ pile.
Have you worn the item within the last six months?
Does your new closet have adequate space for all your things?
These are just a few more things to consider before you make your way to your local Goodwill and call up the moving company.
What to do with your old clothes
Now, you’ve decided what you’re absolutely keeping.
For this next step, you’re now tasked with narrowing down where your donations are headed.
Here’s a list for a bit of inspiration in case you’re stuck with a pile of clothes you don’t want and don’t know what to do:
- Sell your old clothes on resale sites like Mercari, Depop, Letgo, and Poshmark
- Check to see if there are any homeless shelters in your area and drop off your gently used clothes there.
- Donate them to a Goodwill store in your area.
- Pass them down to family member who may want them.
- Sell them along with other items you’ve decided to leave behind at a garage sale.
The final step
Once you’ve rid yourself of the unwanted items, it’s time to pack the things you do want in boxes or trash bags.
Closet cleaning is the most intensive process when moving. After all, your mover may not know what clothes you wish to take with you.
But on the bright side, things should move a lot faster after calling and hiring a moving service.
