How to declutter your home before moving day

Let’s face it, moving day can be stressful no matter the circumstances. Packing up your home and uprooting your life is a huge deal, and can feel even more overwhelming if you are balancing a busy schedule or have a lot of belongings to pack.

One of the best ways to help clear away the stress is to clear up your space. Decluttering and downsizing can make the move faster, cheaper and more manageable on the big day. Decluttering has become so popular that it’s even got its own social media trends! Viral cleaning trends have boomed on TikTok, with “CleanTok” providing quick motivational tools to help you get organized.

This practical guide offers easy decluttering tips you can actually use. Plus, we’ve called in the help of some internet trends for some inspo. Take it step-by-step, conquer your feelings of overwhelm, and get everything in order for a smooth and easy moving day.

• Why pre-move decluttering is a great idea
• A step-by-step guide to decluttering your home for a move
• Cleantok trends for decluttering motivation
• Customize your decluttering approach
• What to do with your decluttered items
• Make the wise move

Why pre-move decluttering is a great idea

Taking the extra time to sort through your belongings and tackle your storage spaces is helpful for a bunch of different reasons:

• Fewer belongings to pack = more time and space

• There’s less weight to lift when hauling things to and from the moving truck

• You can use a smaller moving vehicle

• It’s easier to stay organized while packing and unpacking

• You may save money on moving costs by reducing the volume of belongings

• Decluttering creates a cleaner, calmer starting point in your new home

• If you are selling your home, it makes it more appealing to potential buyers

A step-by-step guide to decluttering your home for a move

1. Get started early, so you don’t have to rush

For some parts of your home, you can start weeks ahead of your scheduled moving day. Here are some areas you can begin to tackle early on:

• Toolsheds

• Junk drawers

• Underneath kitchen and bathroom counters

• Cleaning supply closets

• Linen closets

• Seasonal clothing storage

• Pantries

• Book and music collections

2. Organize as you go

Gather any supplies you may need, such as boxes (of all sizes), bins, labels, and markers for colour coding. As you sort your stuff into appropriate piles, you can start to organize things as you go.

3. Create clear sorting categories

Sort your belongings into five categories:

1. Keep

2. Donate

3. Sell

4. Recycle

5. Toss

4. Tackle one room at a time

Whenever you are undertaking a huge task or project, the best way to avoid getting overwhelmed is by taking baby steps. If you focus on one space at a time, the whole ordeal can feel more manageable. Start with areas that feel a little more neutral, such as bathrooms, laundry rooms, and storage spaces. Save your sentimental belongings for last.

5. Balance sentiment with realism

Only keep belongings that are useful or deeply meaningful. Get savvy with ways to downsize certain things. For example, physical photos, special letters, and old documents can be scanned and uploaded digitally to save space and minimize clutter. If difficult emotions arise with certain items, let them pass naturally without judgment.

Cleantok trends for decluttering motivation

If you need some inspiration or motivation, check out these trending methods from TikTok and beyond.

KonMari Method

Keep only belongings that spark joy and truly add value to your life and home.

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by KonMari by Marie Kondo (@konmari.co)

One-Hour Method

Declutter for 1 hour at a time. Since it's a short time frame, you can really go for it and power through a lot of stuff.

@britt_scaffedi Link in bio- follow my step by step guide to decluttering and deep cleaning your house in 30 days! 1 hour a day! #onehourmethod #momtok #declutteryourlife #wifetok #cleantok #homeclean ♬ Davis Brothers Band - davisbrothersband

Core 4 Method

Clear out, Categorize, Cut out, and Contain. Follow these 4 steps, focusing on one specific space, like a drawer, closet, or room.

@kayleenkellyorganize You can find the CORE 4 DECLUTTER KITS on my page! #Organizing #organization #organizingtips #declutter #decluttering #decluttertips #professionalorganizer #jacksonvilleorganizer #core4method #bedroomorganization #bedroomorganizing #declutterkits #declutter3secondrule #3secondruledeclutter #kayleenkellycore4method ♬ original sound - Kayleen Kelly • Pro Organizer

Move-Out Method

Pack as if you are leaving tomorrow, then you can go back and revise the contents of each box. This helps you identify what you will truly need for your new home (and what you aren’t attached to).

@realsimple Coined by associate editorial director Katie Holdefehr in her new book “Embrace Your Space,” the move-out method is perfect for anyone stuck in a bit of a decluttering rut. #organizinghack #declutteringtips #easycleaningtips #organizationtiktok #declutteringhacks ♬ original sound - Real Simple

Room-by-Room Approach

As previously described, this method involves focusing on one room at a time. It’s great because practical and keeps overwhelm to a minimum.

@gillaleighhome.designs Time for spring cleaning.Easy Tips for getting rid of clutter #purge #declutteryourlife #organizedhome #declutteringtips #springcleaning ♬ There She Goes - CYRIL & MOONLGHT & The La's

Customize your decluttering approach

You know yourself best, and by now you probably have a good idea of which method(s) work for you. Your lifestyle and schedule will dictate when and how long you can spend decluttering each day. It may take you a few months of a little bit of work each day. Or, perhaps you’re the type of person who’ll declutter your entire home in one weekend.

It’s important to focus on your progress instead of making it perfect. Just keep reminding yourself that once the home is streamlined, moving day will be a lot easier. When The Big Declutter is complete, you will have a better idea of how much you need to move and what type of moving vehicle you will need to book.

Head over to Wise Move for the final step. We’ll help you book the right team that will best suit your needs, at the best rate possible.

What to do with your decluttered items

You’ve finished decluttering. Now it’s time to figure out what to do with everything that you’re discarding or giving away. By taking a little extra time to do it mindfully, you can keep a lot of items out of the landfill and into the hands of others who may need them. One man’s trash is another man’s treasure!

Donate to charities and thrift stores

Prioritize charitable thrift stores over corporations that profit off of donations (ahem, Value Village).

Check out the Complete Guide to Salvation Army Donations in Canada and Where to Donate Clothes When You’re Moving to find the most impactful places to donate your stuff.

Sell items on local resell platforms

Canada-wide:

• Facebook Marketplace

• Kijiji

• VarageSale

• Craigslist (still used in some cities)

• eBay (local pickup options)

Clothing and accessories:

• Poshmark Canada

• Depop

• Vinted (limited but growing in Canada)

• ThredUp (buying only for Canadians, resale-adjacent)

Furniture and home goods:

• Facebook Marketplace (dominant for local pickup)

• Kijiji Home & Garden

• MaxSold (online estate sales, very active in Ontario and BC)

• Hibid Canada (auction-style, varies by region)

Books, media, and niche items:

• Karrot (growing in some urban areas)

• Rebound (sports gear, region-specific)

• Play It Again Sports (online and local resale)

Community-based and hyper-local

• Buy Nothing groups (Facebook-based, free items)

• Neighbourhood Facebook groups

• Local university or college resale groups

Recycle and dispose of items responsibly

Out of the items left, check to see which ones can be recycled. This usually includes glass, paper, metal, and specific types of plastic. Make sure you follow local municipal guidelines.

To learn more about what can be recycled and how, read our guide to Understanding Canada’s Recycling and Waste Management Systems.

Arrange rubbish or junk removal for what can’t be reused or recycled

Remember that larger items that are useful but can’t be resold or recycled can go to your local dump’s “free” pile. Alternatively, urban Canadians often leave “free piles” on the curb in front of their house. Leave everything from clothing and household items to large furniture.

Make the wise move

Decluttering can sound like a mission, but your future self will thank you for all the time, energy, and mental strength you’ll save on moving day. If you have any large leftovers you still need to get rid of, or if you’re ready to move on to the next step in the moving process, it’s time to check out Wise Move. As your go-to moving service provider, Wise Move makes it quick and easy to book a moving team to get your items to either their new home or your new home.