Decluttering is a learned skill. It takes practice. And I’ve learned it’s best done when you have some time. Under the pressure of a deadline, you may be tempted to get rid of something you wish you hadn’t.
I usually start going through our things 6 months to a year before our scheduled move. That gives me plenty of time to sort through items. I can really think about what I’m using and let go of things that no longer serve us.
Plus, it allows me a chance to sell items that need a new home. Or I have time to find a spot to donate things. When it comes to PCSing, a little preparation ahead of time can go a long way to relieving stress.
Before I Start, I Declutter My Brain
I’m pretty Type A. I often have a lot of thoughts in my head at one time. And I love a good list. Before I actually start sorting through things, I have an idea of where I want to go. Usually, that looks like a list (or many).
I keep a list on my phone with things I come across that I want to leave at this duty station, but I’m not quite ready to part with. When we moved from Japan to Italy, the electricity was different, and we had to part with many of our small kitchen appliances.
As I was doing my daily cooking, I would write down items I knew wouldn’t move with us. Then, when the time came, the list was already made. Once something found a new home, it was checked off the list. (I kept the list to give me an idea of what needed to be repurchased once we landed in a new home.)
I also think about what I haven’t reached for at this duty station. I’ll make a list of boxes in the garage I want to go through before the movers come. Sorting through the box, however briefly, reminds me of what I have and allows me to update any personal inventory I’m keeping of our things.
Going through boxes, I remind myself: likely, if I haven’t needed it in the last 3 years, I’m probably not going to need it anytime soon. I try to use that as a guideline for what might need to find a new home.
Of course, I also remind myself of the 20/$20 rule. Can I replace it in 20 minutes for $20 or less if needed? If so, and it’s not a regularly used item, it may be on the chopping block.
So, here are some ideas on what you can declutter now, no matter where you are in your move cycle. This list has some easy things that can be sorted through in 10-15 minutes. And it also has some longer-term projects.
Let’s start with the easiest things first.
Trash
We all have a pile of cardboard boxes in our garage that we’re saving for just the right time. Friend, it’s time to let those go. Or maybe you have an extra bag of garbage hanging out until the next trash day. Put it in the bin now. In this section, I’m also including items you know are broken. Toss them out. You won’t fix them. If you’re like me and you have a pile of papers to shred, now is the time. Got a bag of dead batteries – send them on their way!
Items that Belong Somewhere Else
Got a bag of donations in your car that you’ve been driving around town for 3 months? Drop them off. See also: the dress you borrowed from a friend for the ball. Library books you’ve finished with but haven’t returned. That suitcase you borrowed from your mom for your last trip. The change of clothes you had to borrow for your kid on their last play date. Outgoing mail and store returns. At a minimum, make a list of items that need to be moved out and do them when you can. Got more time? Take a day to drop things off and get them out of your visual space.
Now, here’s a room-by-room list of things you can declutter right now.
Bathroom
- Unused hair or beauty products
- Expired makeup and hygiene items
- Expired or unused medication (Take these to a CVS, Walgreens, or local ER for proper disposal. They usually have free med boxes you can toss in unused things. I even do it for OTC meds in hopes it keeps it out of the water supply)
- Old nail polish
- Unused hair accessories
Kitchen
- Expired pantry items
- Take-out menus
- Tupperware without a lid (or lids without containers)
- Glass jars (i.e., the salsa and peanut butter jars you saved. See also takeout containers)
- Kid feeding items you don’t need anymore (training cups and spoons, bottles, etc.)
- To go/travel mugs
- Single-use cutlery from take-out orders (maybe. If you’ve got a hotel stay for your PCS or anticipated house camping, you might want to hold on to these)
- It’s never too early to go through the fridge and pull out spoiled or expired things
Bedroom
- Your own clothing and shoes. Consider starting with what’s on the hangers, and do the packed-away items later. If you haven’t worn it at this duty station, you probably won’t. Release it, friend.
- Bags and purses
- Outdated or worn-out work uniforms
- Jewelry you haven’t worn recently
Living Room
- Destroyed pet toys
- Books (consider dropping these at a Little Free Library or donating to your local library if they’re in good shape)
- Games or puzzles with missing pieces
- Extra throw pillows and blankets
- Unburned candles
Kid’s Rooms
- Outgrown kids clothes
- Outgrown toys
- Outgrown kid equipment – pack and play, carriers, linens for beds you don’t have anymore
- Unused diapers
Office
- Pens, pencils, markers – throw out what’s broken or dried up
- Old receipts (keep any you might need for claims after the move)
- Assembly or instruction manuals you can’t find online
- Unused or not needed cords and cables
- Greeting cards for a specific purpose you never sent
- Paperwork – kids’ artwork, newsletters, business cards, and invitations can all be reviewed. Scan what you want to keep and ditch the paper
- Old notebooks or planners
Garage
- Spare parts for furniture or items you no longer own
- Items from hobbies past. A senior living center or even an after-school program might find these useful.
- Branded freebies – the MWR rubber duck your kids got at a festival, the silicone bracelets, or foldable frisbees can all find a new home
- Decorations from past birthdays (probably don’t need the Sesame Street décor from your kid’s 2nd birthday anymore)
- Accessories for things you no longer have – think filters and attachments. The extra coffee pot you kept from when the machine broke can probably go.
- Wrapping paper scraps and gift bags that are torn or overused.
- Outdated or broken technology – the iPad that won’t update anymore, or the laptop you replaced two duty stations ago
Now What?
You’ve sorted through a few things. Now what do you do with them? Here are a few places to get you thinking. Of course, there’s nothing wrong with a Goodwill drop-off. But usually, there are other, more community centered places that could use items too. It’s always a good idea to call before dropping stuff off to make sure there’s a need.
- Refugee resettlement offices or Catholic Charities – kitchen items, linens, towels, clothing, kids’ items
- Women’s shelters – clothing, kids’ items, kitchen items, linens, towels
- Clothing Resell stores – sometimes local, but if you’re moving out of the area, consider national chains like Plato’s Closet or Once Upon A Child. That way, you can use any store credit no matter where you are.
- Animal shelter – linens, towels, unopened pet food or treats, toys in good condition
- Food bank – unopened, unexpired food
- ACS lending closet (or maybe a lending area at the on-post hotel) – kitchen items
- Retirement home – arts and crafts items, clothing sometimes
- Local schools or afterschool programs – sometimes art supplies or things like toilet paper rolls
- Little Free Library – books, some might take small kids’ crafts or toys
- Local library – books in very good condition
- On base thrift stores, where incoming soldiers and families may be more likely to shop
- Online, there’s always Facebook Marketplace or a local buy nothing group, as well as base-specific auction pages or yard sale pages.
- Best Buy and Staples usually have somewhere you can recycle tech items. There’s also your local transfer station for larger items, though there is often a fee for disposal.
Want a Checklist?
I made a quick checklist for your decluttering journey. There’s plenty of space in the margins to add other things as you go. Just click on the image below and save it to your computer or phone to print.
PCSing Soon? Grab My Free eBooks!
After two overseas moves, I got pretty good at managing multiple shipments and packing airplane baggage. Even if you’re not moving overseas, these ebooks can give you ideas on how to organize your things. My packing lists can help you get started, and everything is customizable to your specific move. Just click on the banners below to get your free download!
Not interested in a book? No worries! You can find all my PCS-related content here – It’s Time To Move (Again)
