7 Things to Toss Before You Move

Moving is a great opportunity to purge. All that stuff that has cluttered your home for years can now be thrown out or donated to make room for your new life in the new place. De-cluttering now before your move will result in a less expensive relocation, not to mention it will be a whole heck of a lot easier.

Here are seven things to toss before you move in Dallas/Fort Worth:

1. Stained and Chipped Coffee Mugs

You may love the #1 MOM mug you got when Junior was three that’s now missing its handle or that one mug from college that got you through all-nighters studying for tests, but now is the time to re-consider their place in your life. You’re not the only one guilty of hoarding coffee cups in your kitchen cabinets. Everyone does it. Break the cycle now and start over with a simple set in the new digs.

2. Old Clothing

This is a no-brainer. If you haven’t worn it in one year – that’s a full season of clothing – get rid of it. Donate it, give it to your younger sister or trash it if it’s got holes or stains. Don’t be a slave to the ghost of fashion past! Go through your closet with a scrutinizing eye. The more clothing you toss, the more room you’ll save with boxes and drawers, and thus money in moving costs, points out Moving.com.

Good places to donate in the Dallas/Fort Worth area include:

3. Old Decorative Pillows

If you’ve been hoarding a decorative pillow collection for the last 20 years, it’s time to purge. Pillows, like stuffed animals, have a way of collecting dust (and their associated mites!) as well as saliva, food and beverage stains, etc. from daily living. They shouldn’t be allowed to make the trip.

4. Unwanted DVDs and CDs

Many of us have drawers and shelves jam-packed with old DVDs and CDs. In this day and age, where you can stream any movie or show at the click of a button, your collection is virtually useless. Sell them to an online reseller, give them away or host a garage sale. Same goes for books you will never glance at again.

5. Old Paint

Unless you want to leave a can or two for the new homeowners, you’ll have to get rid of old paint responsibly. Many movers won’t pack it on their trucks because it is considered a hazardous item. You can’t just throw it in the trash or even leave it for a local curbside trash program. Your best bet is to bring those cans to your local drop-offsite for hazardous waste.

6. Expired Medications

Everyone has a medicine cabinet in their bathroom riddled with old prescriptions or expired medications. The FDA recommends looking into community-based drug “take-back” programs. If your community doesn’t have one, you can dispose of them in the trash or flush them down the toilet.

7. Out-of-Date Electronics

From out-of-date tablets and smart phones to old chargers and laptops, many of the electronics in your home are likely of no more use to you. Take the time to check if each item is working properly and assess whether it should have a place in your new home. A good rule of thumb is if your electronics are less than five years old and still in good working order, you should donate them to places like Habitat for Humanity.