Every mover will tell you the same thing. The cheapest box you own is the one you do not pack. Moving is the single best time to purge ruthlessly because every item you keep costs money: in boxes, tape, movers, truck space, and your own time unpacking at the other end. Here is a practical room-by-room checklist to work through two to four weeks before moving day.
Start Four Weeks Out
The biggest mistake people make is leaving the purge to the last week. By then you are exhausted, taped into a corner with bubble wrap, and you just throw stuff in boxes “to deal with later.” You will not deal with it later. You will pay to move it, store it, and eventually toss it anyway.
Block off two hours per weekend, four weekends in a row, and work through one zone at a time.
The Garage and Basement
- Boxes you did not unpack from the last move
- Paint, stain, and chemicals older than 2022
- Tools that are broken, rusted, or duplicated
- Exercise equipment gathering dust
- Camping gear you have not used in 3+ years
- Bikes the kids outgrew
- Kids’ toys they outgrew years ago
See our full garage cleanout service if yours has become a disaster.
Closets and Bedrooms
- Clothing not worn in 12+ months (the real test, not “maybe someday”)
- Shoes with broken soles or worn heels
- Old bedding, pillows, and towels
- Broken jewelry and accessories
- Empty storage bins and hangers
- Old mattresses (we handle mattress removal specifically)
The Kitchen
- Expired pantry food and spices older than two years
- Small appliances you never use (bread machine, waffle iron, juicer)
- Scratched nonstick pans and worn cookware
- Mismatched dishes and chipped mugs
- Plastic containers without matching lids
- Cookbooks you have not opened in five years
- Duplicates of anything
Living Areas
- DVDs, CDs, and video tapes if you have not watched them since 2015
- Old electronics that are obsolete (VCRs, early DVRs, broken laptops)
- Books you have already read and will not read again
- Magazines and old newspapers
- Decor that is broken or no longer your style
- Furniture that will not fit the new place or no longer serves you
Yard and Shed
- Patio furniture that is worn or damaged
- Broken grills, smokers, and outdoor cooking gear
- Old pots, planters, and garden tools
- Dead plants, compost, and soil
- Yard waste and storm debris (we take yard waste too)
What to Do With the Purge Pile
Sell (if time allows)
Facebook Marketplace, OfferUp, and Craigslist for anything worth more than $50. Set it low for a fast sale. Do not spend the week before your move arguing with lowballers.
Donate
Salem’s Goodwill, Union Gospel Mission, Habitat ReStore, and St. Vincent de Paul all take usable items. Some do pickups for large furniture. Plan ahead because their schedules fill up.
Toss
Everything else. This is where we come in. Call EZ Junk one week before moving day and we clear everything left on the purge pile so you are not dragging it across town to your new place.
Moving Day Cleanout
We also do post-move cleanouts at the old property. After the movers leave, there is always a surprising amount left: broken shelving, a mattress you decided not to take, boxes of “we will deal with it later” stuff. One truck, a couple hours, done. Then you hand the keys to the new owner or landlord with an empty, swept space.
Free Moving Quote
Moving soon and have a pile building in the garage? Call or text 971-226-7435 for a free quote. We can come once before you pack and once after you move. Most Salem moves only need one visit.
