Moving is exciting, but packing up unnecessary belongings is a hassle. If you’re looking to move in the near future, start planning for it now.

It doesn’t matter if you are going down the street or across the country, moving is a daunting task. Make it less stressful for yourself by taking the time to declutter before your move. There’s no sense in paying a moving company, or spending your own time, hauling items that you won’t use or have been meaning to replace.

Here’s a list of items that you should consider tossing before a move.

How to Get Rid of Items Before a Move: Room by Room

Living Room: What to Toss

Cheaply Made Furniture
It’s time to toss that end table. Cheaply made furniture is easily damaged during a move so you might end up replacing it after you settle into your new home.

Old Movies, Games & Toys
If you still have some movies on VHS, it might be time to evaluate if you will ever watch them again. The same goes for games and toys that you hold onto for sentimental value alone.

Kitchen: What to Throw Away

Unused Appliances
That hand mixer you thought you needed to bust out holiday cookies like a seasoned chef? If it’s still in a sealed box, it’s time to part ways.

Pots and Pans That Need Replacing
If you’ve been telling yourself to replace the beat-up frying pan each time you use it, get rid of it before moving.

Home Office: What to Get Rid Of

Books You’ve Never Read
You bought “Eat, Pray, Love” with the best intentions, but all it’s done is collect dust on your bookshelf for years. Donate them to a book drive or your library – you can always go back and borrow a copy later.

Extra Office Supplies
No home office needs three staplers, a hundred empty file folders and a drawer full of miscellaneous promotional items. Donate what you can and trash the rest.

Closets: What to Donate

Extra Linens and Blankets
There is no reason to have five sets of sheets for one bed and seven blankets. Give them to a local charity if they are in good shape – if not, throw them away.

Anything That You’ve Never Used
This is all inclusive for memorabilia, gifts you don’t love, family heirlooms and inherited items. If you can’t remember the last time the item saw the light of day, donate or toss it.

Clothes
Only keep clothes you love. Don’t keep clothes that don’t fit, are in disrepair or don’t match your style. Just  because you spent money on it doesn’t make it worth keeping. Ask yourself, “Would I buy this again today”. If the answer is no, it’s time to let it go!

Get Rid of Clutter

With this list to get you started, you’ll enjoy a hassle-free moving day that will be here before you know it. If you still have a lot of decluttering to do before your move, consider setting up a dumpster rental to handle the large clean out!

Lytkowski, Juliana. “Pack This, Not That: 9 Items to Get Rid of Before a Move.” The Fill, n.d. Web.