Declutter Before You Move: What to Keep, Donate or Toss

Every item you move has to be packed, carried, loaded and unpacked. Decluttering before you move is one of the easiest ways to make moving day faster and simpler.

Use three boxes: keep, donate, toss

Work one room at a time. For each item, ask whether you've used it in the past year and whether you'd buy it again. If the answer to both is no, it probably doesn't need to come with you.

• Keep: things you use, need or love.
• Donate or sell: clothing, furniture, kitchenware and toys in good condition.
• Toss or recycle: broken items, expired products and things no one else could use.

Start with the easy spaces

Garages, basements, storage rooms and closets tend to hold the most forgotten items. Clearing them first gives you quick progress and space to stage boxes later.

Handle hazardous items properly

Paint, solvents, propane cylinders, batteries and similar products shouldn't go in regular garbage or a moving truck. The City of Edmonton accepts household hazardous waste at its Eco Stations. Check the City's website for what's accepted.

Book junk removal for the big stuff

Old couches, mattresses, appliances and piles of boxes are hard to get rid of without a truck. Our junk removal service can clear them out before your move, or on moving day, so you only move what you're keeping.