The Dirty Dozen: 12 Things to Ditch to Transform Your Move

Moving season is upon us.... Summer months provide the perfect transitional time for relocations and fresh starts.  But movingcan be one of life’s most stressful events.  It doesn’t have to be, though, if you see it as an opportunity to reset and invest in home storage solutions and custom closets that truly work for you. Inspired by insights from House Beautiful, here are 12 items professional organizers urge you to toss before moving—and how this process paves the way for better home organization.

1. Worn-Out Basics & Shoes

The worn camisoles, faded leggings, and scuffed shoes you’ve tolerated for years? Let them go. These outdated basics only clutter your space and closet—and your closet design efforts. As Lisa Adams from LA Closet Design recommends, moving is the perfect time to upgrade and plan for custom closets that match your refined wardrobe needs (businessinsider.com, housebeautiful.com).

2. Dead Duplicates & Kitchen Gadgets

Are you really using three garlic presses? Multiple spatulas? Now’s the time to be ruthless. Organizers emphasize discarding duplicates—especially in kitchens—so your home storage solutions focus on curated and functional items, not clutter (thespruce.com).

3. Expired Pantry Goods & Toiletries

Old spices, stale snacks, expired lotions—they tie up valuable real estate in pantries and bathroom vanities. Sorting these out before packing ensures you’re only moving what you need into streamlined home organization systems (housebeautiful.com).

4. Towels & Linens Past Their Prime

Tattered towels and mispaired sheets do nothing for your new linen closet setup. Before your move, conduct a linen purge—once you’ve got updated custom closets and shelving, there’s no room for stained, mismatched bedding .

5. Outdated Tech & Tangled Cables

That drawer full of chargers for vanished gadgets? Let it go. Today’s home storage solutions thrive with fewer, well-labeled cables. Leave behind what you don’t currently use—and avoid the tangle .

6. Unfinished Projects & Aspirational Clutter

Was that half-knitted scarf ever worn? If it’s been untouched for a year, organizers say, it deserves to go. Eliminating these “aspirational” projects frees up space and mental clarity .

7. Cheap, Mismatched Storage Bins

Flimsy plastic bins are moving day forbiddances. Keep packing simple, and re-invest in sturdier, matching containers that suit your new home storage solutions strategy (housebeautiful.com).

8. Bulky, Unfit Furniture

Test each large item against your new floor plan. If it doesn’t fit or function (think broken drawers or wobbly shelves), it’s best left behind to avoid future headaches .

9. Old Vases, Tchotchkes & Single-Use Items

Have a cupboard full of floral-arrangement vases? Donate them. Kicking unnecessary decor out streamlines your possessions—and helps define what truly fits your new aesthetic.

10. Paper Clutter: Manuals & Receipts

Stacks of old papers, manuals, and crumpled receipts? Toss or digitize. These papers steal away kitchen drawer space meant for purposeful organization tools (housebeautiful.com).

11. Tea Bags & Kitchen Excess

That drawer full of odd tea blends? Keep only your favorites. Similarly, limit your kitchen gadgets to essentials, and nicely label them in thoughtfully laid-out drawers or holders.

12. Extra Linens & Sentimental Crockery

Purge surplus pillows and blankets, and tough-sentiment china: keep your favorites and display or repurpose them. This attention to detail helps shape upgraded custom closets and curated storage areas .

Why Declutter Before You Re-Organize?

1. Save Money & Time
Fewer items to move = lower costs and labor. Plus, fewer boxes to unpack!
2. Intentional Home Storage Solutions
When you start with less, it becomes easy to plan custom closets and built-ins that perfectly fit your true possessions.
3. Seamless Transition to Organization
Following the decline, install smart solutions like lazy Susans, labeled bins, and seasonal rotation setups to maintain clarity and style .

Moving Forward with Confidence

Mapping your storage strategy around the items you keep creates calm, functional spaces. Use decluttered essentials as the foundation for tailored closets and systems—like matching baskets, seasonal rotating racks, and intuitive drawer layouts. Once your essentials are sorted and organized, indulge in accessories that align with your aesthetic and support your lifestyle.

Moving isn’t just about changing location. It’s a chance to level up your home storage solutions, refresh wardrobe systems with custom closets, and embrace life with renewed clarity. Roll up your sleeves—declutter with purpose, then design storage that supports your transformed life in your new home.

Click here to download a checklist for tips on designing those custom closets and storage features based on what you kept—or tossed!