Moving house is often one of the most stressful things we experience. Yet many of us, myself included, wait until last week to pack our cupboards.
Waiting until the last minute can create a chain of chaos. You end up spending money moving things you don’t want or end up with boxes of unwanted items.
According to The Intermediary, two thirds of homeowners found the process so stressful it put them off moving again. This was true for me too. A lot of the stress comes from one main mistake: putting off decluttering until the deadline is close.
On Aero and Clarkie, I often write about my life in the city and living intentionally. This time, I want to share what I learned from my messy move. If you are moving, let my mistakes guide you on what not to do.
The Plan That Fell Apart Quickly
I planned my move six weeks in advance. The flat seemed easy to manage. I had a few wardrobes, a kitchen, and some storage boxes. I thought it wouldn’t take long.
That is what I told myself.
A 2026 London TV report found that only 12% of younger buyers said they knew all the costs and tasks involved in moving. That rang true in my case. I had no clue about the time, energy, costs and stuff that would surprise me the moment I opened my first cupboard.
Week one went by. Week two went by. I felt busy and tired, yet I believed I had enough time. I could declutter in a weekend or maybe less.
By the time moving week came, I had not properly sorted any of the rooms.
The Moment It All Hit Me
Opening the wardrobe on Monday morning during moving week actually shocked me. I saw clothes I hadn’t worn in three years. I found shoes still in their original boxes and a coat that had moved with me twice but somehow made it through every cleanup.
Clarkie, my dog, came in, sniffed a pile of old jumpers, and then walked back out. Even he had standards.
The storage cupboard was even worse. I found cables for devices I no longer owned, and candles melted together from a summer heatwave. There was a slow cooker still in its box, untouched, bought with good intentions in 2021.
The hallway smelled of old cardboard and dust. Each drawer I opened added to my feeling of dread.
Moving week turned into a race to declutter, and the clock was ticking loudly.
The Poor Decisions That Followed
When time runs out, decision-making becomes rushed.
Uncertain items were packed immediately, not because they were needed, but because sorting it took too long. I threw in broken items and duplicate kitchen tools just to clear the surfaces. I even packed a full set of dishes I had already planned to replace.
Moving costs went up because there was simply more to shift. The removal van needed an additional trip, which wasted money and time neither of us had on the day.
The Part I Completely Underestimated
The sheer volume of rubbish devastated me.
I could handle a few bags easily. But making several trips to the tip, dealing with a stack of flat-pack furniture, and sorting out a pile of electrical items for recycling? That wasn’t a quick job I could finish in one afternoon.
By the time I realised how much I needed to get rid of, it was already too late to deal with it in small trips. That is when I started looking into proper options such as ProSkips, which would have saved me time and stress if I had planned it earlier.
Hiring a skip in advance would have relieved a lot of pressure. Instead, I spent the last two days of the move managing waste instead of settling into my new place.
What Should Have Happened Instead
Here is a better way to organise your decluttering:
Start Four Weeks in Advance
It is manageable to tackle one room each week. Focus on the wardrobe one weekend and the kitchen cupboards the next. Breaking it down makes it feel less overwhelming.
Set a Clear Rule for Each Item
Does it work? Does it fit the new space? Has it been used in the past year?
If the answer to all three is no, it goes.
Plan Disposal from the Start
You need time to arrange charity drops, recycling, or hiring a skip. Waiting until the last few days to deal with disposal will only add extra stress.
Tackle “Just in case” Items First
They’re hard to decide on. Handle them early while you still have time to drop things off properly.
A Simple Pre-Move Declutter Timeline
- Two weeks before: Clear out wardrobes, the loft, and garage storage.
- One week before: Sort kitchen items, spare rooms, and hallway cupboards.
- Moving week: Pack only what you are keeping. Arrange for final waste collection.
Conclusion
Waiting until moving week to declutter adds unnecessary stress. Start early and clean out each room one by one. Make sure to get rid of unwanted items before the moving van arrives.
Your new home deserves a fresh start, not a load of clutter that should’ve been cleared out months ago.Have you ever had a bad experience on moving day or found a stash of forgotten items in your cupboards? I want to hear your story! Contact me and let’s share tips on surviving your move.
