The 100-Item Pre-Move Declutter Challenge
I’m setting a personal goal: before moving day I want to get rid of at least 100 things. I plan to donate, sell, or give away items using donation centers, local classifieds, online marketplaces, or community swap groups. On the surface, the number sounds high, but when I look around the house I can easily see at least 100 items we never use, don’t need, or shouldn’t bother moving. To make this real, I’ll keep a written list of every item as it’s removed. Yes, I’m that person who likes tracking things on paper.
Why 100?
Picking a specific target makes the process feel doable and keeps me accountable. Rather than vaguely “decluttering,” the 100-item goal turns it into a project with a metric. Plus, it forces me to look at every corner: closets, drawers, storage bins, the garage, and the often-forgotten areas where unused things gather dust.
My First Purge: Shoes
To get started I tackled my shoe collection. It was eye-opening: many pairs haven’t been worn since I left NYC and moved to Richmond more than four years ago. That discovery alone was enough motivation to begin letting go.
I ended up with ten pairs of shoes destined for donation or sale. I kept 18 pairs, plus one favorite pair of Puma sneakers that were out in the sunroom, for a total of 19 in my “definite keeper” pile. Numerically, I’m ready to say goodbye to over a third of my shoes. For tallying purposes, I’m counting each pair as one item toward the 100-item goal rather than two shoes per pair—so this first purge counts as ten items. Now I need to find 90 more.
Sidenote: The blue-gray bedroom wall looks much greener in that photo — I clearly still have a lot to learn about the new camera.
How I’m Tracking and Making Decisions
Here’s how I’m handling the process so it stays efficient and sane:
- Write each item on a running paper list as it’s removed. The physical act of crossing items off is motivating.
- Sort into three piles immediately: keep, donate/sell, and recycle/trash. This minimizes second-guessing later.
- Use simple rules to decide: if you haven’t used it in a year, consider letting it go; if it’s damaged and not worth repairing, recycle it.
- Take quick photos of anything I plan to sell—clear shots, good lighting, and honest descriptions help listings move faster.
- Clean or freshen items before donating or selling; a quick wash or polish helps them find a new home more easily.
Where Things Go
Depending on the item I’ll choose one of several options: donate to local charities, list on community classifieds, sell on online marketplaces, or post items on local swap groups. For some things, a free-cycle or give-away post is the fastest way to find a good home. For more valuable items, taking a little time to list them on an auction or resale site usually pays off. If an item is beyond saving, I dispose of it responsibly by recycling or using proper waste disposal.
Practical Tips to Keep Momentum
- Schedule short decluttering sessions so the project doesn’t become overwhelming—30 to 60 minutes can yield surprising progress.
- Label boxes clearly: donate, sell, recycle, or keep. That prevents re-sorting on moving day.
- Set up a donation box in a central location so items don’t re-enter daily life.
- Bundle small items into a single listing or a single donation bag to reduce the number of transactions.
- Ask friends or family if they want anything before posting for sale or donation.
Why It’s Worth It
Moving is the perfect prompt to reassess possessions. Every thing I don’t move saves time, space, and money. Donating items helps others, selling things brings in a little cash, and giving items away can be a kindness to someone nearby. Beyond the practical benefits, reducing clutter leads to a calmer, more intentional living space.
So far I’ve knocked ten items off my list with the shoe purge. I’ll keep updating my list and tracking progress as I find more things to let go. Anyone else downsizing before a move? Let’s commiserate and share tips.