The Unintuitive Item You Should Declutter During Your Next Move

Moving into a new place is super exciting, but the actual moving process is not quite as fun. It's not just the seemingly endless to-do list, the tedium of wrapping things in bubble wrap, and the heavy lifting. It's also wondering: Where the heck did all this stuff suddenly come from, and do I actually have to pack it?

That's why we're big fans of any "move-out" decluttering method, including tossing anything that isn't going to be absolutely necessary at the next place you're headed. And there's one type of item in particular that some experts recommend tossing — cleaning supplies. Yes, it sounds counterintuitive, since one of your first action items at your new place will probably be scrubbing every surface. But since cleaning supplies take up tons of space and run the risk of spilling during transport, it's often smarter to start fresh with brand new supplies at your new place.

One reason to ditch the last of your cleaning supplies is that they could cause issues if they break during the move. Regardless of whether you pack like a pro so that nothing breaks in your moving boxes, these bottles can still be prone to leaks, punctures, or spills. Even a tiny bleach spill in one of your moving boxes could ruin nearby items. Additionally, a spill could accidentally combine cleaning items like bleach and ammonia and create toxic gases. Some moving companies even have policies against including cleaning supplies because of this risk.

Not a fan of waste? We get it. You don't have to toss the cleaning products in the trash — there's almost certainly someone nearby who can take them off your hands. If you don't have anyone to pawn your cleaning products off on, make sure you follow the right way to dispose of cleaning products. Most can be safely poured down the drain, but not all, and the label will give you the best instructions. No matter how you declutter cleaning products, you'll be making your move easier.