Start six to eight weeks before your move if you can. Go room by room, sort into keep, donate and let go, and donate before you start packing. Book your donation pickup early, because pickups need a little notice, and take hazardous waste, batteries and electronics to the right drop-off.
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Moving is the one time every single thing you own asks you a question: are you coming with me? About 12% of people in the US moved to a different home in 2024, according to the Census Bureau’s American Community Survey – and plenty of them paid to move boxes they unpacked straight into a closet.
Whether you’re heading across town, over the bridge or out of state, the smartest move is to decide before you pack. Here’s a simple timeline.
Why declutter before you pack
- Fewer boxes, less to carry. Especially in walk-ups, where every trip up the stairs counts.
- A smaller moving bill. Movers usually charge by time, weight or volume, so less stuff usually means less to pay.
- An easier first week. Unpacking is faster when everything you unpack is something you want.
- Good things get a second life instead of ending up on the curb on moving day.
Your week-by-week decluttering timeline
Walk through and make a plan
Go room by room with a notepad. List the big things you won’t take, and anything that needs special handling. Furniture pickups are coming soon to the Bay Area – raise a request on our bulk donation page and we’ll let you know when they open.
Closets and kids’ rooms
Clothes, shoes, bags and toys take up the most packing space. Use our 20-minute method one zone at a time, and let kids choose which toys to pass on.
Bookshelves and the home office
Books are heavy and a box of them adds up fast, so be choosy. Pass on finished novels, kids’ books and spare school supplies. Textbooks are welcome if they’re under 10 years old.
Book your donation pickup
Pickups need a little notice, so book as soon as your donation pile takes shape and pick a time slot before moving week. Enter your ZIP to see the slots available in your area.
Final sweep and safe disposal
Pack only what’s left. Take hazardous waste and electronics to the right drop-off, and use the guide below for everything else.
Room-by-room checklist
| Room | Ready to donate | Handle separately |
|---|---|---|
| Bedroom and closet | Clothes, shoes, bags, watches | Worn-out clothes to textile recycling; mattresses to Bye Bye Mattress |
| Kids’ rooms | Outgrown clothes and shoes, complete toys, children’s books | Car seats and older cribs (see below) |
| Living room and shelves | Books, board games and puzzles with every piece | Electronics to e-waste recycling |
| Home office | Notebooks, pens and other school supplies | Batteries – never in the trash |
| Garage and storage | Sneakers, boots, backpacks | Paint and chemicals to household hazardous waste |
| Kitchen and bathroom | Not part of our pickups right now | Unopened food to your local food bank |
What can’t go in a donation bag
Some things need a different route. Here are the usual moving-day suspects:
- Mattresses. California’s Bye Bye Mattress program offers drop-off at no additional cost at participating locations, and retailers must offer to take back your old mattress when they deliver a new one (delivery fees may still apply).
- Paint, cleaners and chemicals. In California, household hazardous waste can’t go in the garbage. San Francisco residents can use the free drop-off at 501 Tunnel Avenue, Alameda County has four free drop-off facilities, and Santa Clara County offers free drop-offs by appointment.
- Batteries and electronics. Both are banned from the trash in California. Take them to an e-waste or household hazardous waste drop-off.
- Car seats and older cribs. Safety rules make these hard to pass on – see our guide to what not to donate.
Moving-day tips for your donation pile
- Keep it separate. Put donation bags in one spot, away from the moving boxes, so nothing gets packed by mistake.
- Label everything. A simple “DONATE” note on each bag saves questions on a busy day.
- Close it up. Use bags or boxes that close, and keep shoes in pairs.
- Add pickup notes. Building access, a lobby or a parking tip can go in the notes when you book, and we’ll pass them on to our logistics partner.
Not sure where something goes?
Your local lookup tool has the answer:
- San Francisco: Recology WhatBin
- East Bay and Palo Alto: StopWaste RE:Source
- San José: San José Recycles
- Santa Clara and San Mateo counties: RecycleStuff.org
Frequently asked questions
When should I start decluttering before a move?
Six to eight weeks out is ideal, but even two weeks helps. Start with the rooms that take longest to pack: closets, kids’ rooms and bookshelves.
How early should I book a donation pickup before moving?
As soon as you know your dates. Pickups need a little notice, so enter your ZIP on the booking page to see the time slots available in your area.
Can you pick up furniture when I move?
Furniture and appliances are coming soon to the Bay Area. Raise a request on our bulk donation page and we’ll let you know when they open.
Can I donate more than one bag?
Yes. Flexi Pickup is for more bags or boxes. It’s $42.99 onwards, depending on the vehicle you choose, and you see your fee before you pay.
- US Census Bureau, American Community Survey migration guidance
- Bye Bye Mattress (California)
- CalRecycle, Household hazardous waste
- California DTSC, Batteries
- California DTSC, Electronic waste
- SF Environment, Household hazardous waste
- StopWaste, Residential HHW drop-off
- Santa Clara County, Household hazardous waste
