Moving-Out Cleanout Checklist
Before you move, sort every room into three piles: keep and pack, donate, and haul away. Working room by room instead of all at once keeps the job manageable, and booking a pickup before move-out day means the “haul away” pile doesn’t end up packed into a truck by accident or left behind for someone else to deal with.
What Should I Get Rid of Before I Move?
As a general rule: anything broken, anything you haven’t used in over a year, and anything that costs more to move than to replace. Movers typically charge by weight or by the hour, so every item you haul away instead of pack is one less thing driving up moving costs. Start with the categories below, room by room.
Kitchen
- Expired pantry items and spices
- Duplicate or mismatched dishware
- Small appliances that no longer work
- Containers without matching lids
- Takeout menus, old coupons, expired warranties in the junk drawer
Bedrooms
- Clothes that no longer fit or haven’t been worn in a year
- Old mattresses and box springs being replaced at the new place
- Broken furniture—bed frames, dressers, nightstands with damage not worth repairing
- Linens and towels beyond reasonable use
Living Room / Common Areas
- Furniture that won’t fit the new layout
- Old electronics—outdated TVs, cables, chargers for devices you no longer own
- Books, media, and decor you’re not attached to
Garage / Storage
- Broken or unused tools and equipment
- Paint cans, old chemicals (check local hazardous waste rules separately—these often can’t go in a standard pickup)
- Bikes, sporting equipment, or seasonal gear you haven’t touched in years
- General clutter that’s accumulated in storage bins
Bathroom
- Expired medications (dispose of these through a pharmacy take-back program, not general junk pickup)
- Old towels, half-used toiletries, and expired cosmetics
- Damaged bath mats or shower curtains
Keep, Donate, or Haul Away: A Simple Sorting Framework
| Condition | What to do |
|---|---|
| Working, and you'll use it at the new place | Keep and pack |
| Working, but you won't use it | Donate |
| Broken, damaged, or not worth repairing | Haul away |
| Hazardous, chemical, or requires special disposal | Take to an approved disposal or take-back location separately |
For items in good shape, check the donations page for where EasyGig-collected items typically end up, or drop them off yourself if you’d rather choose the recipient.
When Should You Book Pickup Relative to Move Day?
Booking a day or two before your move gives you a buffer to finish sorting without the haul-away pile sitting around, and it keeps moving day focused on the boxes actually going with you. EasyGig doesn’t require advance notice—same-day booking is often available—but if your move date is fixed, booking ahead removes one more thing to coordinate that day. See how it works for the full process.
Where Should You Stage the Haul-Away Pile?
EasyGig haulers pick up from the curb, driveway, or an easily accessible garage only — they don’t enter the home or carry items down from upstairs or through interior hallways. As you sort each room, move the haul-away items to one of those spots as you go, rather than trying to move everything at once on pickup day. If you’re clearing out a full house rather than just a few items, the Junk Removal For Your Move page covers what a larger job looks like.
Frequently Asked Questions
How far in advance should I book junk pickup before moving? A day or two ahead is usually enough, though same-day booking is often available if you’re sorting right up until move day.
Can EasyGig pick up furniture I’m not moving? Yes—furniture like couches, dressers, tables, bed frames, and desks are all accepted, as long as it’s staged at the curb, driveway, or an accessible garage.
What if I have more than fits in one truckload? Book a second truckload at the same flat rate. Check what fits in a truckload to estimate how many you’ll need.
Will haulers help me carry things out of the house? No—pickup is curbside, driveway, or an easily accessible garage only, so items need to be staged there ahead of time.
What about hazardous items like paint or chemicals? Those typically require an approved hazardous waste disposal location rather than standard junk pickup—check local rules before your move.
Sorting a whole house before moving day? Book your pickup or see the Junk Removal for Your Move page for larger jobs.
