SAVE $500–$1,500 ON YOUR MOVE

The Complete Pre-Move Declutter Checklist

Based on Canadian Association of Movers guidelines and Transport Canada dangerous goods regulations. Covers what to purge, what movers refuse to take, and what you handle yourself.

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Canadian movers charge by weight on long-distance moves
A typical household throws out 30% of what they pack within 6 months
Decluttering cuts 15 to 25% of your total moving cost
Some items are illegal to transport under Transport Canada rules

The math: On an average $6,000 long-distance move, a 20% weight reduction saves roughly $1,200. Even a local move saves $300 to $500. Decluttering is the highest-paid hour of work you'll do this month.

Work through all sections before packing day. Click each item to mark complete.

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Movers Can't Take These

Transport Canada prohibits. Dispose of or handle separately.

Critical: If you pack these in boxes, professional movers will refuse them on the day or charge delay fees. Moving companies are bound by the Transportation of Dangerous Goods Act 1992.

Propane tanks, full or empty.BBQ tanks, camping fuel. Return to supplier or take to hazardous waste depot.
Gasoline, diesel, kerosene, lamp oil.Empty lawn mowers and generators 2 weeks before the move.
Paint, paint thinner, solvents, turpentine.Municipal hazardous depot. Home Depot and Rona also take leftover paint.
Aerosol cans (hairspray, spray paint, lubricants, bug spray).Heat and pressure in trucks make these a hazard.
Cleaning chemicals with bleach, ammonia, or acid.
Pool chemicals, chlorine tablets, pH balancers.
Fertilizer, pesticides, herbicides, weed killer.
Fire extinguishers.Pressurized, legally prohibited from transport.
Ammunition, fireworks, flares, matches, lighter fluid.Contact local police for safe disposal options.
Car batteries, marine batteries, loose lithium batteries.
Nail polish, nail polish remover, acetone.
Scuba tanks, oxygen tanks, medical tanks.

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Perishables & Plants

Movers won't take these. Plant restrictions apply across provinces.

Cross-province note: BC restricts plants from other provinces due to invasive species rules. Check Canadian Food Inspection Agency rules before transporting live plants interprovincially.

Frozen food.Eat it down or donate to neighbours. Movers won't transport.
Refrigerated food (dairy, meat, produce).
Opened jars (jam, peanut butter, sauces).Leak risk. Toss anything opened over 3 months.
Open cooking oils, vinegars, sauces.
Flour, sugar, rice, pasta over 6 months old.Attracts pests on the truck.
Opened wine and spirits.Most movers accept sealed bottles only, and only for local moves.
Live plants.Transport in your car, not the truck. Provincial restrictions apply.
Garden soil, compost, mulch bags.Pest and soil transport regulations prohibit this.
Pet food over 6 months old, pet medications.

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Closet & Clothing

Heaviest category after books. Be ruthless.

Clothes you haven't worn in 12 months.If you forgot you owned it, you won't miss it.
Shoes with broken soles, stretched backs, or that hurt your feet.
Wire hangers from the dry cleaner.They tangle in boxes and damage clothes during transport.
Formal wear that doesn't fit or suit your current life.
Purses, backpacks, and bags you haven't carried this year.
Belts, scarves, and accessories collecting dust.
Seasonal items for a climate you're leaving.Moving Toronto to Vancouver? The minus-30 parka can go.
Baby and maternity clothes if you're past that phase.

Kitchen

Heavy and fragile. The worst category to over-pack.

Duplicate utensils (can openers, peelers, spatulas, whisks).You only need one of each.
Expired pantry items.Anything past date, anything opened over 6 months.
Small appliances you haven't used in a year.Bread maker, panini press, rice cooker, fondue pot.
Mismatched Tupperware and containers with no lids.
Chipped or cracked dishes, mugs, and bowls.
Plastic grocery bag stockpile.
Cookbooks you haven't opened in 2+ years.Recipes live online. Keep only signed or heirloom copies.
Spices older than 2 years.They lose potency. Toss and restock at new place.
Takeout containers you've been saving.
Coffee mugs beyond your daily rotation.Most households keep 20+ mugs and use 4.

Books, Media & Paper

Books are the single heaviest category by weight.

Books you've already read and won't reread.Donate to Salvation Army, local library, or Little Free Library.
DVDs, CDs, and video games.Everything is streamed. Keep only rare or sentimental items.
Old textbooks from university or college.
Magazines, catalogues, and instruction manuals.Every manual is a free PDF online.
Paperwork over 7 years old.CRA requires 6 years of tax records. Shred the rest.
Old school papers, report cards, projects.Photograph favorites, recycle the rest.
Greeting cards and birthday cards.
Stacks of receipts, old warranties, expired coupons.

Bathroom

Half-used bottles are dead weight. Many are hazardous.

Expired medications.Return to any pharmacy for safe disposal. Do not flush.
Old makeup, half-empty bottles, sample sizes you'll never use.
Worn-out towels, bath mats, and washcloths.Animal shelters accept these for bedding.
Travel-size toiletries from hotels.
Old toothbrushes, razors, hair tools you've replaced.
Expired sunscreen and insect repellent.
Old prescription glasses and contact lenses.LensCrafters and many optometrists accept glasses for donation.
Partially used shampoo, conditioner, body wash.Use up or donate unopened to shelters.

Garage, Basement & Storage

Where forgotten stuff lives rent-free for years.

Old tools, rusted hardware, mystery screws in jars.
Broken electronics and cables for devices you no longer own.Free recycling at Best Buy, Staples, or municipal e-waste depot.
Holiday decorations you haven't used in 2+ years.
Unopened boxes from your last move.If you haven't opened it in years, you don't need it.
Exercise equipment collecting dust.Sell on Facebook Marketplace 4 weeks before the move.
Garden tools if moving to a condo or apartment.
BBQ if propane-fueled (drain or replace at new home).
Camping gear you haven't touched in 3+ years.
Lawn mower and snow blower gas (drain before moving day).
Bicycles that don't fit anyone or are broken.
Old luggage with broken zippers or wheels.

Furniture & Large Items

Often cheaper to replace than to move long-distance.

Measure first: Moving furniture that won't fit your new space costs double. You pay to move it, then pay to dispose of it. Get the new home's floor plan before deciding.

Furniture that won't fit your new floor plan.Measure doorways, stairwells, elevators, and rooms.
Mattresses over 8 years old.Replace at new place. Moving costs $150+ and carries bedbug risk.
Wall art and decor that doesn't match your style anymore.
IKEA furniture more than 5 years old.Particleboard rarely survives a second disassembly.
Desk chairs with broken wheels or stained fabric.
Old CRT TVs or early flat-screens.Best Buy accepts for recycling free.
Water damaged or stained rugs.

Kids' Rooms

Involve them. They'll surprise you.

Outgrown clothes and shoes.
Toys they haven't touched in 6 months.
Broken toys, incomplete puzzles, craft supply scraps.
Old school art and papers.Photograph favorites, recycle the rest.
Baby gear past its life stage (high chairs, bouncers, monitors).
Expired car seats.Check expiration date, usually 6 years from manufacture. Canadian Tire recycles.
Books too young for their current reading level.

Digital Declutter

Clean these before the move so the new start is actually fresh.

Back up all photos to Google Photos, iCloud, or external drive.Do this before packing any devices in case they're damaged.
Scan important documents (birth certificates, tax records, diplomas).
Export browser bookmarks and passwords to a password manager.
Cancel subscriptions you won't use (gym, streaming, meal kits).
Unsubscribe from email lists you never read.
Set up Canada Post mail forwarding.Takes 5 to 10 business days. Buy the 12-month option for tax slips.

Keep With You (Never Pack)

These never go on the moving truck.

Mover insurance excludes these: Most cargo insurance policies don't cover cash, jewelry, or irreplaceable documents. If lost or damaged, you're not reimbursed. Keep them in a personal bag.

Passports, birth certificates, citizenship papers.
Cash, chequebooks, banking info.
Jewelry and watches.
Laptops, hard drives, sensitive electronics.
Prescription medications (7+ day supply).
Medical records and pet records.
Irreplaceable photos and heirlooms.
Wills, insurance papers, deeds, mortgage documents.
Car keys, spare keys, garage remotes.
Moving contract and Bill of Lading.

Where to Send Your Purged Items

Sell

Facebook Marketplace, Kijiji, VarageSale, Poshmark. Start 4 weeks before the move.

Donate

Salvation Army, Value Village, Habitat for Humanity ReStore, Diabetes Canada pickup.

Junk Removal

1-800-GOT-JUNK, Just Junk, College Hunks. $200 to $500 for a full truckload.

Hazardous Waste

Municipal depot. Paint, chemicals, batteries, propane, aerosols. Usually free.

Electronics

Best Buy, Staples, or municipal e-waste depot. Free drop-off.

Textiles

H&M, Uniqlo, and Value Village accept worn clothes for recycling.

Medications

Any Shoppers Drug Mart, Rexall, or Costco pharmacy. Free take-back.

Car Seats

Canadian Tire runs annual car seat recycling events. Check locally.

Calculate Your Moving Cost

You've purged. Now see what it costs to move what's left. Canadian-specific, covers every province, compares DIY, portable container, and full-service movers.

Calculate Your Exact Moving Cost →

The Complete Pre-Move Declutter Checklist

Now see your real moving cost

Where to Send Your Purged Items

Sell

Donate

Junk Removal

Hazardous Waste

Electronics

Textiles

Medications

Car Seats

How Much You Save After Decluttering

Calculate Your Moving Cost