Moving Soon? Here's What You Should Throw Away First
Start by getting rid of anything you’d have to pay to move, throw away, or store on the other end. The average local move costs less when you cut your load by 25-30% before the truck arrives — and the easiest way to do that is to purge before you pack a single box.
Throw These Away First
When you’re moving soon, here’s what you should throw away first, in order of “no regrets”:
- Expired and half-used chemicals — old paint, pool chemicals, pesticides, motor oil. Movers won’t touch these, and they’re heavy dead weight.
- Broken or worn furniture — that wobbly Ikea dresser, the sun-faded patio set that’s been baking on your Gilbert back porch for six summers.
- Dead electronics — old TVs, tangled cables, printers that jam every time. E-waste piles up fast.
- Mattresses you won’t sleep on again — if you wouldn’t put a guest on it, don’t move it.
- Duplicate kitchen gear — three colanders, the second blender, the bread machine used once in 2019.
- Anything in the garage you haven’t touched in a year — this is where most East Valley homes hide their heaviest junk.
Paint, pool chemicals, and other household hazardous waste can’t go in your regular bin. Maricopa County residents can drop these at the county’s Household Hazardous Waste events — check maricopa.gov for the current schedule.
Sell, Donate, or Toss? A Quick Guide
| Item | Best Move |
|---|---|
| Good-condition couch or table | Donate (Goodwill, St. Vincent de Paul) |
| Working appliance under 8 years | Sell or donate |
| Broken appliance or furniture | Haul away |
| Clothing in good shape | Donate |
| Cracked TVs, old monitors | E-waste haul |
| Rusted patio furniture | Haul away |
Scottsdale, Tempe, and Chandler all have solid donation centers, but many won’t accept stained, torn, or non-working items — and they rarely pick up. That’s where hauling comes in.
Time Your City Bulk Trash Pickup
Most East Valley cities offer curbside bulk trash pickup a few times a year, but the schedules don’t always line up with your moving date. Phoenix, Mesa, Chandler, and Gilbert each run on their own calendar, and if your move falls between pickups, that pile sits in your driveway for weeks. If you can’t wait, a scheduled haul beats missing your window. You can read more about how bulk trash works and where it falls short during a move.
Don’t Pay to Move Junk
The math is simple: every heavy item you drag to the new place costs you in truck space, mover hours, or a second trip. Big-ticket offenders — old washers, dryers, sectionals, and treadmills — are exactly the things you shouldn’t be loading. 480 Junk Removal handles furniture and appliance removal across Phoenix, Scottsdale, Tempe, Mesa, Chandler, and Gilbert, so those items are gone before packing day.
If you’re clearing out a parent’s home or a full property, an estate cleanout can knock out an entire house in one visit instead of item by item.
Pricing runs from around $125 for a single item up to roughly $650 for a full truckload, depending on volume — you can get a free photo quote by texting a few pictures before you commit.
FAQs
How far in advance should I clear out junk before moving? Two to three weeks out is ideal. That gives you time to donate the good stuff, book a haul for the rest, and avoid a last-minute scramble the day before the movers show up.
Can you take away junk on short notice in the East Valley? Yes — same-day and next-day service is often available across Phoenix, Scottsdale, Mesa, Chandler, and Gilbert, though it’s smart to call ahead during busy moving seasons like summer.
What can’t you haul away? Household hazardous waste like paint, pool chemicals, oil, and propane tanks must go to a Maricopa County drop-off. We handle nearly everything else — furniture, appliances, electronics, and general clutter.
Call 480 Junk Removal at (480) 508-0466 or send photos for a free quote, and move into your new place with only the things you actually want.