The bedroom battle – how to clean out your room for moving

Our bedrooms are a place of comfort and serenity; the place we return to when we want to get away from it all with some rest and relaxation. So, when it comes to thinking about how to clean out your room for a big move, the process can seem quite daunting. This is true for the process of packing and moving, but the thought of having to reclaim that sense of serenity in a new location can be equally troubling.

With several years of experience assisting families moving house in Sydney, we have managed to pick up quite a few tips and tricks for those looking to take on the moving process. So, without further adieu, let’s take a look at how to clean out your room for moving!

The Little Things

Unless you’ve dedicated yourself to the minimalist lifestyle, chances are that you have a lot of bits and pieces cluttering up your bedroom. Whether it be masses of wires leading to TVs, phones, alarms, etc., or the mainstays on your bedside table that you’ll “put away later” (circa. 6 months ago), it’s best to get them out of the way.

This doesn’t just go for those objects on display either. When thinking about how to clean out your room, you should also be thinking about what is going to happen to these things during the moving process. A pair of glasses left in your drawers isn’t necessarily going to come out the other side of your move looking stylish, if you catch my drift. By removing all of the small trinkets and necessities beforehand, you can then focus on the bigger picture.

The Clothing Considerations

If you’re like most people and prefer to keep your clothes in your bedroom, these will need somewhere to go. Before starting the process of physically moving your clothes, however, there are two things you should do beforehand.

Firstly, go out and purchase some sturdy garbage bags or other vessel for your clothing. Generally, due to the space that they take up, people tend to shy away from boxing their clothes; instead opting for more space-efficient options. By purchasing these beforehand, you’ll have a place to put things and avoid any unnecessary clutter.

Secondly, clean your clothes before you pack them. If you’re reading a blog on how to clean out your room before moving, it can be assumed that you’re looking to complete this process as meticulously as possible. By cleaning your clothes before packing them, you can avoid a rather unpleasant part of the unpacking process. Plus, mixing clean and dirty clothes in an enclosed bag is only going to lead to more cleaning when you’re done.

Mattress Matters

Now that you’ve gotten the smaller things out of the way, it’s time to go for the big league: your bedding. Before tackling your bed as a whole, take remove all of your bedding, including sheets, doonas, pillows etc. This can be placed in a bag or moving box, just as you’ve done with your clothing. Then (if you can) get some friends to help you move your mattress into a plastic mattress cover to avoid scuffing or damage once it’s in the moving van or truck.

Once all of this is done, you are ready to simply dismantle your bed frame and move it into an area where it won’t obstruct the rest of your move.

Moving to Australia? Here’s What You Need to Know

With year-round sunshine, 21,000 miles of sandy coastline, friendly locals and a fantastic quality of life ideal for raising a family, moving to Australia from the UK is the ultimate dream for a lot of Brits.

Here, we look at just what makes Australia such a great place to live, the close ties we share with the Aussies and why so many Brits are packing up and leaving the UK for an international removal to Australia.

Obtaining a Visa

Although Australia is easy to visit as a tourist, it’s a bit more difficult to settle as an expat. British and EU tourists obtain their visa through the eVisitor scheme which offers a 90-days stay over the course of 12 months.

For permanent residence in Australia, things can be difficult – their immigration policy is strict and works on a points basis. The three most common types of visa are:

• Skilled: Independent Visa
• Skilled: Nominated Visa
• The 457 Visa

It’s important to research which one applies to you in good time well before your move.

The Australian Way of Life

The Aussies are famed for their love of the great outdoors – and with such breathtaking natural landscapes from coast to coast, who can blame them?

However, the Aussies are extremely friendly and don’t think twice about engaging a stranger in conversation – something us Brits have always struggled with! Aussies hold politeness and fairness in high regard – two qualities that make them so warm, friendly and approachable.

The Cost of Living

Compared to most other Westernised countries, Australia isn’t cheap! You can expect to pay more for pretty much everything in Australia – from consumer goods to rent. However, higher wages offset the high cost of living by making everything relative.

Popular Cities for Brits

Four of the most popular cities for Brits moving to Australia are Sydney, Melbourne and Perth.

Sydney

Wrapped around the world’s largest natural harbour, the city is vibrant with a strong economy. Sydney is a city for everyone! Trek and climb around the local Blue Mountains or spend time swimming and surfing on Bondi Beach.

The city has a fantastic mix of sport, culture, music and history, and is home to several major festivals every year.

Melbourne

With 50% of its residents born overseas and another 30% speaking a second language, Melbourne is one of Australia’s most multi-cultural cities. Many of the city’s streets have a European feel about them and show a huge range of diverse architecture, historical buildings, parks and gardens.

Melbourne is a relatively young city but has a high cost of living. However, a strong jobs economy makes it a great place to work and draws expats from right across Europe.

Perth

Perth is one of the most ‘British’ cities in Australia, with Brits making up over 10% of the local population! Mining plays a huge role in Perth’s local economy, with a large number of expats involved in the mining sector – many of whom brought their families with them.

Agriculture is also a major local contributor to the local economy and despite Perth being the only major city on Australia’s west coast, it remains a young and thriving city.

According to studies, moving home can be one of the most stressful times in life. It’s right up there with divorce and even the death of a loved one… Actually, the stress of moving could quite possibly account for both of those things happening; nothing dampens romance quite like arguing over the best way to pack all the spoons.

Any parent will confirm that young children can also be periodically added to the list of life’s most stressful things. So factor them into the whole moving house scenario, and a certain amount of dread is understandable. Luckily, there are some things you can do to make the process a little easier on everyone.

Keep them in the loop…

It’s easy to leave children out of the discussion, particularly when there’s already so much to do. But unlike sneaking hidden vegetables into their dinner, it’s best not to sneak the kids into a new place and just hope they don’t notice. Change and upheaval can be pretty upsetting for a lot of children, but that can be helped by letting them know what’s happening from start to finish. Right from the first time you seriously consider looking at new homes, through to moving day. It might feel like you’re giving them hard answers, especially if the move will involve a new school and new friends, but honesty really is the best policy. Give them time to adjust before you’ve even started packing, and they will also know that they can trust you with any anxieties they feel.

Show them the sights…

If possible, take them to see their new neighbourhood before making the permanent move. Take them for a walk around, introduce them to their new school and sign them up to their usual activities or sports in the new place. A bit of familiarity can help children feel less apprehensive, and stop them from imagining the worst. It’s also important to remind them that they don’t have to cut ties with their old neighbourhood. Set up play dates with their current friends for after you’ve moved if that’s possible and keep their routines as similar to what it was originally.

Make a plan…

Whether you’re moving around the corner, or to the other side of the country, you should definitely have a plan. Guaranteed there will be last minute changes and problems on top of all the things you already know you’ll have to deal with. Having a detailed plan means that you have at least a fighting chance of tackling any unexpected problems. Including children in that plan helps with our first tip of keeping them in the loop, and it can help them feel actively involved. Even small tasks make them feel valued and included in what’s happening, but it can also help you keep track of them when things are getting hectic!

 

Get some professional help…

Ok, so it’s stressful, but hopefully, you won’t need to see a therapist by the time the boxes are packed. Rather get yourself some help from a professional removals company to ease the process. They say that a good rule for parenting is knowing when to ask for help, and the same goes for moving home. Companies like Hire A Mover have all the expertise to take away a lot of that stress and all the right tools to move you and your family quickly and efficiently. Delegation is the first rule of good management, so why not delegate all that hard work so that you can concentrate on getting everyone else out the door in one piece?

Go on an adventure…

It’s no secret that children look to their parents for guidance on how to behave or react to something. Usually by repeating that thing you wish you never said, in front of too many people, at about the worst possible time! But how you react to the move can really impact your child’s feelings about it. As hard as it is, if you can keep the stresses from them and treat the move like an adventure, they will catch on to the excitement. Every child loves an adventure, plus by focusing on all the positives you can help keep your own happy mindset. Just remember that the stresses of moving aren’t forever, and holding on to the good side will definitely help you get through any low points.

Micro Removals was established in 1979 by two fireman who carried out removals during their downtime from their fire brigade roles. The name “Micro” was a combination of their names and they operated one 7.5T lorry covering local moves within the Thanet area.

Our dad, Allan, bought the company off them with his friend John in 1989, and they continued the one lorry one move theme for several years. The business was run from the family home kitchen and we parked the lorry outside a local pub nearby.

By 1999 they were running 2 lorries and employed a couple of porters, going further afield within Kent and occasionally long distance. Allan’s son Andy had been on his world travels having been a qualified chef for the past few years. On his return he decided to buy into the company as John wanted to move onto pastures new. Allan & Andy Small became business partners, and the family business was born.

Seventeen years ago we also formed Andrews of Kent Removals & Storage to run alongside Micro, and due to its success we rebranded all our Micro vehicles over to the Andrews of Kent livery. Allan’s daughter Cara joined the family gang in 2004 to take over the office and administration side of the business.

We have since gone on to increase the company profile, moving into larger warehouses with our own storage facilities. We now run 5 vehicles and employ around 10 staff, offering more varied services including moves all over the UK, Europe and deep sea destinations such as USA, Australia, Canada & New Zealand. Having joined the B.A.R we were awarded finalists of the British Association of Removers – Mover of The Year on 3 occasions. We are now members of Which? Endorsed Trusted Trader Recommendations, and part of the Trading Standards UK -Trusted Mover.

Our motto is “Satisfied Customer’s Are Our Future” and this has definitely been the case over the years which has helped us to succeed, advance and excel within in the removals industry.

Why is this seaside town on the north coast of Kent in the southeast of England so high on the list of desirable places to live?

Why Whitstable?

Is it the beautiful beaches where you can still enjoy a walk along the promenade with a plate of locally sourced cockles? Maybe having a direct high-speed train service to the heart of London? Whitstable, like many old English seaside towns like Ramsgate and Deal, boosts tradition and it’s a town that is worth the 40-minute daily commute if you work in the city and well worth checking out if you are considering a slower pace of living in your later years.

Andrews of Kent has made 120 moves to Whitstable so far in 2018. Whitstable is a friendly town with many small independent shops, nice to get away from those- designer chain-stores.  There are many pleasant coffee shops, traditional pubs and even a playhouse theatre where you can see locally staged shows.

For more tourist information and to find out more about what Whitstable has to offer, visit the Visit Canterbury website.

We are here to make your move as smooth and stress-free as possible and as our motto says “satisfied customers are our future”.

Please contact us for further information.