Many families are coming down orders for an upcoming PCS this summer. If you have your official orders in hand, make sure you go set up your move on DPS. Once your move is set up, you may be trying to figure out what else you could do to prepare. This is the time that many experienced spouses will tell you to start the “PCS PURGE.”
The PCS Purge is basically a good spring cleaning and clearing out of everything in your home. Now, it may seem like a daunting task, but it does not have to be. First, do not try to do everything in one day. Spread it out over a few weeks and take it one room at a time. You do not have to go all Marie Kondo on it if it sparks joy and suddenly become a minimalist. A good general rule of thumb when deciding to keep or toss is that if it does not fit, you did not use it at your current location, you know you will not use it at your next location, and it does not hold sentimental value, then you may need to consider letting it go.
If you do nothing else, these are the places you should consider setting as priority:
Kitchen Gadgets
Many of us will have a drawer full of measuring spoons, mini spatulas, random items we ordered from a Pampered Chef party we thought we would use, or a cabinet full of pots, pans, and baking dishes we’ve collected over the years. Lets face it, we all have our favorite pan, baking sheet, and serving spoon we reach for. So, take this time and clean out what you really use in your kitchen and what you do not use. Consider keeping an extra serving spoon or spatula for those potluck or holiday dinners. There is no need for all the extra gadgets to move with you and end up in another drawer never be seen.
Clothes
The easy thing to say here is if you didn’t wear it, then toss it. But it may be dependent on where you were living and how long it might not have been used (do you really need a winter coat in Hawaii?). In this case, the best method to use is if it does not fit properly, or if you don’t feel comfortable or confident wearing it, then it is time to toss it. That shirt hanging in your closet that you think hangs all wrong does not need to make another cross-country move with you.
Toys
This may be easier said than done. The weight and space of toys can add up quickly. The first thing to do is to find the toys that are broken or missing pieces and pull those out. Next, pull out the toys that have no sentimental value, and that your children have not played with in the last six months. If they cannot be passed down to a younger sibling, then you need to consider moving them out for good.
Linens
Sometimes we don’t know how many of these we have until we take a good look. New hand towels for the holidays. New sheets that were on sale. Another super soft blanket. Before you know it, you have enough bedding to outfit three times the number of beds in your home, and enough towels for every servicemember on base. Keep your favorite sheets and blankets and pull out the rest. For your towels, consider how many family members you have and how many towels each person goes through in a week, keep that amount plus a few extras for guests.
Garage
We all have that spot in the garage that seems to collect everything. It is easy to stack those random things in the garage and forget about them. This is the perfect time to clean out and organize. You may be surprised at the number of ball pumps you have on the shelf, the amount of extension cords, and how many tubs of sidewalk chalk you really do own. Clearing out the garage will help clear out unnecessary weight you do not need to move.
Closets
Closets are the perfect place for us to put random things and close the door. Buried on the back of the shelf will usually be a slew of light bulbs, batteries, candles, card games, toiletries, and random toys. Cleaning out closets will surprise you at what is in there and what you can get rid of.
Books
Books have a way of adding up quickly, not only in the amount you may have but the weight as well. This is the perfect time to review what you have and clean out what you no longer need.