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Heading off to college at the end of the summer is one of the most exciting times of the year for students in the Boston area & beyond. The packing and unpacking, however, is often not as fun. On the bright side, you can easily turn packing into an opportunity to eliminate junk! Remember, the first tip to packing efficiently is to start ahead of time. Giving yourself time to curate lists of what you have packed & what you still need will ensure that you aren’t missing anything on move in day, and that you aren’t frantically packing everything in sight the night before.

Another major tip for a college move is to pack only what you need, and junk the rest as you go. Don’t make the mistake of packing a bag full of shirts you haven’t worn in over a year – You probably still won’t wear them this year, and there’s no need for them to continue taking up space in your closet at home or at school. You will eliminate space by donating these items, and they will go to better use.

At the same time, remember that it’s okay to leave some things at home – If you end up needing a second pair of sneakers or an extra winter coat, you can always take a trip home to get them or ask your parents to ship them to you if you go to a school further away. If you are closer to home, consider waiting to bring bulkier clothes until the warm weather has passed. Switching out your dorm closet by season will leave you with way more room than trying to store everything for the entire year. Pack warmer weather clothing now, and then come October, switch out your flip flop collection for snow boots. If you still have old textbooks from previous years, see if you can resell them at your college’s bookstore or online! The beginning of the semester is the prime time to do this with books you will no longer reference.

Another key aspect to moving into a dorm is to properly utilize space & maximize storage. Fitting your entire life into half a room calls for some creativity. For example, consider dedicating one desk drawer to school supplies (you probably won’t need as much as you think you do), and another one to cosmetics or something practical. This leads to another opportunity to go through your cosmetics collection & get rid of any old items – Remember, only pack what you will use. You will want also want to look into desktop storage systems, as well as portable drawers to add to your clothing space – And remember that bed risers can add feet of storage space under your bed! For jackets, bags, & towels, wall and door hooks are your new best friend. You can even look into hanging storage for shoes, sweaters, & more!

Packing for school efficiently will decrease your stress level at the start of the school year, and can leave you with a more organized dorm room. For more tips on junk removal & cleaning out, check with the professionals at All Day Junk Removal.