Last spring, I had a very good decluttering week.
I cleared out the hall closet. I sorted two kitchen cabinets. I went through a whole dresser full of clothes. By Friday, I had six big bags tied up and ready to go.
I lined them up in the hallway by the front door. I felt so proud.
And then those bags sat there. For three weeks.
I couldn't carry them. My knee hasn't been the same since my knee replacement, and those bags were heavy. My husband couldn't carry them either, not with his hip. And our kids were busy with their own lives.
So every day, I walked past that row of bags. Every day, I felt a little worse about it.
Then one night, I got up in the dark and tripped over one. I caught myself on the wall, thank goodness. But it scared me.
That's when I realized something. Sorting was only half the job. The other half was getting it all out the door. And I needed a better way to do it.
If your bags are sitting by the door right now, waiting, this one's for you. Here's how to get clutter out of the house when you can't carry heavy bags. It's easier than you think.
Sorting Is Only Half the Job
Filling the bag feels like the finish line. But there's one more step after that.
And when you're older, that last step is often the hard part. A bag full of clothes can weigh 20 pounds or more. A box of books or dishes can be even heavier. That's a lot to lift, carry down the steps, and load into a car.
So the bags pile up. By the door. In the garage. In the spare room.
And here's the trouble with that. Bags left sitting around are a fall risk. You walk past them every day, and one day you might not see one. That's exactly what happened to me.
There's another problem, too. When bags sit for weeks, it's easy to start pulling things back out. (I'll admit I rescued a sweater or two.) The whole job starts to come undone.
So please hear me. If you can't carry the bags, you haven't failed. Your body is just telling you that you need a different plan.
You don't have to carry anything heavy. You just need to find the right way to move it.
If your aches and pains make the sorting part hard, too, I wrote about decluttering with a bad back and sore hands that might help.
Five Ways to Get It Out Without Carrying It
Here are the five things that finally got my hallway clear. You can use one or all of them. Pick what fits your home and your body.
Pack small bags, filled only halfway
This is the easiest change you can make, and it starts before you even sort.
Stop using big trash bags. Use small grocery bags or small boxes instead. And only fill them halfway.
A half-full grocery bag is light. You can lift it with one hand. You can carry it a short way without hurting your back or your knees.
A giant bag stuffed to the top is a different story. You'll never lift it. It'll just sit there.
When you carry, use both hands if you can, and hold the bag close to your body. That's easier on your joints than holding it out with one arm.
I know it means more bags. That's okay. Ten light bags you can move are better than two heavy ones that sit by the door for a month.
Roll it or slide it instead of carrying it
Wheels are your best friend.
A simple rolling cart makes a huge difference. You can find folding carts at most stores. I use a small one with a handle, the kind people take to the farmers market.
Put your bags or boxes on the cart and roll them to the door. No lifting, no carrying.
If you don't have a cart, you can slide things instead. Put a heavy box on an old towel or a flattened cardboard box. Then pull it slowly across the floor. It glides much more easily than you'd expect.
A laundry basket works, too. Fill it with a few light bags and push it along the floor with your foot or pull it gently.
Just one tip. Only roll or slide on flat floors. Never try to roll a cart down the stairs. Stairs are a different story, and I'll talk about those in a minute.
Let a charity pick it up from your porch
This one changed everything for me.
Many charities will come to your home and pick up your donations for free. You don't have to drive anywhere. You don't have to carry anything to a store.
Here's how it usually works. You go to the charity's website and type in your ZIP code. If they serve your area, you pick a day. Then you put your bags on the porch or by the front door, and a driver takes them away.
Some good ones to try:
The Salvation Army offers free pickup in many areas, even for larger items like furniture. You can schedule it on their website.
Vietnam Veterans of America also picks up clothing and household items in many states. You leave your bags outside, clearly marked “VVA,” on your pickup day. The driver takes them and leaves you a receipt for your taxes.
Goodwill, AMVETS, and Habitat for Humanity ReStore also do pickups in some areas, especially for furniture.
Not every charity serves every town, so always check with your ZIP code first. And some book up a few weeks ahead, so plan a little early.
My pickup day is now my favorite day. Bags on the porch in the morning, gone by lunch. It feels wonderful.
If you're not sure where your things should go, here's my list of meaningful places to donate after decluttering. And if you have a walker or a shower chair to pass on, see where to donate medical equipment.
Use your city's bulk trash pickup
Some things can't be donated. A broken chair. An old mattress. A worn-out lamp.
For those, check your city's bulk trash pickup. Most towns have one. Sometimes it's free, and sometimes there's a small fee.
To find out, call 311 if your city has it, or look on your city's website. Search for “bulk trash” or “large item pickup.” They'll tell you what they take and how to schedule it.
Here's the catch, and it's an important one. City crews usually take items only from the curb. They won't come into your house to get them.
So you'll need a little help getting the heavy things to the curb. This is a perfect job for a grandchild, a neighbor, or someone from church. It only takes them a few minutes.
If you don't know who to ask, try calling 211. It's a free number that connects you with local help in your area. You can also call the Eldercare Locator at 1-800-677-1116, and they'll point you to services near you.
For the big jobs, hire a crew that carries from inside
Sometimes there's just too much. A whole garage. A basement full of boxes. Heavy furniture that nobody can move.
For big jobs like these, you can hire a junk removal company. This costs money, but it may be worth it.
These companies send a two-person crew right into your home. They carry things out from any room, load their truck, and haul it all away. You don't lift a single thing. You just point to what goes.
Most of them charge based on how much space your things take up in their truck. They'll usually give you a price before they start, so there are no surprises. Many also donate or recycle what they can.
Before you hire anyone, get a price first. And ask a friend or family member to be there with you when the crew comes, just so you're not alone.
For a big one-time clear-out, this can save you weeks of worry. And it keeps you from trying to lift something you shouldn't.
The One Rule for Stairs
If you have stairs in your home, please read this part twice.
Hold the handrail every single time you go up or down. Even when you're carrying something.
That means you should only carry things you can hold in one hand. If a bag or box needs both arms, it doesn't go on the stairs with you.
And never carry anything that blocks your view of the steps. You need to see where your feet are going.
These tips come straight from the National Institute on Aging. They seem simple, but they matter so much.
So what do you do with the bags upstairs? Carry just one small, light bag at a time, with your other hand on the rail. Or leave the heavy things at the top of the stairs for a helper to bring down.
It's slower. But a fall on the stairs is never worth saving a few minutes.
For more ways to keep your home safe while you declutter, here's my post on decluttering for safety.
A Clear Hallway at Last
A few weeks after I tripped over that bag, my hallway was finally clear.
The clothes went out with a charity pickup. The old lamp went to the curb on bulk trash day, carried there by my grandson. And the rest went in small, half-full bags that I could move myself, a little at a time.
I didn't carry one heavy bag. Not one.
Now I walk down that hallway at night without a worry. And there's nothing sitting by the door, waiting to make me feel bad.
That's what I want for you. You've done the hard work of sorting. You made the tough choices. Now let those bags go, the easy way.
Pack them light. Let wheels do the work. Let someone else come to your porch.
You don't have to carry it all. You just have to get it moving.
If you're over 80, or your energy is running low, you might also like my gentle plan for decluttering after 80.
What's sitting by your door right now? I'd love to hear.
Keep the Bags Moving Out the Door
Sorting is easier when you already know where everything is headed and how it's getting there.
My free Declutter for Self Care Checklist helps you plan each small job from start to finish, so things don't end up waiting by the door for weeks.
Frequently Asked Questions
How do I get rid of donations if I can't drive or carry them?
Schedule a free charity pickup. Many charities, like The Salvation Army and Vietnam Veterans of America, will come to your home in many areas. You set your bags on the porch or by the door on your pickup day, and a driver takes them away. Check each charity's website with your ZIP code to see if they serve your area.
How much should I put in a decluttering bag?
Only fill a bag about halfway, and use small bags like grocery bags instead of big trash bags. A half-full bag is light enough to lift with one hand. It's better to have more small bags you can move than a few heavy ones that sit by the door because nobody can carry them.
Will the city pick up large items from inside my house?
Usually, no. Most city bulk trash programs only take items from the curb. You'll need someone to help you move large things to the curb first. Call 311 or check your city's website to learn the rules. If you need help finding someone, call 211 to be connected with local services.
Is it worth paying for junk removal?
It can be, especially for big jobs like a garage, basement, or heavy furniture. A junk removal crew comes into your home, carries everything out, and hauls it away. They usually charge by how much space your items take up in their truck. Always get a price first, and have a friend or family member there when they come.
How can I carry things on the stairs safely?
Always hold the handrail, even when you're carrying something. Only carry small, light items you can hold in one hand, and never carry anything that blocks your view of the steps. Leave heavy bags or boxes at the top or bottom of the stairs for a helper to move.
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