Decluttering Before a Move in Los Angeles: How to Get Rid of Stuff (Free) Before Moving Day

Every box and every piece of furniture takes time to wrap, carry and load. With hourly moving, the simplest way to make your move faster is to move less. Here's how to clear things out in Los Angeles in the weeks before your move.

Start 3–4 weeks out, one room at a time

Start with the rooms you use least: garage, storage closet, patio. Make three piles: keep, sell/donate, and discard. If you haven't used something in a year and it isn't sentimental, it probably shouldn't ride in the truck.

Sell or give away what still has life in it

Furniture in good shape often goes fast on local marketplace and neighborhood apps, especially if you price it to move and offer curbside pickup. Post 2–3 weeks before move day so you're not stuck with a couch the night before. Thrift stores and charities also take many household items; call ahead, because some don't accept mattresses or large furniture.

Use LA Sanitation's free bulky-item pickup

If you live in a home served by LA Sanitation & Environment (LASAN), the City of Los Angeles will pick up large items that don't fit in your black bin, at no additional charge. According to LASAN: - Accepted items include furniture, mattresses and box springs, toilets and sinks, rolled and tied carpet, large wood pieces and doors, and electronic waste such as TVs and computers. - Items are picked up on your regular trash day, and you have to request it at least one business day before. - You can request it through the MyLA311 app, the online service request form, or the 24-hour line at 1-800-773-2489. Have an itemized list ready (for example, "one mattress, two chairs, a desk"). - LASAN won't take paint, chemicals, automotive parts, construction materials, fluorescent lights, medicine or needles. Take paint and chemicals to a S.A.F.E. Center instead. - Apartment buildings with five or more units schedule by calling the same number.

Not sure if you're served by LASAN? Many cities around LA (Pasadena, Glendale, Santa Monica, Burbank and others) run their own trash service, so check with your city.

Or drop it off yourself

LASAN also runs free monthly bulky-item drop-off Saturdays (8:00 a.m.–4:30 p.m.) at five yards: Sun Valley, Northridge, San Pedro, West LA (Stoner Ave) and Central LA (E. Washington Blvd). The remaining 2026 dates are November 21 and December 12. Bring proof of residency: your most recent LADWP bill and a state ID.

Don't pack what you'll throw away later

• Use up pantry food and frozen food in the last two weeks.
• Toss expired medicine, old paint and cleaning products the right way (S.A.F.E. Centers, not the moving truck; most movers won't transport flammables anyway).
• Shred old paperwork instead of boxing it.

Measure before you decide on big furniture

If a sectional or a king bed may not fit the new place, measure the room and doorways now. It's cheaper to sell it in LA than to move it and sell it later.

What this does on moving day

Fewer items means fewer boxes, less wrapping, and a shorter load and unload. Our hourly rates are $119/h for 2 movers, $159/h for 3, $199/h for 4, and the hourly rate already includes packing, disassembly and reassembly, shrink wrap, blankets, wardrobe boxes, dollies and tools, and long walks.

Want a quote for what's left after the purge? Get a free quote or call (213) 292-7675.