Becoming a military spouse means that you serve your country almost as much as your spouse does. Military families often move once every few years, and some families might find themselves moving as frequently as once a year or once every few months. Whether this is your first move or you move so often that it feels like old hat to you, you can still benefit from advice from other military families. Those families often discuss the importance of cleaning their homes before moving.
Go Through Rooms One at a Time
Military families generally get a few months’ notice before they need to move. While you might feel tempted to instantly jump to work and get your home ready, this can do more harm than good. You might find yourself packing things that you need prior to your move and keeping things that your family no longer uses. Start with the rooms that you use less frequently and slowly work your way up to the other rooms in your home. Working on one room at a time gives you the chance to focus your attention.
Keep Boxes and Bags Handy
When cleaning your home and getting ready for your next move, you need to keep bags and boxes nearby. Use the bags for trash and things you no longer need, including broken toys and stained clothing. Set aside a few boxes for items that you can donate to other military families and local charities, including clothing that it still in good condition and toys that your kids no longer want. The more items that you throw away or give away, the less you will have to pack and unpack later.
Don’t be Sentimental
Leaving your emotions at the door is the best piece of moving advice for military families. While you likely want to keep as much as you can, taking everything from one house to the next puts more strain on your marriage and your relationships with your kids. As much as you want to keep everything in your home, you need to know how to let go. Place possessions you’re unsure of in a box and tuck it away in a closet. If you still want to keep those things after a few weeks, go ahead and pack them. You might find that once those items leave your sight, you realize what is and isn’t important.
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