Stressed About Moving After Graduation? Organizing Guru Reveals 'Painless Decluttering 5-Step Method' for Ultimate Relief

As graduation season arrives, university and college students across Taiwan are facing the daunting 'battle with belongings'—moving out of dorms and relocating to new rentals. Surrounded by accumulated clothes, daily essentials, and miscellaneous items from four years of student life, many soon-to-be graduates and their parents feel overwhelmed and unsure of where to begin.

To address the challenges of post-graduation moves, Liao Hsin-Yun (also known as Liao Ge), recognized as Taiwan's first professional in-home organizer, has revealed her unique organizing philosophy. She debunks the common misconception that 'cleaning starts with sweeping or mopping,' emphasizing instead that true efficiency comes from 'organizing first, cleaning later.'

According to Liao, if your space is cluttered, cleaning becomes inefficient—you must repeatedly move items off tables, floors, and shelves just to wipe or vacuum. Instead, she recommends reducing unnecessary items first, keeping only what you truly use, and then cleaning. This approach saves time and effort, making the entire process far more effective.

To help graduates move with minimal stress, Liao has summarized an easy-to-follow '5-Step Decluttering Method,' advising people to follow the steps in order:

Step 1: Target Dust-Prone 'Dead Zones' Begin with the areas you rarely touch and where dust accumulates—such as cluttered corners or cabinets untouched for months. These items are often the least used and easiest to part with.

Step 2: Eliminate 'Waste' and Broken Items Boldly discard damaged or unusable items. This includes accumulated online shopping boxes, plastic bags, broken storage tools, or outdated gadgets. If they hold no value, recycle or throw them away without hesitation.

Step 3: Remove 'Expired' Products Check for expired items in your fridge, pantry, medicine cabinet, and other storage areas. Dispose of anything past its shelf life. If an item is still usable but no longer needed, consider sorting and donating or sharing it with someone who can benefit.

Step 4: Identify 'Out-of-Place' Wandering Items Pick out items stored in the wrong zones—like stationery in a kitchen drawer, medicine on a desk, or charging cables mixed in with books. Gather these 'lost' items into one place for sorting.

Step 5: Thoroughly Categorize and Return to 'Rightful Places' Return each sorted item to its proper location—electronics to dedicated drawers, bathroom supplies to the washroom. This reduces time spent searching and lowers the chance of future clutter.

Facing a room full of belongings, Liao reminds graduates not to rush to finish everything at once. Instead, she recommends focusing on 'one space at a time.' Start with frequently used areas like your desk or vanity, completely clear the surface or drawer, group similar items, and reassess what to keep and what to let go.

When all items are laid out in a row, it becomes easier to see exactly what you own and plan better storage solutions.

Liao emphasizes that organizing isn't about achieving perfection in one day, but about building habits step by step. Simply choosing to organize one drawer or clear one table today means you've already begun. Through gradual, mindful organizing, not only can your living space be refreshed, but you can also create mental clarity and emotional space as you prepare for a new chapter in life.