When your child makes the jump from high school senior to college freshman, it can change your home life in more ways than one. For starters, you’ll have to sort through the bedroom they’ve lived in for years, from clothes and trophies to inevitable junk drawers. In some cases, you may even have to rent a storage unit to hold what won’t fit in their dorm. To make the packing process as smooth as possible, use the following breakdown to sort the items into manageable groups.

How to Sort Your Child’s Belongings Before College

1. Take

Start by a creating checklist of essentials for your child’s dorm life, academic classes, and hobbies or exercise habits. This includes everything from their electric toothbrush and fuzzy robe to their calculator and yoga mat. Whatever your child isn’t 100% sure they’ll use after the move should be set aside for the following two categories.

2. Toss

As your child sifts through the contents of their room, give them a couple of trash bags with which to eliminate immediate garbage. For example, as their going through their desk, they may find old notes from high school, pens that no longer work, and other belongings not worth keeping around. They should also trash tattered clothes, worn-out shoes, and bedding that they plan on replacing before moving into their dorm. All other clothing they don’t anticipate wearing, such as old team T-shirts or school uniform pieces, should be donated.

3. Store

Finally, there will be some items that don’t deserve to be thrown out, but that your child won’t have room for in their first-year dormitory. From holiday snow globes to signed baseballs, some knickknacks are better off kept at home or in a storage unit. In some cases, you might need to add to this pile at the end of the sorting process if the “take” category is too large to fit in your car or your child’s luggage.

If you’re looking for a storage unit to put those leftover items once your child has moved out, turn to Affordable Lock Box of Texarkana, AR. They know letting go can be hard, but knowing your child’s prized possessions are safe in a secure storage unit will ease your mind. Plus, you can access your unit seven days a week, from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. To learn more about their facility, visit the website, and call (870) 773-7606 to rent a U-Haul® for the big move.