The quickest way to clear out a flat is to go room by room and assign every item immediately to one of four categories: keep, sell, donate or dispose of. What matters is that bulky waste, electrical appliances and pollutants are separated and disposed of correctly. This checklist guides you step by step through flat, cellar and attic.
Key facts at a glance
- Set your goal, date and disposal routes in advance
- Start with the least emotional room – usually the cellar or storage room
- 4-box method: keep, sell, donate, dispose of
- Never put electrical appliances, batteries or chemicals in bulky or residual waste
- Protect yourself: gloves, sturdy shoes and an FFP2 mask in the cellar
Step 1: preparation – before you fill the first box
- Set your goal: make space, prepare a move or get the flat ready for handover
- Plan a date and a time buffer – on your own, a full flat often takes several weekends
- Book a bulky-waste collection or check the recycling centre's opening hours
- Have boxes, strong rubbish bags, tape and tools ready
- For large amounts: organise a skip or a van – with a no-parking zone if necessary
Step 2: the 4-box method
Put four boxes or marked areas in each room. Pick up every item exactly once and decide immediately. The one-year rule helps: if you haven't used something for a year, you usually won't need it in future either.
| Box | What goes in | Where it goes |
|---|---|---|
| Keep | Items used daily or seasonally, keepsakes | Straight back to their place |
| Sell | Well-kept furniture, branded appliances, collectibles | Classified ads, flea market, dealers |
| Donate | Intact clothing, household goods, books, toys | Charity shop, clothing bank |
| Dispose of | Broken, worn-out, expired items | Bulky waste, recycling centre, hazardous waste collection |
Step 3: go room by room
Cellar
Cellars often collect paint tins, cleaning products and old electrical appliances – exactly the things that must not go into bulky waste. Watch out for damp and mould: it's best to dispose of affected boxes and textiles straight away, and an FFP2 mask protects you while working.
Attic
In the attic, dust, heat in summer and narrow stairs are the biggest hurdles. Never carry heavy items alone. Old mineral wool insulation installed before 1996 can be hazardous to health – don't remove it yourself, hire a specialist company.
Garage and storage room
Used oil, car batteries and tyres go to dealers or garages, which are obliged to take them back or accept them for a fee. Tools in good condition are usually easy to sell.
What goes where? Disposal rules at a glance
| Type of waste | Examples | Correct disposal |
|---|---|---|
| Bulky waste | Furniture, mattresses, carpets | Bulky-waste collection (in Düsseldorf: AWISTA) or recycling centre |
| Electrical appliances | Fridge, TV, cables | Recycling centre or take-back in shops – never bulky or residual waste |
| Batteries | Device batteries, power banks | Collection boxes in shops, recycling centre |
| Pollutants | Paints, varnishes, solvents, pesticides | Hazardous waste collection |
| Rubble | Tiles, stones, mortar | Skip or recycling centre (fee payable) |
| Textiles | Clothing, shoes, bedding | Clothing bank or donation |
| Files & data carriers | Bank statements, hard drives | Destroy in compliance with data protection (DIN 66399) |
| Hazardous building materials | Asbestos, old mineral wool | Only via a specialist company |
When is a clearance service worth it?
- The whole flat or a house has to be cleared.
- There is a fixed date, for example the handover to the landlord.
- Heavy furniture, fitted kitchens or narrow stairwells make the work harder.
- There is mixed waste or there are pollutants.
- The situation is emotionally stressful, for example after a death.
Frequently asked questions
What can go in bulky waste?
Bulky household items that don't fit in the bin: furniture, mattresses, carpets and large household objects. Electrical appliances, batteries, rubble and pollutants are not included.
Where do I start when decluttering?
With the room you are least emotionally attached to – usually the cellar, storage room or garage. That quickly gives you space and routine for the harder rooms.
How long does it take to clear out a flat?
On your own, a full flat often takes several weekends. A professional team usually clears an average flat in one working day.
Where do old electrical appliances go?
To the recycling centre or back to a shop: larger retailers in Germany are obliged to take them back under the Electrical and Electronic Equipment Act. Electrical appliances must not go into bulky waste or the residual waste bin.
Clearances in Düsseldorf & the region?
Free advice and a binding fixed price – usually within 24 hours. Service: Clearances
