I have had to do this several times: when my mom passed away and we moved my father, when I left my husband, and then more recently when I moved cities (amazing how much I accumulated in seven years). It was very difficult at first but then became quite easy.

I picked up an item and asked myself these questions: "Have I used this in the last year? Six months? Will I use it in the next three months?" Much of it was nope, nope, nope. Turf it went.

I have not missed a single item.