Moving into a new home is an exciting adventure — but, it can also be incredibly hectic. There’s so much to organize and pack that it’s easy to get overwhelmed. To keep that from happening, we’ve compiled a list of packing tips for moving.
If you’re planning a move sometime soon, embracing a few moving hacks can help everything go smoothly.
1. Start as early as you can
Chances are your move isn’t a surprise. You probably had to notify your landlord that you’re moving out of your rental about a month before the lease ends. So, it’s a good idea to start organizing your stuff and packing as soon as you can. Waiting until the night before the moving trucks arrive will create tons of unnecessary stress.
2. Declutter as you go
One of the most crucial moving day tips is to avoid bringing unwanted items with you. Right before a move is the perfect time to clean out your closets, cabinets and drawers. Throw away or recycle any trash or broken items that you have lying around. Doing this lets you start with a clean slate in your new home.
3. Pack things you don’t use as much first
If you start early and pack a little bit as you go, begin with the things you use less frequently first. Holiday decorations, clothing that’s out of season and extra dishes are some examples. As it gets closer to moving day, pack things that are in your daily rotation.
4. Use recycled boxes
Reusing boxes cuts down on waste and saves you the cost of purchasing new packing supplies. Save up all those boxes from your Amazon orders and ask your family and friends to do the same. Another moving hack is to swing by local grocery and liquor stores and ask if you can have their excess boxes — usually, they’ll give them to you for free.
5. Choose the correct size box
Using appropriately-sized boxes for different items will make packing and unpacking much more streamlined. Pack books and other heavy items in smaller boxes — otherwise, they’ll be too heavy to lift. Use large boxes to store light items like towels, pillows and linens.
6. Avoid emptying drawers
Another moving hack is to keep the contents in dresser and armoire drawers. You can remove the drawers and wrap them in plastic to keep everything from spilling out. This will make moving large furniture items much easier and save you the time of packing and unpacking a drawer’s contents.
7. Use towels and blankets to wrap breakables
A moving hack to cut down on waste and streamline packing is to use towels and linens to wrap breakable items. This tactic will help you avoid purchasing bubble wrap and other materials, which will end up in the trash. And, you need to pack your blankets and sheets anyway.
8. Fill pots and pans with small kitchen items
Large pots and pans make great packing containers. Fill them with small kitchen items like utensils or spice jars. You can tape the lids closed or use plastic wrap to keep everything secure.
9. Load up your suitcases
Suitcases are useful packing containers, too. Load them up with clothes, books and other household items and wheel them into your new home.
Make moving easier on yourself
Packing is often one of the most dreaded parts of moving, but you can make it easier. Starting early and organizing your things will make it all much more streamlined. These packing tips for moving will help.
