Packing Hacks For Moving – Great and easy packing hacks from the pros that makes moving a breeze.
The most difficult task when moving is also the most important thing: packing. Gathering and placing different pieces of your life into boxes might seem frustrating to some because they wouldn’t even know where to start.
Good thing there are useful tips that can help lessen the frustrations and pains of packing. Here are 10 practical and easy to follow tips that will give you the peace of mind you need so you can move into your new home without feeling stressed out and frazzled.
10 Useful Packing Hacks for your Moving Day
If you want a hassle-free packing experience, below are easy packing hacks that will help you with your big move.
#1 – Use plastic bags and plastic wraps
Don’t underestimate the usefulness of plastic bags and plastic wraps. They offer a smart and efficient way to move furniture without having to empty them. For example, you don’t actually need to unpack your drawers and bureaus. You can use a plastic wrap to cover it and then tape to secure your things inside. This will protect your furniture and help you save time and boxes. It will also make unpacking a breeze.
You can also use huge plastic bags for clothes that are on hangers. You don’t need to remove them from the hanger, fold, and pack separately. When you get to your new place, you can hang them up immediately.
#2 – Socks and linens as protection for your breakables
Bubble wraps are usually sold by the roll. If you won’t be needing a lot, you can use your socks as protection for your fragile glassware instead. In fact, you can also use any kind of linen or clothes as packing material for breakable dishes. These will serve as much better protection to your breakables compared to paper. And it doesn’t cost anything or generate non-biodegradable waste like bubble wrap, so you’ll even save money. A bonus tip, ensure that your plates are positioned vertically in the boxes or containers to lessen the chance of breakage.
#3 – Paper towel tubes and toilet paper rolls as organizers
When you get you your new place and it’s finally time to unpack, the last thing you want to deal with is a tangled mess of spare cables, electrical cords, and wires. Good thing you can use paper toilet rolls as cord organizers. Wind the wires on the tubes before sealing them in bags or boxes.
#4 – Use suitcases and bags instead of boxes
Suitcases and bags are made for packing and designed for mobility. They aren’t only for vacations. When moving houses, make use of all the suitcases and bags that you have. You may also borrow from friends. Using them instead of moving boxes will help you save money. It will also cut down your time since you won’t need to assembling, reinforce, and seal boxes anymore. You can pack your heavy books and other heavy items in suitcases with wheels to save your back from doing any heavy lifting. They are a lot sturdier than cardboard boxes, too.
#5 – Purchase huge plastic storage totes or crates
Though storage totes are expensive compared to cardboard moving boxes, you’ll get what you’re paying for because it is much larger, sturdier, and they are reusable. There are a lot of storage totes and crates available online and in home improvement stores. Some come with bungee cords and others with wheels. Storage totes are perfect for packing items that you only use once a year like Christmas decorations and lights. Best of all, you don’t have to unpack them when you move to your new home. Just store them in a garage or a closet as is.
#6 – Label and color-code your moving boxes
Save yourself the time and hassle of trying to figure out which box is intended for which room in your house. Use a color-coding system and label your boxes accordingly. Assign a specific color for each room in your house to make it easier for everyone involved in the move. You also need to label each box so you can easily prioritize which box to open and unpack first.
#7 – Place handles on the side of your cardboard boxes
You can create your own handle by using a box cutter to cut down a simple triangle in both sides of the box. Now you can easily carry moving boxes without hassle. This will work only if the contents are not too heavy. Don’t attempt this on a box full of hardbound books.
#8 – Take snapshots of your cable setups for an easy assembly process
When you move to your new home, you want to set up your entertainment and television system immediately and correctly. To help you achieve this, take a picture of your cable setup so you won’t spend a lot of time figuring out where the cables and wire should go. This will also save you from having to call a professional to do it for you.
#9 – Get rid of unnecessary stuff while you pack
Packing seems daunting, especially if you have a lot of possessions. But do you really need all of those? To help you clear out unnecessary things in your closet, drawers, and the rest of your house, make packing a purging session as well. Throw away those that you no longer use and set aside what you can donate or sell. If you have a lot of stuff that is still in good condition, you can set them aside for a yard sale or post them online. Remember that there are different guidelines regarding yard sales for each state so make sure you get your permit. You can also consider donating to Goodwill and other charities. Some charities have strict rules about what they can and cannot accept. Don’t expect to be able to dump your unwanted possessions on them indiscriminately. Moving is a fresh start so don’t let unessential things weigh you down.
#10 – Pack snacks in easily accessible areas
Moving day can be tiring and you might feel the need to snack along the way. Make sure you pack easy-to-prepare meals, snacks, and drinks as well. This is also a good idea for when you get your new place. It might take some time for you to set up your kitchen, some ready-made food will come in handy.
#11 – Do a pre-packing photo shoot
Before you pack anything, you might want to take a minute and snap a picture of the setup of your entertainment system and the arrangement of your huge bookshelf. This is because cords and wires are difficult to assemble, especially if you are not an expert in electronics. Do yourself a favor and take a snapshot of the placement of cords behind your television. You also need to consider that bookshelves take a lot of time to arrange, especially if you have your own special system of arranging it, as most book collectors do. Save yourself some time and take a photo of every arrangement that you want to maintain in your new home. This will help you recreate the same look for your new space.
#12 – Putting together a ‘Moving Kit’
If you don’t have the right tools, packing will take a lot longer since you’ll waste a lot of time looking for a Sharpie or a packaging tape as you place all your stuff in moving boxes.
This is why it is important to put together your very own “moving kit” where you keep all the essential tools for packing and unpacking such as tape, box cutter, markers, and other supplies. Having a carry-all that you can bring anywhere you go will make packing more efficient and faster.
#13 – Take extra care of small, moveable parts
It’s going to be difficult, if not impossible, to find spare parts for furniture that was already pulled out or discontinued years ago. Usually, when this happens, you have no choice but to purchase new furniture and that can cost a lot of money. To avoid this, make sure you store all the small, moveable parts of your furniture and hardware in safe storage. You can place them inside a Ziplock or sandwich bag then tape it at the back of the item.
#14 – Pack moving boxes in layers
Packing your moving boxes in layers will save you space in moving vehicles. Aside from that, layering the boxes will help you identify the contents easily. It will also keep everything organized. Make sure you put the box with the heaviest object in the bottom and the lightest box on top. Doing this will protect your valuables and prevent breakage of any glassware and fragile items.
These are all the packing hack moving tips and tricks you can use to make packing easier and efficient. Even if you hire expert movers to assist you when moving, these hacks will still help you in many ways. Now, you can be productive as you can while you prepare for this big transition.
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