Pro packing tips for moving safely.

packing tips for moving

Choosing a professional moving company like us can certainly help keep your possessions safe, but there are more steps you can take to help ensure a safe transit. Proper packaging is the front line of defense when it comes to moving safely. Strong rigid boxes and ample padding can guarantee your goods survive your move without a scratch. Furthermore, following some simple guidelines can make both moving and unpacking much easier. Here’s a few packing tips for moving to help you pack like a pro.

Keep exits clear when stacking packed boxes.

You will most likely be packing ahead of time and have a stack of boxes waiting to be moved. Picking the wrong location to stack your packed boxes can double your workload. When moving day comes the first thing to load is usually going to be heavy furniture and large items. Because of this it’s important to leave ample clearance in front of all doorways. Otherwise you may end up moving everything twice before you even start loading.

Use original boxes whenever possible.

Keeping shoes together in their boxes is a great way to keep them from being crushed. To help ensure they keep their shape you can use clean socks to stuff in the ends before packing all the boxes together. This applies to much more than shoes however, anything that came in a box will be safer in transit if you have the original packaging.
Electronics and small appliances are a perfect example. Flat panel TV boxes are especially handy. While many of us throw out the packaging, it’s still possible to package small electronics similarly to how they came from the store. Consider the size of the original box and try to accommodate a similar amount of padding. Take pictures of connections between electronic devices to make hooking them back up a breeze.

Recycled boxes vs new boxes

There are many retailers selling moving boxes, and even more tossing out old boxes. If you want to save a little money on supplies, you could try grocery stores or liquor stores for recycled boxes. Just be sure to only use boxes that are in good condition and have not been crushed. Shipping boxes tend to be of higher quality than moving boxes, but also cost more. For especially fragile items you may want to spend a little extra to guarantee their safety. The safety of the boxes you pack starts with the boxes themselves.

Stock up on tape and filler

You can use anything as filler, as long as it fills the space and provides a little cushioning. Newsprint is cost effective and abundant, making it a popular choice for filler. Loosely crumpled paper is just as protective and eco-friendlier than styrofoam packing peanuts. You should also invest in a bit of bubble wrap for some of your more fragile items. Take a moment to consider how much tape and filler you will need, and then get more just to be safe. Because the last thing you want to do is run out half way through. A little extra packing tape is good to have around anyway.

Keep things together

Wrap jewelry boxes and other small containers before you pack them into larger boxes. Cover things like your silverware tray, packed dresser drawers, laundry baskets and other rigid, stackable items to save on boxes. It’s also a good idea to wrap furniture or appliances that have doors that could swing open during your move. Keep your closet together by sliding the clothes loosely into a clean plastic trash bag and use the drawstrings to tie your hangers together.

Avoid spills inside your boxes

When packing things like condiments, lotions, or other bottles of fluid always remember to bag them first. That way any mess from a punctured or broken container can be minimized. Old plastic grocery bags are great for this. Bag up anything that can spill and tie off the top before you pack it with other items.

Packing doesn’t have to be a nightmare, just get crafty! Hopefully these packing tips for moving help inspire you to come up with your own creative ideas. We love helping out and seeing the things people come up with. When you’re ready to get your free quote just drop us a line on the Contact Us page!

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