Packing Tips

1. Fill your moving boxes to the top and use crumpled newspaper to fill in any gaps. Full boxes are much stronger than half-empty boxes.
2. Label moving boxes properly. To stay organized, print off multi-colored packing labels or use different colored masking tape and give each room its own color. Label the contents of each box and include the room it should be placed in at your new home. Once arriving in your new home, use colored tape to mark entrances to rooms. This moving tip will save movers a ton of time, instead of needing to read the label explicitly or play the “room guessing game." They can just match color-to-color.
3. Use packing paper to wrap your dishes, plates, cups, and china. Newspaper is much lighter in weight and does not protect dishes and can also leave ink stains. Professional packing paper is one of the most important moving supplies there is.
4. When packing your hanging clothes, place a garbage bag around your clothes to help keep your clothes clean and dust-free before placing them in. Line the bottom of the wardrobe moving boxes with shoes and belts to maximize space. Lastly, you can use wardrobe boxes with wire hangers so you will have more space to hang clothes inside.
5. Use plastic wrap to avoid leaks. Take care of anything that has the potential to spill. For instance, a shampoo bottle that seems tightly sealed outside of a box can somehow magically figure out a way to ooze over all your other belongings. In this case, keep all toiletries and liquids separate from dry items. Also, consider using plastic wrap as an additional seal between the bottle and the lid.
6. Consider using mattress bags to protect your mattresses from dust, dirt, moisture, insects, heat, and damage.
7. Shrink Wrap is a great packing material to wrap around your furniture to protect it from dust, dirt, and moisture. Movers typically provide this free of charge, but if you are renting a truck and doing this yourself, this can be a worthwhile investment.
8. Use the correct size of moving boxes to properly support what you are packing. Many people mistakenly believe that BIGGER is better, which isn't true when it comes to moving or storing. They think they will save money by packing their home with the largest moving boxes they can find, which simply isn't true.
9. Seal the bottom of the box before you put anything into a cardboard box. If you don’t, the bottom will flap over each other and the box could collapse when lifted. Never interlock the flaps of the box as it reduces the strength. Also, wait until the last minute to close all the boxes as there is always something else that you might be missing.
10. Set aside a box for essentials. Once you have moved all personal belongings into your new home and all the movers are gone, there is no way you’ll finish unpacking that same night–you will probably only be craving your bed. The essential box should include items such as toothbrush, pajamas, toilet paper, clean bedsheets, shampoo, dishes, cups, flatware and dish cleaning supplies. Moving can take a lot out of your family, which is why creating a moving essentials tote ahead of time is tremendously helpful.

    Large boxes (large linen) are typically used for lighter household items like comforters, pillows, bedding, and towels.

    Large Moving Boxes Are Not Advisable for Many Items:

    • If you pack your belongings in too large of moving boxes, you will increase the likelihood of your belongings moving around inside and breaking.
    • Movers cannot transport boxes that are too heavy.
    • Unpacking takes so much longer when you are sorting items that were all mixed together inside of big, massive boxes.
    • Large moving boxes should only be used for big lightweight items.

    Medium boxes (medium linen) are used for almost anything, as they won't get too heavy, yet they hold a lot. They’re typically used for handbags, purses, folded clothes, shoes, kitchen appliances, full sets of sheets/linens, toys, pots and pans, games, housewares, and non-breakables.

    Small boxes (book boxes) are typically used for books, CDs, DVDs, tapes, bottles, photo albums, utensils, cutlery sets, and other heavy items.

    Dish boxes are typically used for china, antiques, vases/tea pots, and other breakables.

    Lastly, wardrobe boxes are the perfect way to transport your clothes, shirts, suits, pants, skirts, gowns, and coats directly from your closet to the moving boxes.