Want to know how the pros at top-rated moving companies pack? Let's look at some packing tips that can reduce your packing time and keep your beloved treasures safe for travel.
You've called a moving service and sought out the best moving company. Great! Now it's time to begin packing. A great start is making sure you have all the packing supplies you'll need readily available to you. It's an incredible waste of time to run back and forth between rooms to find what you need. Put all the packing supplies together in one box and move it from room to room with you. Some moving companies will provide moving supplies. Always see what they offer. Many moving companies may offer packing services and provide packing supplies. The general packing supplies you'll need are:
- Various size packing boxes
- Packing paper or bubble wrap
- Lots of heavy-duty packing tape and a tape gun
- Painters tape
- Shrink wrap
- Permanent markers
- Furniture blankets
- Garbage bags
- Ziplock bags
- Linens
Covering basic packing and the moving process
The key to packing fast is moving from room to room. Complete everything in one room before you move to the next. To reduce interruption to daily living, begin packing in the room that is the least used room of the house.
Cut back on the sorting. Don't waste time sorting items and making separate custom packing boxes for categories. Instead, keep it to the room the things are going in after relocation. Pack each box with anything from the room. Room-based packing moves the process along quickly. As you unpack, you'll naturally decide where everything goes in the new place.
As any professional mover will tell you, the key to packing begins with downsizing. International moving requires even more severe downsizing. Only move what you need. Otherwise, you may need to consider storage services. It is good to know that many professional moving companies offer storage services. In the meantime, designate an area for the items to get rid of, either by selling, dumping, or donating.
PRO TIP = When downsizing, consider where you are moving to. New York City apartments are small; leave large furniture behind. South Carolina and Florida are hot; donate your heavy winter coats and sweaters.
Use trash bags whenever possible throughout the moving experience. Trash bags hold more than packing boxes, and they are flexible. Being malleable means when the moving truck is running low on space, bags squeeze into places on the moving truck that boxes cannot. So, if it's soft and pliable like folded clothing, stuffed animals, extra pillows, and even paper products such as paper towels and toilet paper, use a bag, not a box.
How to get started packing to move
Tape the bottom seam of three to five boxes at a time. This way, you're not jumping back and forth between packing items and sealing a new box every time. After all those boxes are full, seal them up simultaneously and prepare three to five more. You must reinforce the bottoms of boxes to handle the weight. Use heavy-duty packing tape to secure boxes.
Move all the small items to a table. Place heavy and larger items into boxes first, with smaller items on top. This method helps to distribute the weight in the boxes. Wrap small things with linens to reduce packing supplies. Just make sure to keep what you'll need out.
Use blankets to protect pictures, artwork, and home decor. Shrink wrapping a few of them together will further help save time on moving day. Cover furniture in packing blankets, then wrap in clear shrink wrap to hold the padding in place.
PRO TIP = Shrink wrap your furniture the day of or evening before the move. Plastic wrap can trap moisture that is harmful to leather and wood.
Have a few sturdy boxes with good handles to accommodate heavier items such as books. Having handles for heavier items helps ensure a decent grip on the box to prevent accidentally dropping it.
Packing closets
Closets can be a huge timesaver when done correctly. Do not remove anything from the hangers to save time in the closet. Instead, cut a small hole in the top of a garbage bag. Place the garbage bag over eight to ten hangers with the clothing still on them. Roll it from the bottom up and tape the roll on each end like a rolled-up rug. This technique gets closets done in a flash.
Things like shoes can easily be placed in a laundry basket or hamper. Use your luggage for storage: suitcases and duffel bags for loose clothing, and smaller suitcases for things like hats, ties, and belts.
Making packing the bedroom simple
In the bedroom, wrap your dresser with the clothing inside. Cover the entire dresser with packing blankets and secure with saran wrap. Consider the weight of the piece of furniture. If removing drawers due to excessive weight, shrink wrap them individually with the contents inside. Yet, be sure to empty and pack any drawers that contain items other than clothing or linens.
Even the best moving company often does not cover or protect your mattress. Don't worry; there's a simple solution for movers. To protect your mattress from getting dirty, put a fitted sheet over both sides of your mattress to keep it clean during moves. Use additional bed linens in packing to wrap fragile statues and large home decor.
To transport loose jewelry, use an egg carton to separate items. Stuff the empty space with cotton balls, then tape the entire edge or wrap it in clear plastic so no small pieces fall out. Use the same technique on jewelry boxes.
PRO TIP = Move all jewelry and important papers with you. Never entrust these items to movers, no matter how reputable they are. These items are your responsibility.
Moving kitchen belongings
Having the right supplies for the job will make things move quickly. Here are some simple packing tips for moving. Have boxes with dividers for drinking glasses, wine glasses, and vases. If you don't have partitions, consider using cookbooks or magazines as dividers between tall glass items. Wrap them in paper or bubble wrap. Also, standing these items vertical inside the box reduces the weight on the edges of these fragile pieces. Being sure to pack correctly is even more important during long distance moving.
As a quick time-saving trick, wrap sharp knives in a dish towel and use cling wrap to secure all utensils inside their utensil tray. Suppose you do not have a utensil tray. In that case, rubber band utensils together and wrap them all in a towel. Save time by grouping items with long handles and securing them with saran wrap. It makes easy relocation of lengthy and awkward items such as brooms and mops.
Try stacking dishes and fragile belongings in plastic bins. Use towels between plates to save time wrapping. Fill with UPS packing peanuts or packing paper to prevent shifting. The handles of plastic containers make moving fragile and heavy boxes safer. Plus, the bin itself proved extra protection. Combine items in the same room but different weights to prevent the bins from becoming too heavy. For example, combine heavy plates and bowls with lightweight baking sheets. By doing this, you'll use the capacity of each box without increasing the weight load.
Getting ready for moving day
To save time on moving day, stack boxes in the room closest to the door. Always ensure clear pathways for professional movers to move heavy furniture first. Want to know what to expect from your movers? This quick read advises what you can expect from your movers.
PRO TIP = During a local move, consider getting a dog sitter or kenneling the dogs for the day. Picking up your beloved pet late that evening or the following day will be a relief for both of you.
Keeping your boxes organized and well-labeled is crucial, whether it's a long distance move or a local move. Label boxes according to rooms in the new home. Don't waste your spare time labeling things. Labels help you and your movers know where to put each box in the new place. So, mark the top of the box clearly for the moving truck. Want more information on how to organize your move. Try these tips from HGTV; How to organize your move.
When transporting electric appliances, secure all power cords from being a trip hazard. The best movers use painter's tape to reduce sticky residue or cling wrap to secure the power cord against the item. Eliminating the possible tripping hazard is particularly necessary when moving involves stairs.
Packing up the bathroom
Bathrooms often have a lot of products that may spill during transportation. Quickly pack a bathroom by placing spillable products inside individual ziplock bags. If you have extra time and want to ensure no spills occur, open each bottle and place a piece of plastic wrap over the bottle. By replacing the lid, the clear wrap acts as a seal. Wrap glass bottles in washcloths before you put them in the ziplock bags to protect delicate perfume bottles.
Another great hack is to line a large beach tote with a garbage bag for your toiletries. Totes make smaller items easy to carry and are still somewhat accessible throughout the packing process. Consider a small plastic bin if you're confident you won't need them. Plastic containers are sturdier than boxes and more reliable during a long distance move. Bins are unlikely to get crushed under the pressure of stacking.
Living room packing basics
Any local mover uses shrink wrap while packing because of its many versatile uses. One of the most common uses for shrink wrap is wrapping up upholstered furniture and oversized items. First, cover the item in packing blankets, then wrap the entire thing in saran wrap to hold blankets in place and add an extra layer of protection. It also secures doors, drawers, and panels on large pieces of furniture without sticky residue or damage to delicate surfaces.
Roll up rugs and wrap both ends with plastic wrap for easy travel any distance. Tying with twine works just as well on carpets.
For disassembly, put all hardware together in a ziplock baggie and label the bag. We recommend placing all hardware in the toolbox with the tools needed to build it. Some people also find it helpful to tape the bag to the furniture it belongs to. Yet, with this method, you risk tossing hardware out when you peel away the shrink wrap and remove packing blankets. Either way, make certain your hardware doesn't get tossed away carelessly.
To keep them clean, you may cover lamp shades in pillowcases or garbage bags. Stack shades together for transportation. Most shades also fit nicely inside round laundry baskets.
Moving process for TV and electronics
Some of the most important things we pack are our TV, computer, and other electronics. Flat-screen TVs and computer monitors are expensive and require a small bit of additional care. If you have saved the original boxes, congratulations. If not, no worries. Purchase the appropriate size moving boxes. Put a soft comforter or towel over the screen; a flat-screen tv cover protects best to avoid scratches. Use styrofoam pieces to protect the corners. Put a pillow or folded towel in the box to help protect against anything bumping into the box and impacting the delicate screen. Be sure not to overstuff your TV box and put undue stress on the screen you're attempting to protect. Don't lay a flat-screen TV or monitor down on its back or front. The box should allow it to stand in the upright position, which is factory recommended for all flat screens. Clearly label which side of the box is the screen or front. With it marked, your moving service can face it away from possible damage while on the vehicle.
Moving electronics comes with the additional challenge of wiring that may be highly frustrating to hook back up after the move. First, label all cords with the mechanism name and the connection port. Masking tape is an easy way to label cords. Also, take pictures of the back of your electronics before you begin unplugging things. Refer to the image to help when reconstructing the connections again.
PRO TIP = If you're packing up a large garage, make sure to put a general toolbox in your trunk. A toolbox is one of the first garage items you'll seek to hang up your TV, pictures, shelving, etc.
True Friends Moving Company is one of the finest full-service moving companies. They are a professional moving company for both local and long distance moving anywhere in the United States. True Friends Moving Company is the best in customer service, packing services, and reliable moving day help. As professional movers, we'll be on time and perform at our best.
Thank you for reading this article. We hope your move goes smoothly!