Home Cleaning & Organizing
If the thought of packing for a move is already stressing you out, you’ve come to the right place. Here, find brilliant tips, tricks, and shortcuts to make moving to your next place easier than ever.
Have a garage sale or donate things as soon as possible
“Don’t wait for the packers and movers until the weekend before you move to host a garage sale. “While you may sell your knickknacks, large furniture items often remain unsold. You don’t want to spend your last week in your city trying to hunt down buyers for your things. Also, many charities require one to two weeks for donation pick-ups. “Getting rid of old or unnecessary clutter will not only make hiring a professional mover less expensive but also gives you a little extra cash and a lot more room for things you actually want. This simple step really tackles a handful of problems.” A good place to start is your closet. Here are the top rules to keep in mind when deciding which clothes to keep or toss.
Label everything
According to CBD Movers “It’s helpful to label boxes ‘living room’ or ‘kitchen,’ but you’ll also want to know what’s inside the boxes, so add an extra-label describing what’s inside the box to save yourself time (and sanity) when unpacking. Since knowing everything’s place is one of the best packing tips for moving because you won’t have to scramble for your most-used items. If you’re hiring professional packers and movers here’s what to look out for so you don’t fall for moving company scams.
Use clear, plastic containers when moving kids’ toys and clothes
“Inevitably, your child will want to wear his red striped T-shirt to match his best friend’s. To save your child—and you—tears, pack their favorite items in easily accessible clear containers.” This will help assure your child that their beloved belongings are indeed going along for the ride. Plus, you’ll be able to easily identify his favorite stuffed animal or book in a pinch.
Protect flat, fragile items in this unusual way
“Protect flat, fragile items by placing them in-between mattresses or box springs. It is highly recommended by best packers and movers that items like mirrors, glass, or picture frames still be wrapped and packed like any other object, “but securing them in the safety of something soft will assure you that your valued item won’t shatter in the moving process.”
Load your heaviest boxes first
“With a big moving truck, weight distribution is important. Place the heaviest objects on the bottom and everything else on top. Not doing so will risk you damaging your other items, and could also tip the moving truck. Before hiring any packer and mover for your movement it is always better to follow these tips first.
Pack your sofa vertically instead of horizontally
This is one of the best packing tips for moving because you’ll save some significant square footage in the truck, leaving more room for the rest of your belongings. “We recommend placing the couch in the front corner of the truck to help with weight distribution and to give it the most support possible.
Taking your fridge? Defrost it ahead of time
If you never thought of doing this before a move, you’re not alone. If you don’t properly defrost your fridge, it will leak all over the vehicle that you’re using for the move, and possibly even over other items.” Robinson says to defrost the fridge for at least 24 hours to ensure minimal leaks.
Put masking or painters tape on mirrors and glass
Robinson says taping won’t prevent breaks during transport, “but it will help to absorb shocks and can keep the glass in the frame if a mirror does accidentally smash, keeping the rest of your items safe.” It makes for easier and safer clean-up, too.
Take photos of your electronic setup
Before unplugging your electronics (television, Wi-Fi router, computer), take a photo of how the cables are plugged in. When it comes to setting up your electronics in your new place, you’ll be able to refer to the photos rather than having to use the instruction manual (which, let’s be honest, most people tend to lose).” While you’re taking photos, why not do photo inventories of the rest of your stuff before you move? Here are 16 other things all smart homeowners should be doing.
Pack clothing on hangers and put in a bag
Packing up your closet, especially the hung clothes can be a chore. Just think of all the skirts, blazers, and dresses you have to remove from their hangers then re-hang when you get to your new place. To make things easier, follow the best packing tips for moving: “Simply take the clothes off the rack still on the hanger and place them in a bag with the hanger sticking out of the end. Once you’ve packed as many clothes in the bag as you can, simply tie all the hangers together and pack the bag away.”
