Moving soon? While it can feel like your to-do list grows by the day, the process of packing alone can feel like a never-ending task.
It may seem daunting, but by breaking the process down into smaller steps, it is sure to be more manageable. Below, we’ve compiled our best moving tips to help improve your packing experience and make it more effective.
Create a Plan & Timeline Before You Start Packing
Start with your moving date. When do you need to have everything out of your home? Work backward from there to create a plan and timeline. Consider what else is on your schedule around the time of your move (think – anything you’ll need, outfits, or something that will take a considerable amount of time to pack).
Also, take stock of how many rooms you have to pack and how long it will take you to pack each room. Then, form a plan of what you will pack (and when), so you can get everything packed without a stressful, last-minute scramble as the moving truck arrives.
General Packing Tips
Here are some tips to keep in mind as you pack up your home:
- Group your items in boxes by room.
- Think about how heavy a box will be as you pack so you don’t end up with a box that’s too heavy to carry or that can’t hold the weight of what you’re packing.
- Label each box with the room it belongs in, as well as a description of the box’s contents, so that you know where each box belongs in your new home and can easily find what you need when you get there.
- Make sure you wrap any fragile items in paper, bubble wrap, or even towels to keep them from breaking.
- Similarly, pack items tightly in boxes so they won’t bounce around against each other and break.
- Use heavy-duty moving tape and tape your boxes up well, especially the bottoms of boxes that may be heavy.
- Pack an “open first” box with cleaning supplies, a box opener, toilet paper, paper towels, soap, clothes, toiletries, and anything else you’ll need in the first 24 hours in your new home.
What to Pack First When Moving
Begin by packing things you won’t need before your moving date. Consider items such as holiday decorations or clothes for seasons other than the one you’re in, spare sets of towels and sheets, serving pieces and other party supplies, entertainment such as books, DVDs, and games, and anything else you can live without for a few weeks.
Leave certain clothes, kitchen staples, toiletries and medicine, cleaning supplies, basic tools, and other things you use every day for last.
How to Pack Clothes & Accessories for Moving
How to Pack Clothes When You Move
Wardrobe boxes make packing clothes simple! Just take the clothes, hanger and all, and hang them directly on the rod in the box. Keep in mind, though, that these boxes are large and can be challenging to move. If wardrobe boxes aren’t an option, you can take a large trash bag, pull it up over the hanging clothes, and tie it tightly right under the hook of the hanger.
How to Pack Necklaces & Other Jewelry
The key to packing jewelry is to keep it from getting lost or tangled. Here are a few ideas that could help:
- Invest in a jewelry box (or even a plastic tackle box) with dividers and a lid, and pack all your earrings in it.
- Take a piece of cardboard, such as part of an empty cereal box, and use it to organize your earrings. Just poke them through one side and attach the back of the earring on the other.
- Loop necklaces and bracelets through straws or paper towel holders, and tape them in place.
- Take a large sheet of packing paper, tape a necklace to one end, then start folding or rolling it up from that end. Every few inches, or every fold, tape another necklace to the paper, then keep folding or rolling until you have a paper packet of necklaces.
How to Pack Hangers
Pack your clothes on the hanger when possible! Otherwise, hangers can be packed in a box or heavy-duty bag. Stack and tie them together to keep them from getting tangled.
How to Pack Shoes for Moving
Consider boxing up nicer pairs of shoes individually, especially if you still have the original boxes; then, put each of these boxes into one big box. For all other shoes, you can stuff socks inside to help them hold their shape, wrap them in packing paper, and place them in boxes.
How to Pack Kitchen Items & Furniture
The Best Way to Pack Glasses, China, & Dishes for Moving
Wrap all glasses, china, and dishes in paper, foam sheets, or bubble wrap before placing them tightly in boxes. Don’t leave too much extra space between items, as you don’t want them to move within the box and break; you can stuff packing paper in between items if needed. You can also buy kits made specifically for packing dishes.
How to Pack Pots & Pans
Boxes of pots and pans can get heavy quickly, so consider packing in several smaller boxes versus one large box. Wrap your pots and pans in packing paper or another packing material for added cushioning.
How to Pack Books
Similar to pots and pans, book boxes get heavy quickly! Stick to packing books in small boxes to make them easy to carry out of your old house and into your new one.
How to Wrap & Pack a TV
If you saved the original TV box and it’s still in good shape, that’s going to be the best way to pack your TV. If not, you can purchase heavy-duty, adjustable boxes for TVs or artwork that come with all the materials you need to wrap, pad, and package your television.
How to Pack a Mattress
Unfortunately, due to its shape and size, there’s no way to move a mattress that isn’t a bit awkward, but it’s important to keep it flat during your move. For protection during the moving process, use lightweight mattress bags. Be sure to avoid heavy plastics, as they can trap moisture.
How to Pack Lamps
Disassemble each lamp, then wrap each piece individually in paper or other padding before placing it in the box. You can even wrap up the lightbulb and put it with the lamp to make reassembling a breeze!
How to Pack Artwork
Smaller pieces of artwork can be wrapped in paper and put in a box. For larger artwork, you’ll want to purchase a special, heavy-duty box that will keep it secure and protected.
How to Pack Pillows
Before you pack pillows in a box, put them in a plastic bag or wrap them in plastic wrap to keep them protected. Remember that you can also use pillows as packing material to keep other objects protected in transit.
How to Pack Plants for a Move
Plants should be one of the last things you pack. Place each plant in a large plastic bag to contain the dirt, then put the plant in a box. You may need quite a few boxes, as you likely won’t be able to put more than one or two plants in each box. Use packing materials to secure the plant and ensure it won’t shift around inside the box. If you can tape the plant to the box without hurting it, that will help keep it even more secure.
Best Way to Pack a Moving Truck
Here are a few things to keep in mind as you pack your moving truck:
- Make sure you have a dolly and moving blankets on hand before you begin.
- For better weight distribution, pack heavy items first toward the cab or on the sides of the truck.
- Turn large furniture such as couches and headboards upright to avoid taking up valuable floor space.
- Pack things tightly against each other so they can’t shift and move during transit; use moving straps and tuck moving blankets between items for a tighter fit, if needed.
- Roll up rugs and secure them with plastic wrap so they take up less space.
- Whether you ask your friends or hire movers, enlisting help to carry furniture and boxes will speed up the process and make life easier.
Bonus Tip: If you’re a CPI customer who is thinking about moving or in the process of moving, be sure to give us a call at 866-460-0745. Our CPI moving specialists are here to make every customer’s experience as seamless as possible with our comprehensive moving program.
From all of us at CPI Security, best of luck packing and happy moving!
For more tips to help you settle into your new home, visit our blog.
