Let’s be honest with each other: packing boxes while moving is tedious and boring. You can try to make a game out of it, going item by item and room by room to get everything packed up, but even that will only get you so far. Eventually the boredom will set in and you will begin your slog to the finish line. Well, all that boredom can turn into complacency, and complacency breeds mistakes.
A mistake while packing for your move can mean your stuff is gonna get damaged, or worse: broken. And we don’t want that. If you’re going to move, you may as well make sure all of your valuable belongings make it to your new home. But how do you make that happen? Pack properly, duh.
Here are a few pointers on how to pack your moving boxes the right way, from when to wrap to deciding which size is best from a variety of moving box sizes.
Let’s Start From the Beginning
When moving, it is best to begin by gathering your moving supplies. You’ll need plenty of boxes of varying sizes, bubble or paper wrap, packing tape and a pair of scissors. Give yourself a head start by putting a few boxes together before packing anything.
Once you have gathered all of your materials, it’s time to start packing. There are two schools of thought when it comes to which room to start in. Some prefer to pack the least essential items first such as books or out of season clothes. Others like to pack the most important things first, such as kitchen items. It is important to pack room by room as you pack in order to stay organized once you get to your new place.
Wherever you begin, you will want to keep your method of transportation in mind. If you are using a moving truck, you can organize it as you like, such as packing the room you want to unpack first in your new home last in the moving truck so that these items will be the first unloaded when you arrive.
No matter your method, you want to ensure that your boxes are packed correctly. This is where you will want to take advantage of the different moving box sizes you have at your disposal. Save the big moving boxes for bedding and other lighter items that also take up space. Save small boxes for fragile items so that you can ensure a snug fit to decrease rolling.
Snug, Not Stuffed
When we are packing for a move, we have a tendency to try to cram as many things into a box as possible. Mentally, we tell ourselves that fewer moving boxes means fewer trips and fewer trips mean a faster move.
It’s not true though, and bad things can happen if you go this route. But what could go wrong? Well, for starters, the bottom will fall out and now everything from your silverware to your unmentionables will end up scattered on the sidewalk. So let’s avoid that, shall we?
Thankfully that embarrassment can easily be avoided by organizing your boxes and packing them like so; start by organizing similar things within a room. Once you’ve done that, you’ll want to:
- Wrap fragile items in paper or bubble wrap and pack them together.
- Pack heavier items such as books in smaller boxes so they are easier to move.
- Stack heavier items towards the bottom of the box with lighter boxes on top.
- Pack appliances such as TVs and gaming consoles along with all necessary cables and controllers separately from everything else.
- Pack clothes in three categories: in-season, out of season and essentials.
- Pack the bathroom last and all items separate from everything else.
Get Ready for Your Next Move
If you are gearing up for a move, let us give you a hand! Banana Box offers sturdy, reusable boxes to rent for your next move along with all the usual moving supplies delivered to your doorstep. We carry different moving box sizes to help you no matter how much you’re moving. Schedule a delivery today!