Packing for a move can be overwhelming and time consuming. Most households accumulate more belongings than they realize, and the idea of packing it all up is a headache. There are several ways you can make the chore of packing easier on yourself. Let’s look at some of the best packing hacks the professionals use.
1. Save Your Cords
As you dismantle your electronics, keep the cords organized using toilet paper rolls or cable ties. Stuff the rolled-up cords into the toilet paper rolls or simply tie them together with the cable ties. Label each cord so you can remember where it goes. For extra protection, pack the rolled-up cords into zipper bags labeled with the correct electronic device.
2. Clothing
There are several hacks for packing clothes efficiently. Keep your hanging clothes on their hangers and separate the hangers into bundles. Tie the bundles together with rubber bands and pack each bundle into its own garbage bag. Roll your folded clothes and stuff them between fragile items in boxes, saving you money on packing material.
3. Heavy Items
Avoid packing large boxes with heavy items. Instead, pack things like books into wheeled suitcases for easy transport. Use smaller boxes whenever possible for heavier items and avoid putting too many heavy items in one box.
4. Prevent Soap Spills
To protect your belongings from any leaky soap or shampoo bottles, remove the caps from the bottles and cover the opening with a bit of plastic wrap. This will keep the cap on more securely as well as prevent any spills. For extra protection, pack the sealed bottles in a zipper bag.
5. Take Pictures
Take several pictures of furniture and electronics so that you know how it all goes back together. A picture of the back of your television can be particularly helpful in understanding which cords go where.
6. Free Moving Boxes
Begin gathering boxes and packing material about a month before your move. Check out the “free” section of Craigslist in your area or visit big box stores during their stocking hours to see if they’ll let you take some boxes off their hands.
7. Protect Dishes
Packing your plates between Styrofoam plates is easy and inexpensive. Use clothing to pad delicate items like wine glasses and be sure to separate bowls with packing material to protect them. Also, remember to pack plates vertically to keep them from breaking.
8. Grocery Bags
You finally have a use for the three million plastic grocery bags hanging on the kitchen doorknob. Use these as packing materials for dishes by stuffing cups or bowls with them, or pack knickknacks by slipping them inside the bag and wrapping the bag around the item.
9. Sandwich bags
You can use sandwich bags to pack and store small necessities like furniture hardware, electronic parts, and jewelry. Be sure to label hardware and electronic parts according to their rightful homes, or better yet, tape the bag of hardware to the correct furniture or electronic item to keep them together.