Packing
If
you’ve decided to take on the task of packing
you belongings, there are some basic things you
need to know before getting started. By getting
familiar with the basics of packing, you’ll
prevent headaches and save yourself time and
even money.
The first thing to consider is what to take and what to leave
behind. Clothing you never wear and items you haven’t
used for years might serve a better purpose at a yard sale rather
than taking up precious space during your moving process. Additionally,
you may need to leave behind large appliances in the case that
you new home is already outfitted with such things.
Begin packing one room at a time. You can start packing rarely
used items such as sports equipment that is out of season or
holiday decorations well in advance of your actual move date.
Likewise, goods stored in the garage and attic can be packed
early on.
Do not pack any potentially hazardous or flammable materials
such as gasoline, lighter fluid, bleach, pesticides, fireworks,
or propane tanks. These items are unstable for shipment and
could cause extensive unforeseen damage to your property.
Likewise, don’t pack any extremely valuable possessions
with your household goods. This includes personal files, tickets
for travel, financial statements, car keys, records, jewelry,
medications, and deeds. Also, pack the least used items first
and save everyday items like cooking utensils and bed linens
for last.
For clothing such as suits and dresses, you can purchase special
cartons that will allow the items to remain hanging during the
move. This will avoid costly dry cleaning later on and prevent
damage. Do not use garment bags for this purpose, as your clothing
will arrive in wrinkled and possibly ruined condition.
When packing your household goods, you’ll need to use
packing materials to protect them during shipment. Additionally,
choosing the right kind of boxes for your items will be important
in guaranteeing their safe arrival at the destination.
Use a heavy duty plastic type of carton sealing tape for securing
your boxes. If you use a cheap or inferior type of tape, you
risk the chance of the tape breaking and the contents of your
box spilling out.
To protect your items, wrap them carefully with bubble wrap
or tissue paper. Place them in an appropriately sized box and
cushion them with newspaper, newsprint, or Styrofoam packing
peanuts. This will help protect the wrapped items and prevent
them from being jostled to the point of damage during their
transport. Finally, use several layers of packing tape to create
a sturdy seal for the box.
Don’t put more than fifty pounds of weight in any one
box, and the heaviest items should be put into the box first.
Use smaller boxes for heavier items such as books, and larger
boxes for lighter items such as pots and pans.
To make things easier when you’re unpacking, you may
choose to transport clothing in their dresser drawers and then
box the entire drawer. Otherwise, place folded clothing in large
boxes and mark them accordingly.
To pack your glasses, line the box with bubble wrap and then
wrap each glass in newsprint. For plates, also line the box
in bubble wrap and wrap the plates with newsprint. Pack the
plates in the box upright instead of flat to protect them from
shattering. Mark any boxes with glass or delicate items as fragile.
Carefully label all of your boxes with black marker so that
the contents are obvious. This way, you can save yourself the
time of opening boxes and moving them back and forth through
the house, because you will have already labeled dining room
materials for the dining room and kitchen items for the kitchen,
etc.
To prepare large items like furniture for transport, wrap
them in protective padding. Special padding can be purchased
or rented from your moving company, and this high-quality buffer
will prevent scratches and other damage from destroying your
property in the move. If you need to disassemble furniture before
moving it, keep all hardware and other pieces together by taping
it to the furniture.