Are you moving away from home? Moving takes a significant amount of time and effort, and it’s usually more stressful than you anticipate. Here are 12 tips and tricks to help make your moving process and packing as efficient and stress-free as possible:
1. Declutter your home!
Get rid of anything you no longer need or use, like clothes that don’t fit you anymore or appliances that have been sitting in your cupboard for years. You don’t need to packing any items that you won’t use! Have a garage sale and make some money, or simply donate!
2. Think about how many boxes you might need… then double that number.
When you’re moving, it’s easy to underestimate the number of possessions you have to pack away. You also remember that wrapping fragile items takes up more space than you might think. So load up on the boxes before your move because you’ll need them!
3. Don’t buy boxes.
Take free boxes from department stores or supermarkets. Ask around for boxes, because they were only going to be thrown out anyway. You’ll save a lot of money by doing this.
4. Use smaller boxes.
If you try to fit as much stuff as you can into a few big boxes, you will quickly learn that your boxes will get heavy quickly. The solution is simple: Try to use smaller boxes instead of larger ones so that you can carry them more easily. After all, the last thing you need when you’re settling into a new place is a sore back!
5. Think about the amount of tape you might need, and double it as well.
The “box rule” also applies to bubble wrap, wrapping paper, and tape: Double it up! It’s better to have extra tape and trimmings just in case you run out. You don’t want to have to travel back and forth to get more supplies when you just want to unpack.
6. Use plain wrapping paper instead of newspaper to wrap fragile items.
Most people think that the newspaper makes the best wrapping for fragile times, but experienced movers know the truth. Oftentimes, the newspaper ink from the newspaper will rub onto anything it comes into contact with, and you don’t want your most precious possessions to have black ink stains all over them. Instead, wrap your favorite fragile things in butcher paper – it’ll keep your belongings safe without the stray marks.
7. Don’t pack everything all at once.
About two weeks before your moving day, start packing the items you don’t use daily, like memorabilia and home decor. You should pack anything that you know you won’t use before your move in order to save time and effort later. Packing over time instead of all at once will help you feel less frazzled when you already have so much on your plate!
8. Buy disposable plates, bowls, cups, and cutlery for the last couple of days before moving.
Figuring out your dish situation for after you pack the plates away is easy to overlook when you pack. But don’t forget that you still need plates to eat off of even when your good plates are boxed up! Stocking up on paper plates will save you loads of dishes (and stress) after you pack. Just remember to wait until the day of the move to pack plates and other essentials!
9. Label everything.
When you move, it’s crucial that you label every single box you bring with you. Make sure that you include what’s in each box and which room the items will go in when you label. Marking your boxes in advance will make your unpacking process much more efficient because you won’t be scrambling to figure out which items go in which rooms.
10. Pack a separate bag with your essential clothes and toiletries.
Pack at least 2 days’ worth of clothing to allow for the fact that you won’t be doing laundry while you unpack. The last thing you want to do after you move is to fish through all your boxes to find some clean pajamas! And of course, don’t forget to keep food, water, medications, electronics chargers and toiletries handy, too!
It’s easy to feel overwhelmed when you’re getting ready to move. However, if you follow these tips, you can make the stress of your move much easier to manage. So get your boxes and tape ready for a smooth transition to your new place!
Which moving tips work for you? Leave them in the comments below!
Photo by Greta Schölderle Møller on Unsplash
I didn’t write the 11th tip for the record. That has been added without my knowledge or consent.