Moving is stressful; the need for it often comes at an inconvenient time, and even when the move is a desired one (such as after the purchase of a house), there are so many details to attend to that it can be overwhelming.
The article below, originally published on July 29, 2013, as "Packing supplies needed for a move," will help you plan an organized move so that things can go as smoothly as possible.
Few things are more tedious than packing to move. Having the right supplies on hand can help make the difference between things going smoothly and feeling like things are out of control. You can save yourself a lot of headaches and frustration by assembling and organizing everything you need ahead of time.
Hopefully, when it is time to relocate you will have enough notice so that you can plan the move and gather all of your packing supplies a week or two ahead of time. Moving supplies are pretty basic; something to contain your belongings, something to protect delicate items that could get broken and something to seal the containers you cart your belongings in.
Determining what specific packing supplies you will need for your move will depend on what items you need to transport, how many items, how fragile they are and how far you will be traveling for the move. For instance, packing needs for a handful of odd plates, bowls and cups for a bachelor or college student are quite different than for someone who needs to pack up a matched set of dishes with service for eight.
Short moves can be accomplished mostly with whatever is on hand for carting things, while relocating to a new city requires sturdy cartons or lidded storage containers. Boxes can be obtained for free by asking at the nearest supermarket or you can purchase them from a company like U-haul or a storage facility.
The advantage of purchased boxes is that they are sized specifically to accommodate the household items most people need to pack. Being able to leave clothing hanging by removing it from your closet and placing it directly into a wardrobe box is a huge benefit. Clothes stay neat and organized in their portable cabinet and can be put away with ease once you reach your new home.
Items that will be placed into storage will need to be completely sealed in cartons or containers that can protect the contents from moisture and pests, especially if the boxes or bins will not be kept in a climate controlled area. Packaging tape for sealing boxes can be obtained at some drugstores, office supply stores and even the post office.
Moving is often a time to purge items that are no longer needed such as clothing and papers, but these items can also serve as packing materials. Clothing can be used to wrap glass, dishes and other delicate items that could get broken during a move. Old newspaper can be used to wrap glass or you can use junk mail, bills and other unwanted paper, it can be shredded and used in boxes in place of packing peanuts.
Additional, optional packing supplies for a move include bubble wrap, twine, rubber bands, plastic bags, cling wrap and a permanent marker or sharpie. Cling wrap can be used to contain items like books or CDs on their shelves/racks so that they do not have to be removed and packed into boxes or bins. This is especially helpful for short distance moves where items are not likely to move around a lot in transport.
Whether relocating just across town or moving completely across country, nothing is more frustrating than arriving at your new home and not being able to find anything. Always number your boxes and make a list of the general contents of each and, when assembling packing supplies for a move, always get extra.
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