How to pack for moving house. A question many people have when moving home is how to pack properly. So I have created this quick moving house guide. Which details my approach for packing some of the most common and tricky items.
How to pack for moving house – When to pack and where to start…
Start with items you don’t use as frequently or that you have a lot of such as ornaments, books, sentimental items and out of season clothes.
If you’re loving your current set up and want to replicate it in your new home, take photos of your cupboards, shelves, wardrobes, draws etc. so you can easily set things up once you unpack.
What to pack next
Move onto your pain points or areas of the house that seem a bit overwhelming , like the kitchen, kids’ bedrooms and garage. Pack away excess items and things you know you won’t need leading up to your move. Pack valuable items such as passports, jewellery, important photos, etc. separately and take them to your new home yourself.
What to pack last
Pack your frequently used items last leaving yourself with just the essentials in the days before you move and for when you arrive at your new home.
Your move day box
Prepare your essentials/move day box. This contains all the things you’ll need for move day and the day after. Items such as toiletries, medication, some crockery, snacks, drinks, cleaning materials, kids supplies, devices, power cords, overnight supplies and pet supplies.
How to pack a box for moving
Take your cardboard box and ensure it’s clean and intact (no mould, food, oil, print, not crushed or ripped etc.).
Using a wide tape tape down the bottom of the box sealing each open edge and the centre line. You should create an ‘H’ tape line in doing this. Do the same again so you have a double layer of tape and if needed do one across the middle too for extra security.
For breakable or precious items I always put one or two layers of ‘twisties’ at the bottom of the box. To create a twistie, take a piece of newsprint/packing paper gather together and grab both ends and twist. Add a second layer the opposite way to the first.
You can then start putting the wrapped items into the box. Be sure to put the heaviest items at the bottom and the lighter items on top. If you’re packing breakables you may want to add extra padding using cushions, tea towels or towels.
Once you have everything in the box, fill any gaps with scrunched up newsprint paper to ensure nothing moves around once the box is sealed. Ensure none of your packed items are poking above the top of the edge of the box as they may get damaged. Before you close the box put another one or two layers of twisties on top of the items for added padding before you close the box.
Then tape the box using the double H method mentioned above. Label the box so you know what is inside and what part of the house it has come from. You may want to write on the tape to keep the box unmarked. Add a colour coded sticker to indicate which part of the house the items in the box have come from.
I use print free newsprint paper/packing paper for wrapping most items, over and above bubble wrap as when you wrap correctly you create nice air pockets which are very effective at protecting the item.
How to pack books for moving
- When packing books use one layer of twisties on the bottom, or just use a sheet of paper.
- Always put the spine down to preserve the pages and edges of the books.
- Fill any gaps with paper.
- Books are heavy so you’ll need to use a small box and don’t overfill it or you won’t be able to lift it.
How to pack dishes when moving
- For fine china wrap each item individually. For standard kitchen plates and bowls, you can pack up to 3 items together, layering the paper over each item and then wrapping them together.
- Plates, saucers and bowls should be packed on their edge. This helps the items absorb the shock and prevent breakages should the box drop for any reason.
- I use dish pack boxes when packing crockery and usually pack two layers of items in each box, separated with a layer of twisties and a sheet of cardboard.
- When packing crockery, making sure you put the heaviest items on the bottom of the box and lightest items on top.
How to pack glasses when moving
When packing glassware, I use one layer of clean newsprint to wrap tumblers and short glasses and for stemmed glasses I use half a sheet of newsprint wrapped around the stem and them wrap the upper part of the glass in a single sheet. I then place the glasses into a compartment of the carton dividers.
It’s really important that the top of the glass is below the edge of the top of the box to ensure it’s protected.
To finish, I add a single layer twisties to the top of the box before sealing it.
I tend to use a single layer in a half dish box or book box for glassware with the carton dividers as I feel these provide the most protection for these fragile items.
How to pack pictures and mirrors when moving
When packing glass-fronted pictures and mirrors I recommend using the following packing method to prevent breakages:
- Using masking tape, I create a star on the front of the glass/mirror so that in the unlikely event of the glass breaking, it will stay stationary.
- I place clean newsprint on an appropriately sized piece of clean cardboard and putting the cardboard on top of the glass, I tape the cardboard to the frame using masking tape.
- I then place cardboard corners on each corner of the frame.
- I wrap the entire item in kraft bubble wrap or similar
- I place the wrapped item in a picture box, or if it’s oversized, I use corrugated cardboard to wrap the item.
- I add paper padding in the box at the bottom and sides if required.
- Label the item indicating the front and back and arrows to indicate the correct way up.
Note: You can use this same method for packing TVs, although you may want to leave the masking tape off the front.
How to pack clothes and linen for moving
When packing clothes I use porta robes for hung items like jackets, trousers and dresses as it’s really easy to pack and unpack the items, and it keeps them crease free.
I use shallow, wide boxes for folded/draw items. I line the box with packing paper/newsprint and also place a piece on top before sealing it. I do the same when packing bed linen.
You can also use reusable plastic boxes for clothes, although if you’re storing woolens, leather or linen clothes don’t put these into plastic boxes as they need air circulating to prevent mould growing. Having said that, I always add silica sachets in boxes of clothes, linen, cushions and blankets if they’re going to be boxed for a period of time as they help absorb any moisture.
For ease, where possible, I place all items from the same draw into one box or one part of a box, and label the box with the draw or part of the wardrobe it has come from (e.g. Master wardrobe, bottom right draw). This helps make it easy when transferring at the other end, assuming the set up is similar.
How to pack lamps when moving
- Remove bulbs from lampshades, wrap in bubble wrap and place it in the same box as the lamp and shade if possible, so there’s no confusion about which bulb belongs to which lamp.
- Unscrew the lamp from the shade and then screw the collar ring back on to the lamp for safe keeping.
- Place the base on a bed or padded surface and wrap in bubble wrap.
- Wrap the shade with sheets of clean newsprint/packing paper, folding over the shade from the outside in.
- Place the base with the shade into an appropriately sized box and fill any gaps with paper, lightweight material such as tea towels or small cushions.
- Once you’ve sealed the box place a fragile sticker on and write ‘Top stow’ so that nothing else is placed on top.
How to pack detergents and garden sprays when moving
I always wear gloves and separate out toxic and non toxic sprays before I start packing. When packing:
- Ensure tops are screwed on tightly and place individually in a sealed plastic bag, or tape plastic over the lid or nozzle if required, to ensure no leakages.
- Place upright in a medium sized box lined with plastic (a bin bag will do). Fill any gaps with cleaning cloths or paper and put another layer of plastic over the top and tuck down the edges. This will be another layer of protection if the box falls during transit.
- Consider disposing (environmentally) of any opened toxic or harsh substances like bleach and weed sprays.
- Do not pack anything flammable as these cannot be transported by the removals peeps.
- Label your box appropriately. If the box contains toxic substances, write this on the outside.
Golden rules for packing boxes
Here’s my top tips for packing:
- Ensure the boxes are clean and intact before you pack
- Use double walled boxes for fragile items
- Double ‘H’ tape the top and bottom of the box
- Use a single or double layer of twisties on the bottom and top, depending on the fragility of the item and the gap between the top of the item and the top edge of the box.
- Put the heaviest items on the bottom
- Ensure items at the top of the box lie below the top edge of the box for protections.
- Fill any gaps in box when it’s full with paper or padding to stop things moving around
- Using carton dividers when packing glasses and bottles to make packing easy and to provide extra protection
- Don’t over pack boxes, you should be able to swizzle/move them on the floor once full. If not, then the removals peeps are going to have a hard time picking them up.
- Label your box summarising the contents and where the items have come from. Use colour coding to indicate the area of the new house the box should be placed in by the moving peeps. If the items are fragile, make sure you add a ‘Fragile’ sticker to the box.
- If you’re storing or moving long distance, number and take a photo of each box so you have a visual inventory for reference when everything makes it to your new home.
- Utilise empty suitcases and ice boxes to store appropriate non breakable items, like clothes and soft toys.
Move by Design offers bespoke move solutions and can help with the full spectrum of house moving services. If you’d like to know more, get in touch, I’d love to hear from you. We’d love to help make moving a joyful and easy experience for you.
Clare Gregory-Jones
Owner, Move by Design.
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