Why is proper packing important? The answer’s simple: Inadequate packing can lead to damage during the move. The items you care about could chip, break or suffer irreparable damage. You might feel overwhelmed to the point where you just want to be done with this packing thing, but you’ll be quite bummed if anything you love, breaks during the move. To help avoid that from happening, we wanted to take the guesswork out of packing and provide you with the tips and tools you’ll need to keep your items sound during the process. If you’re hungry for more moving tips, if you want self storage tricks, organizing and de-cluttering ideas, DIY home inspiration and first hand at our sweepstakes and giveaways, visit the Facebook community, LIKE the page and join the conversation. #1. Make sure you have all the moving supplies at hand. To stop the packing process every now and then to go buy something you need, is not the most efficient use of your time. Have everything you need already in place – boxes, tape, protective padding, scissors, markers, etc. Here's a full list of packing materials. REMEMBER: Printed newspaper is one of the worst things to pack with. The ink often smudges off on your items. #2. List all your rooms- from your current AND future home. This will help you manage what has to go where, what you need to store and what you can purge. #3. Start by packing your OPEN FIRST boxes. They are the most instrumental boxes to pack. We dedicated an entire blog to this concept and shared with you ideas for each type of box. See it here. #4. Consolidate the cleaning supplies. If you need to clean your old place after moving everything out, or the new place before moving in, put together a kit of basic cleaning supplies and rags. Clean anything possible ahead of time, like the inside of kitchen cupboards, the oven and windows. #5. Use your luggage. Fill luggage and duffle bags with clothing, towels, or anything that won’t leak or be damaged if not held straight up. You can also use your luggage for things you’ll need handy. Another idea is to use furniture drawers as packing space and save money on boxes. #6. Packing books on their side can damage their spines. Try packing your books flat and place them in smaller boxes. They’ll get really heavy. #7. Make sure brushes are not resting on the bristles, they should always be packed in an upright position. #8. Pictures, mirrors should all be wrapped in cardboard or bubble wrap and marked “FRAGILE.” Make sure you stand them straight up and never flat. #9. When disassembling furniture, mark the pieces so you don’t forget how to put them back together. #10. When taking electronics apart like computers, stereos or anything involving lots of wires, color coordinate the cable with the place where it goes. #11. All glass items should be individually wrapped. Label all boxes containing glassware and fragile dishes. Don’t place any heavy items of top of these fragile boxes, and always stack them on top. #12. If you have collectible items or anything breakable really, you should tape the item after wrapping it. #13. Use your marker and write abbreviations that only you can understand, to help you identify the major contents of your boxes. #14. Follow the two-inch rule. Use at least 2" of biodegradable packing peanuts around each side of fragile items. #15. Try keeping each box below 50 pounds at most and below 30 pounds wherever possible. Heavier boxes lead to injuries, they are much more likely to burst their tape or seams and tend to get dropped. Keep a bathroom scale handy so you can keep the boxes below the weight limits. #16. If you have a washing machine, try stuffing some towels in between the washing machine and the inner tub of the machine to keep the tub from rotating during the move. #17. Always place a protective waterproof dust cover over your sofas and love-seats. Cushions should be wrapped in plastic and placed on top. #18. Clothing and draperies should stay on hangers and get packed in wardrobe boxes, to keep their shapes. #19. Box Inventory- As simple as that sounds, most folks never count their boxes. And if something ends up missing, they don’t know where to start looking. #20. Keep important papers with you. Birth certificates, school records, job contacts, bank records, current bills, phone lists, maps, moving estimates, etc. For more, see you on Facebook! Your friends and resources, US Storage Centers
