We all know moving is a hassle. It doesn’t matter if it’s across the street, or around the globe. Things get lost or broken, doorjambs are too narrow, the sofa doesn’t fit, and we’ve misplaced our pajamas. You get the idea. After moving a time or two, we have a handful of moving tips that are sure to save your sanity and simplify your move.
If you want more insight into how we make moving easier, you’re invited to read: First Night In Your New Home, Easy Ways to Simplify Your Home, and Easy Steps to Downsizing.
Moving Your Kitchen
Kitchen items can be one of the more challenging parts of moving. Silverware and utensils, cookware, and food storage items, spices, canned goods and pantry staples take up a lot of space. They can also weight a bit, too, if packed inefficiently. Inevitably, you will get to your new home and find the salt and pepper have spilled, the sugar and flour have leaked, and the canned goods have smashed the pantry goods.
When packing your kitchen for a move – or moving into your new kitchen space – here are a few moving tips that will stave off headaches and simplify your process.
- Place plastic wrap over bottle openings to avoid spills. This can be used for liquids or dry goods. Taking the twist off cap from a bottle of pancake syrup or a large container of ground spices, covering with a thin layer of plastic wrap, and reapplying the lid will save you a world of headaches in the end.
- Fill cookware with baking items and spices. You have to pack your cookware anyway, why not use that empty space for moving smaller items? Packing in flour, sugar, spices, and shelf-stable condiments will both save you packing materials, but will assure kitchen related items arrive in the correct location upon unpacking.
- Pack plates vertically instead of horizontally. Packing plates is always an anxiety-inducing thing. Will they arrive in one piece, or shattered into pieces? Even when stacking plates in a moving container with cushion between them (like styrofoam plate dividers), sometimes they still don’t survive the move. When packing plates for a move, divide them with paper or styrofoam plates, then stack them vertically in the box. You will be more likely to cushion around them, and they are far less likely to arrive broken.
- Press and Seal wrap is your friend. Press and seal wrap is a must when moving. Even if you aren’t a fan for everyday use, for moving, it can’t be topped. Use it for everything from sealing up that utensil drawer full of silverware, sealing the coffee pot to the stand, or covering open containers like jar candles.
- Pack at least two meals as meal kits. Moving is hard work! It’s physically demanding and time consuming. Meals often are an afterthought, but if you plan ahead while packing your kitchen, you can arrive at your new location prepared and ready to serve a well-earned, and greatly appreciated, home cooked meal – even on the first day / night. Here are a couple of ideas.
- Chili
- Spaghetti
- Breakfast for dinner
- Aglio e Olio Pasta
Moving Your Closet
Clothing items can be tricky when packing to move. It takes time to fold and box all those loose items, and re-hanging them upon arrival takes time. Here are a few extremely simple moving tips to make moving clothing and closet-related items worlds easier!
- Place garbage bags over hanging clothes. This one has saved time and effort for so many people. Simply cut a small slit in the center bottom of a trash bag and slide it over a bundle of clothes on hangers. Imagine garment bag style. Not only does it bundle your clothing together on hangers, it also keeps them dust and dirt free.
- Pack smaller handbags inside of larger handbags. Handbags, totes, and purses can take up a lot of valuable storage space when packing to move. Slipping smaller bags or wallets inside of larger ones, and larger handbags inside of tote bags, maximizes spaces and makes packing and unpacking much simpler.
- Stacking and packing shoes and boots. Shoes and boots can be tricky because you want to avoid scuffs, smudges, and damage. When preparing for a move, start saving plastic grocery bags a few weeks in advance. Then, when it’s time to pack them away in boxes, you can wrap each pair in its own ‘shoe bag’ of sorts to prevent any damage.
- Space bags or Vacuum sealed bags. For other items, utilizing vacuum sealed bags is a great way to pack away items for a move without them getting damaged. If you store extra linens, blankets, jackets or coats in your closet, this is a great way to minimize the amount of storage space you need while assuring they arrive damage and dirt free.
Moving Your Bedroom
Moving a bedroom isn’t as much about packing away items as it is about ease and simplicity. There are still a few tried and true methods that can’t be beat. You’ll arrive at your new place ready for a good night’s sleep and a fresh start to day one of unpacking.
- Put fitted sheets on your mattress. This may sound silly, but put as many fitted sheets on your mattress as you’re able. This will save you space in boxes or bins, and when you arrive, your bed will already be half-ready to crawl into.
- Use pillows and blankets as cushion. There is inevitably empty space in a moving van or truck where items tend to shift. Wrapping bed pillows in trash bags, or old blankets will work perfectly as cushion during your move. If using blankets, they’ll need a quick run through the laundry before putting them back on the bed.
- Move clothes in their drawers. If at all possible, move clothing in their drawers. You don’t have to move full drawers in the chest or dresser unless you want to, but moving clothing in their drawers saves boxing and unboxing time upon arrival. If possible, remove drawers before moving the chest or dresser into the vehicle, then slide drawers back in their place. Hold them secure with painter’s tape or press and seal wrap.
- Move books and toys inside of suitcases. For those harder to move items like books and / or toys, place them inside of empty suitcases. The luggage has to be moved anyway, why not make it work for you instead of against you!
Miscellaneous Moving Tips
And now we’ve come to my favorite part of this article. The miscellaneous moving tips. Sometimes it’s the simplest ideas that save the most time. You never know which one will be the ‘ah-ha’ moment that may save your sanity!
- Pack laundry detergent, stain remover, fabric softener, irons, steamers, etcetera inside of laundry baskets. When you arrive, you’ll be ready to set up shop.
- Use empty cardboard rolls like toilet tissue or paper towel rolls to wrap extension cords. Bonus – these cardboard rolls are compostable, recyclable, and you can label these items right on the roll.
- Number boxes or bins in order of priority. Using the 3-2-1 method, label each box in order of priority. Dishes, bathroom items, etc, will most likely be a high priority that first night. Mark them as a 1. Items such as books, purses, or gardening supplies won’t be needed immediately; label them a 3.
- Take photos! If you’re in a rental property, take photos of the property the day of move in BEFORE you move in the first box. Then, take photos again after you move out. This may save you damage fees, and may help you get your deposit back.
- Pack the toolbox last. When loading the moving van or truck, make sure to pack the toolbox last. It will be the first thing you unload off the truck and will make assembling all that furniture, hanging pictures, and opening boxes world simpler.
- Free Boxes. If you need good sturdy boxes, for free, check local liquor stores. They usually have plenty of extras, and you’re sure they can hold a good weight.
- Number each box. This one may sound like overkill, but truthfully, if you number each box, you’ll know how many should arrive, and if any are lost. If you know you’ve packed 45 boxes, and each are labeled, then if only 43 boxes arrive, you’ll know a few things got left behind.
- Label the sides of the boxes. Finally, label the sides of your boxes, not just the top. Then, when everything is stacked up like a Tetris board, you’ll still be able to see what the contents inside are.
Moving Tips to Save Your Sanity
There you have it! Moving tips to save your sanity. If you’re moving, you probably have a bit of decluttering or downsizing to do. We have a few resources to help you through that process, as well. Happy trails, best wishes, and don’t forget to forward your mail!
Resources about downsizing | Resources about organizing | Resources about moving and relocation.
Real Simple Moving Tips and Packing Advice | PODS Packing and Moving Tips from Pros | Moving Hacks
