Moving tips + how to stay organized
Here are the 10 BEST moving tips you need to stay organized during your next move. From the best way to pack hangers to tips for moving your kitchen.
We have officially moved out of our first home (insert sad face here). As excited as I am for our new adventure, I’m sure going to miss that place.
On the day we moved, the movers (AKA my husband’s friends) were able to get everything in the PODS container in less than two hours. They were all amazed at how organized everything was. I promise, I’m definitely not the most organized person in the world, but these tips for moving helped tremendously to arrange everything before the move.
So here are my 10 best moving tips. I’d love for you to share your moving tips in the comments as well.
10 Tips For Moving
1. Moving Checklist: Download your free printable moving checklist before you get started. This will help you stay organized during the weeks to come.
2. Make a moving plan: Before you even begin to pack, create a layout of your new house on paper. Write down each room you will be moving boxes into and then use those same names when labeling boxes. This will save everyone time.
3. Start early: As soon as you find out your moving, start going through closets and build your “garage sale pile” and “donate pile.”
4. Moving clothes on hangers: Use garbage bags to cover your clothes and keep them clean. They come in all different sizes and will help your clothes stay on the hanger. Simply put a hole in the bottom of the bag and pull the hangers through. Then tie a knot on the bottom. I owe this tip to my mother! Brilliant I tell ya!
5. Store items inside of large bowls and pots: I stored my spices in my crock pot. Always be thinking about how to utilize your space.
6. Wrap any breakables: Use packing paper to wrap your dishes and breakables. Line your breakable boxes with bubble wrap and towels as well. You can never have too much padding. Also use smaller boxes for breakables. This will help the movers and your things from breaking.
7. Packing plates: Place foam plates between your glass plates to protect them. This helps keep them from breaking and scratching against each other.
8. Label and condense: Only keep what you really need and use. I ended up going through all of my scrapbook paper and donated almost all of it. For the paper I did keep… I labeled it accordingly so that I would actually be able to find it when I un-pack. 🙂
9. When in doubt, tape it: It’s better to secure all of your boxes. I finally was able to use up some of my growing washi tape supply. 😉
10. Label, label label: Last but not least…make sure to label your boxes accordingly. Label boxes with the room they are going to and exactly what is inside them. Post it notes work great. Just secure them with tape. If there are fragile items in the box, be sure to mark it FRAGILE. This will save everyone a lot of time and stress during the move. It’s worth the extra couple of seconds to label it. I promise!
I hope these moving tips and tricks make life a little easier during your next move. You got this! Then when it’s time to unpack, use these 10 awesome unpacking tips to get started.
I wrap our valuable dishes in {clean} diapers for added cushion and protection. Works great!
Great idea Liz! Thanks for sharing.
Very useful tips…great post!
I love the plate packing tip! Pinned for my next move (coming up soon!).
I am currently packing to move so these tips are super helpful. One thing I’ve started doing is using up old Christmas or birthday wrapping paper to wrap my dishes, etc. Now I don’t have to figure out how to pack wrapping paper and I have plenty of paper for my breakables.
Ohh goodness, I just threw out my paper yesterday and packed all of my plates the day before. I am in reverse. I should have come here first! Great tip!
that is awesome!!!!!! We are moving in july, and I typically buy my wrapping paper on clearance or sale so I’m not really out anything. LOVE this tip!
In one of our moves, the moving company warned us against labeling boxes with anything of great value like computers, silver, jewelry, etc. they tend to get “lost”. And have an open first box. Towels, soap, sheets, coffee cup, toilet paper, anything you will need in the first few hours in your new home.
Great point, Karen. This happens more often than we want to believe.
To prevent this, we label our boxes with numbers (1a, 1b, 2a, 2b, etc. 1=master bedroom, 2=office, etc.) and keep a separate inventory sheet that is kept in our overnight bag for easy access.
Great idea! Thanks for sharing Colleen!
I posted a really good (I think), but fairly long response, but it didn’t show up. 🙁
probably awaiting moderation… patience!
All your hangers are the same colour!!!
lol! My daughter wanted all pink hangers. Stubborn two year old. 😉
I have all pink hangers too, and I’m 26! 😉
Love it! Pink is the best!
My hangers a colour coded; work, formal, social and home. And I change my clothes seasonably.
Great tips! I recently discovered an app called “Moving Day” (I have an iPhone, but I think it was available for Androids too). You can print QR codes to put on boxes and when you scan the code it shows you what’s in the box, etc (obviously you put that information in beforehand). Pretty handy!
This is an amazing tip! Definitely using this one 🙂 thanks!
We have different colors for all the closets… just so some of us don’t “steal” others hangers. Idea?
Great idea! Thanks for commenting Sandy!
Trying again…As a Military Wife, I have moved several times. Here are some of the tips I’ve picked up along the way.
-After putting the garbage bags over your clothes, run a long twist tie or piece of coated wire through the hangers, just under the hooks and twist together. This will keep any of the hangers from falling down into the bag.
-Use different sized ziplock bags to organize and corral your stuff…put forks, knives, spoons in their own bag, then back into the silverware tray. Socks in one, underwear in one, tights in one, that way you don’t have to sort them when putting them back in the drawer on the other side of the move. Put the “stuff” from the bins in your junk drawer in their own baggie, then put back in the bin. Use them for Legos, Polly Pockets, Barbie clothes, Hot Wheels…anything you might keep in a bin without a lid. Bag them, so they won’t get all mixed up and have to be sorted on the other side. They make the bags as big as 10 gallons.
-Pick a room and clear it out. Put all the stuff you’re taking in the car/on the plane with you in there and put a sign that says, “Do NOT Pack!” on the door. That way, something you might really need before the moving van gets unpacked doesn’t get packed away. This works for DIY and Moving Company moves.
These are all great ideas! I have not moved in the last 9 years so I am a little rusty. The one thing I remember is color coding my rooms and putting using color paper to code the boxes. So my room was blue, I put a piece of blue paper on the box with a short list of contents. The clothes inside the garbage bag is GENIUS!
Fantastic additional tips Terri!
ziplock bags are amazing for organizing and sorting. When I moved all jewellery , toiletries, toys , daughters art supplies ,games, shoes, boots, hats/summer and winter everything that could be put into a ziplock bags I did smaller bags were packed in baskets and larger bags were easier to just load and unload. And the beauty is once you get to the other side they can be reused.
Great idea, ziplock bags are amazing! Thanks for sharing!
Putting belts through the hangers works well, too! You can use them as a handle, also.
FANTASTIC idea!!!!
Purchase a different color duct tape for each of your rooms (or at least the kids rooms) and use to seal the boxes from that room. Now everything is color coordinated to go to the appropriate room and the kids seem to be more helpful in packing their stuff. You can even use a small piece on containers that don’t need sealing and label the contents directly onto the tape.
Strange as it sounds, I like/love preparing and packing for a move. Not only have we made several moves, but we have also helped our children’s families, other immediate family and friends with both short and long distance moves.
One of the first things I do, if possible, is make a graph paper drawing of each new room including measurements, window, door and outlet placement notations. I also scout nearby grocery, hardware, and restaurant locations. To help with meal provisions for 2-3 “settling in” days, I buy gift cards to use at those businesses to lessen food need stresses. If you require shelf and drawers to be lined, overbuy sufficient supplies. Any unopened packages can be returned later. Also know quickest route to Hospital in case an emergency arises.
I also use a duct tape system for packing for the move, letting each family member choose their own color/design. I use packing tape to seal the boxes, but I put a 4-5″ strip of duct tape on opposite corners of each box so the color shows on all four sides. At the new place I put a sheet of paper with a matching strip of duct tape on each door into a room so movers know in which room to put the color coded boxes. Untagged boxes go in new garage. Each family member also packs their own 3-days worth of clothes, shoes, bed & bath linens and toiletries to use until the rooms are put together. Those individuals’ boxes, box of paper and plastic goods, shelf/drawer liner, coffee maker, large pot, large skillet, basic cooking tools, toaster and waffle iron, S&P & sweetners, OTC meds and first aid kit in one box
Plus you will need a box of basic tools, trash bags, scissors, regular tape, and cleaning supplies. These and the individual 3-days boxes are last in the moving truck along with a vacuum and microwave, new broom and mop, refrigerator, freezer, washer/dryer, and all bedframes and mattresses. On arriving at new home first one in residence is the designated person to color tag rooms.Then the first thing set up is everyone’s bed, fridge, freezer, microwave, washer and dryer. If necessary, run vacuum and clean bathrooms and kitchen as soon as possible, then order in or go out to eat, return home for showers and a good night’s rest. Start fresh on day two to begin putting your rooms and new home together. If children are involved in the move, have a special prize Choice of first family outing to locsl tourist spot, movie, etc.) for the first person(s) to get their bedroom set up, most helpful with keeping trash stashed, etc. Have fun while being productive as you settle into your new home.
Wow! What an AMAZING comment Marilyn! Thank you so much for taking the time to write all of that out, I know it will be very helpful to people! Sounds like you are definitely an experienced mover! 🙂
WoW Marilyn, GREAT tips!!
Marilyn, this is going to help so much for my current move!! Thank you so much!!
And thank you Jamielyn for this awesome post! SO helpful. 😀
WOW!! MUCHAS GRACIAS POR ESOS INCREIBLES tips…
Sorry about the last comment that posted.
When I have moved I’ve used my dish towels to wrap my silverware and knives and secured them with a rubber band.
I moved three times in the last 18 months. All boxes were color coded with a large piece of colored duct tape. Then all I had to do was give the movers a cheat sheet – pink tape goes to the pink room, yellow tape goes to the basement, etc.
Great idea! Thanks for sharing! 🙂
I love this idea. I haven’t moved in 30 years I am starting early. Three times in 18 mos. Wow! You must have this down to a science .
I use dish towels and cloths to wrap dishes in who wants all that extra paper ? Also can use wash cloths and bath and hand towels depends on what dishes and glass stuff you are packing . Done this many times when moving .
Oh as for the trash bags on clothes I pull the bags up tie at the top and wrap a belt or something around the hangers to keep them together hence no holes made in the bags and can be reused for trash later … smiles .
We are moving in 5 weeks and have acquired boxes from our local grocery store. We also asked to purchase a roll of there label paper they use to print out labels for prepared food items. They are like giant stickers. It makes it easy to write what’s in the box. We also have saved a lot of the original boxes that stuff came in from the store, ( plates, wine glasses, mugs, etc… so we know that those FRAGILE items ship safely. We had advice from a friend that said the more boxes the better. They ship, stack, and are easy to pack. Thus saving space. We like to use news paper to cover, and tuck under our cloths for each of our drawers, especially when you have a moving company helping. Who wants their “you know what’s” in plan sight. This way you can set the drawers off to the side load the dressers in the truck and reinsert the drawers back into the dressers. The morning of the move having all the boxes stacked in one room will make it easier for you/helpers to move everything. Like above posts, if it’s color codes or labeling the boxes, it only matters in the place you’re moving into not from. So you can still organize by room but save the steps for the unload.
Wow, so many great tips! Thanks for sharing! Good luck with your move! xo
Another great tip is to number your boxes by room or however you wish and bounce it with an itemized inventory list. Great article.
Last time I moved I used colored duct tape to seal my boxes. Each color went to a different room. It worked out great. I also wrote with a sharpie on the tape for what was inside. I’ll be using it again soon!
Colored duct tape is the best! Thanks for sharing your idea Katie, there are so many helpful tricks and tips to remember!
I make two boxes that you open immediately upon arrival; one for bathroom and one for kitchen.
Thanks for commenting Robin! That is a great idea, there definitely are some things that you will need as soon as you move in!
Another one with bedding so you can set up beds, you’ll be tired after all that moving.
I saved all my boxes and paper and sold them on Craigslist after our move. I made sure I broke down the boxes and smoothed out the paper….I got a lot of money for them…Also, if you need some, look on Craigslist..some people give them away some want a nominal fee for them.
Love this!
When you run out of old Christmas wrapping paper for glasses, dishes, etc., go to your local newspaper and ask for an “end run”. When there isn’t enough paper left on the roll for another run, they have to remove it and they store them in a corner somewhere. There is usually enough on these to pack a couple of houses!! Make sure you get the full double page roll rather than the single though as it’s a bit small. Nice thing is there’s no newsprint on them to come off on your hands and other stuff. DON’T throw away the left over when you’re done packing. This makes great Christmas wrapping paper. Last year (after we moved) I wrapped all our Christmas gifts in paper leftover on an end run. Add twine for ribbon and glue a little pine cone on and you have perfect recycled gift wrap!
What a smart idea, thanks so much for the great tip!! 😀
I love this idea!
Where did you get the clear storage boxes for the scrapbook paper? I love them!
I think I got them from a store called Scrapbook Etc. in Mesa, Arizona!
Great tips! I’m in the process of moving myself and found this pretty helpful. For the first time I’m planning on hiring professional movers in Michigan and couldn’t be happier. I used to move everything myself, but with a husband and a daughter it might be a little more difficult!
Good luck with your move Carolyn! Having movers help you definitely relieves a lot of stress! 🙂
Use plastic wrap to cover silverware trays and small office items. Just remove the wrap and put it in your new drawer, everything is clean, in its place, and no need to pack or unpack small items. Also, use your drawers from dressers as they are. No need to unpack and repack clothes when they are already in their own “box”
That is such a great idea Selena, thanks for commenting! It definitely would save a lot of time not having to pack up each thing individually!
My husband and I are pretty experienced movers. Having moved him back and forth 4 years for college and twice once we were married. Here are a few tips we’ve picked up. We wrap our dvd shelves with saran wrap to easily transport movies/video games on the shelves, we also do this for our Yaffa Block shelves that we use for different things. I use all my kitchen towels, bathroom towels, and sometimes even clothes to wrap up FRAGILE items. There are a few specific things that I make sure only I move or touch (mostly my artwork, some of the things I inherited from my grandmother) on moving day. I have blankets sitting on my grandmother’s curio cabinet and make sure whoever moves it knows that they will be in deep doodoo if they scratch it or dent it and it has to be completely wrapped up in blankets. I also try to split up our book collection into tons of different bins so it isn’t a struggle to move those. We are in the process of organizing our first move with a one year old, so it will most definitely be different this time around.
Wow, you both sound like very experienced movers! Thanks for much for all of your suggestions! I love the idea about saran wrapping dvd shelves, what a great idea! 🙂
Pack a set of clean sheets, pillows and a blanket in dresser drawers. Once the dresser is moved into it’s new room the bedding is ready to make the bed. No boxes to search through when you’re tired and all you want to do is go to bed.
I love that idea! I agree, all you want to do when you move somewhere new is to sleep in your own bed! Thanks for sharing Deanna! 🙂
I love these tips! I’ve used the paper plate trick before and it worked like a charm. I also wrapped my glass cups in all of my hand towels and wash cloths. That worked out well when I needed to pull out the cups and wipe things down. 🙂
Wrapping cups in wash cloths is a great idea…wash cloths are things you will need really quickly to clean! Thanks for sharing!
Brown paper lunch bags are great for wrapping glasses, etc. and large paper grocery bags are good for larger items. I also got all my boxes from the post office…my friends son-in-law saved them for me. Shop at the right time (when they are putting out stock) and you can ask to take them. They would rather you take them than having to haul them to the baler.
Brown paper lunch bags are great for wrapping anything glass! Thanks for sharing all your ideas Sandy! 🙂
I use reusable shopping bags to pack books. they’re rectangular so the books can be packed efficiently, but small so you don’t overload them. It makes it really easy to carry a large amount of books.
Great idea Grace, thanks for sharing your tip! 🙂
We pack clothes in suitcases and books in rolling suitcases bc they weigh so much, also, I usually pack 3-4 days of clothes/ everyday items / toys/ movies in an overnight bag (esp good with kids) so we aren’t as stressed with getting things settled if the inevitable hiccups that happen with a move keep us from unpacking quickly
Great idea to pack 3-4 days of toys/movies/everyday items because the kiddos often want those right away! Thanks for sharing Danette!
I bought a box of address labels and then printed labels for each room, as I packed a box I would put the corresponding label on that box (I always seem to misplace my marker!) I also printed up a couple of sheets (or more) of FRAGILE labels in Red so I could also just stick them on a box deemed fragile! We used the plastic wrap (bought at Staples) to wrap around anything hard to tape. We wrapped our paintings in blankets then flattened large cardboard boxes to wrap around them using the plastic wrap to hole them together! Also used the plastic wrap to wrap the screws from tables, beds or other furniture to that piece of furniture. I put the screws in ziplock baggies first!! I also marked on some of the boxes to open first. I used elastics around cutlery than just put the whole cutlery tray in the Large ziplock bags. I kept aside all the bedding, which was all clean, so that the beds could be made ASAP. I carried that in the car with me as well as a box of paper towel, clean dishcloth & tea towel, toilet paper & towels for the bathroom. Had another small box with the coffee pot & coffee, a couple of clean mugs and a bag of cookies! The more organized you are the easier the move will go!!
SO many great tips Alison, thanks for taking the time to share them all with us. I’m sure they will definitely come in handy to a lot of people moving in the future! 🙂
Great Ideas – I will use the labels idea as we are moving cross country soon! too bad some of my stuff has already been moved, (my husband is already there) but the rest will be organized!!
I always seem to find tips after I move too! But these tips really saved us the last time we moved! 🙂
I don’t believe I saw this tip in the comments thus far, but the best way to pack your dishes is VERTICALLY! If you stack them it will put too much weight on the lower dishes putting them at risk. Vertically, also allows you to pack more items on top like cups and bowls. I love all the suggestions for what to wrap your dishes in!
I hadn’t heard that tip before! Thanks so much for commenting! 🙂
When we moved cross country; we utilized our linens and the kids stuffed toys as packing materials . Instead of using boxes for our china, and other flatish breakables, we lined the dresser drawers with sheets and used them. On moving day, we simply took the drawers out, put the dressers in the van and then put the drawers back in. It also kept us from trying to figure out what boxes held the dishes 🙂
Great idea, thanks for sharing it! 🙂
We had a move a few years ago, that was precipitated by the fact that our home had been hit by a tornado. WHAT A MESS. And then I broke my leg, so friends and family were rummaging through the debris and ‘packing’ for us. ONE thing that helped, which I plan to use in any future move, was that we thought at first that we were going to live in one place temporarily, for a few months, and then move someplace more permanent. So we always had two boxes available for packing into. One for ‘need right away’ and one for ‘storage’ – – Then, when we ended up getting a long term place right away (less than a week later!!! God is so GOOD!) we were able to focus our efforts on those ‘use right away’ boxes, and make the new place feel like home VERY quickly, and then take a more relaxed pace, getting more settled in as we gradually unpacked the ‘storage’ boxes.
That is such a great idea for people that are going to be in a rental home or moving again soon! Thanks for leaving a comment!
I have a ton of framed art, and I have found the most perfect boxes for shipping/moving them in the frames: bike boxes! Heavy duty, and almost always the right size for the job! I usually go to a home supply store and buy a few sheets of insulation styrofoam to sandwich between them. Plus you can use them to insulate your home later! I tend to accumulate a bunch of magazines as well, and I use them for packing and donate the left overs to the local nursing homes. Great suggestions guys! Hope theses help as well!
Great ideas Taia! I’ve never thought of using bike boxes…I will definitely keep that in mind! Thanks for your comment! 🙂
You can also use dish towels for layering in a fan fold for separating you dishes, bowls, cups, etc. Same for breakables in the bathroom (Washclothes, etc), and in the bedrooms, use your T-shirts, place small hard items, or small breakables, jewelry, etc, rolled up inside of socks, so save space and protect the items. Curtains and bedspreads are great to wrap painting (wrapped or not wrapped in styrofoam) for extra padding. You can then stabilize and add an air barrier by putting your item in a large plastic bag, and taping up before placing in the box for transporting to your new place.
Amazing ideas! Thanks for sharing!!
We’ve moved 3 times in 5 years. All dity moves. First with our cars and UHaul trailer, second with a semi trailer (the company drove it to our new location), obviously we didn’t fill up, we sold back the space left over. Most recent was with Pods. Everytime was packing at your own rate. The semi trailer and pods they can store for you until you find somewhere to live. Of course the pods you pay storage for.
You can get boxes for moving from thrift stores (from donations that are given), groceries, Walmart (they sell boxes for cheap, or may even just give you some, Criagslist (sometimes free or for cheaper then a moving company would sell for).
You can use so many things to wrap breakables with. Clothes, towels, blankets (throws and quilts) , sheets, wrapping paper, tissue paper ($1 at dollar tree).
Buy lots of packing tape, you can use later what wasn’t use to move, for shipping boxes. Buy a dolly if you move a lot or you can rent one from moving company. Take all your important items with you in your car for the move. If you can play Tetris then you can pack!
Wonderful ideas Maddie! I love how you said if you can play Tetris then you can pack…SO true!!
Thank You All Very Much For All Of The Wonderful tips. My Husband And I Are Planning Our First Move In About 25 Years! I Have Been Marking
Boxes With The Room Name, The Box #, And
General Contents, As Long As They aren’t Valuable! I
Keep A Separate List Of The Same, With Detailed
Contents. I Have My Good China And My Great Grandmothers China Wrapped In Slick Newspaper,
So There Is No Ink Transfer. I Then Store It In A
Plastic Trash Can, Never Used For Trash! I Am The Only One Who Moves That Can! When We Get Settled In Our New Home, I Have New Storage Boxes For All Of The China.
Great ideas Jeanne! Good luck with your move. 🙂
If you have a lot of books (moved in and out of dorms in college) put them in a suitcase that has wheels on it!
Books wrapped in Saran Wrap. This makes them easier to move and they fit in all the small spaces in the truck. Also Rubbermaid totes are great.
I’ve moved several times as well. I’ve wrapped my breakables (dishes, vases, etc.) in clean clothes (t-shirts, tanks, towels, etc.). Double duty! Also, anything soft goes into Hefty garbage bags to squeeze and tuck between furniture in the moving van.
We just put our house for sale so I was thrilled to find this on Pinterest! LOVE the foam plate tip for packing dishes! Brilliant!
I’m glad you found this before your move! These tips saved me in our last move! 🙂
The garbage bag trick is great. I’ve used it several times, but if you turn the bag the other way you can use the ties around the hangers so they don’t fall down into the bags and untie them when you are at your new home. this way there are no holes in the bags and they can be reused, so no waste!
Great idea Linda! We usually save them for the next move, but I love the idea of flipping them around so you can reuse the garbage bags!
Take a picture on your phone of TV and computer hookups so you know what gets plugged back in where. Use toilet paper rolls for cords and chargers and pack in “Unpack first box” with all remotes. Keep phone book handy. Don’t pack hammer, screwdriver and whatever tools are needed for disassembly and assembly of beds, mirrors, etc. until the last minute and make available at new home right away. If you are having phone, cable and computer installation done make sure you have at least one plug in phone, all cables and cords including gaming systems and DVD player, surround sound or whatever systems you have that work together, with the remotes. (Learn from my mistakes.) If using a moving company make sure the truck is empty before making payment. I have moved many times and items seem to be missing almost every time.
Wonderful ideas Teresa! I have never thought of taking a picture of the TV and computer hookups, but that is so smart! Thanks for commenting!
I get boxes from the liquor store with the dividers in them, they are perfect for packing & moving your glassware, vases, liquor/wine or anything tall & thin.
Great idea Wendy! And i’m sure the boxes are very durable too! 🙂
When we moved each room of boxes was sealed with a different color of tape. Everyone helping move boxes knows where every box goes. No questions. No pressure.
I love that idea…it would make moving SO much easier when it is organized that way! Thanks for sharing!
Excellent use of Phone book paper as wrapping paper instead of throwing into the trash.
Frequent mover here – love reading all the ideas that work for others. I buy bulk cheap stickers, and give my kids the job of decorating all of the boxes that are their toys. Keeps them busy and involved, and is a quick visual cue when we arrive as to which boxes to open first so they will have something to play with.
What a great way to get the kids involved Amy! Thanks for commenting!
A little long, sorry. If you have growing kids, I have a couple of tips from our past moves.
1. Have them try on and separate out any clothes they have recently outgrown, or are close to outgrowing. Pack small items from their rooms in the excess space in their drawers. Then use the outgrown clothes for packing fragile items from their rooms in boxes or bins. Once you arrive and unpack, the outgrown items can be sold to resale shops or donated for additional tax write offs if you itemize.
2. Take sleeping bags for the first night for the family, just in case you arrive late and don’t feel like having to unpack furniture after a long drive. Then let the kids “camp” in their empty rooms the first night. Also air mattresses for adults with sheet and pillows and the air pump.
3. Pack pillows for the first night in Space Bags, so they fit in the Use Immediately boxes that travel in the family car. Place a dryer sheet in each bag, and put the (clean) bed linens for the new beds inside the pillowcases, that you have on the pillows before putting them in the bags.
4. Keep a STOCKED First Aid kit handy, with lots of band aids, pain relievers and Benadryl in the front seat of the family vehicle. A single Benadryl tablet can also be given to pets who are having allergies or anxiety on the trip to the new home.
5. If you are a coffee addict like me, purchase premeasured coffee packets and pack them inside the coffee pot’s water well. Then pack the pot in the use immediately box with the T.P. and hand soap.
6. Five words: juice boxes and sports drinks! Quick energy and hydration for everybody!
Great tips Anita! Thank you for taking the time to write all of this out! 🙂
If anyone is moving, you should check out Updater (www.updater.com)! It provides change of location services all in one place, from filling out your change of address forms to notifying the businesses that you care most about — minus all the headaches and paperwork of moving. I’d suggest it to anyone, especially since it’s free and only takes 5 minutes of your time.
I tie garbage bags at the top using the ties around the top of the hangers. That way you can untie and reuse them. Uhaul sells foam sheets waaay cheaper than foam plates. Uhaul also has a similar Pods system at less than half the cost!
Great tips Heather! Thanks! 🙂
Thanks so much for the tips and the checklist! I just printed out your checklist and love it! Of course, it always helps to have pretty fun printables to make non-fun jobs like this more exciting! We are planning on using PODS as well. We moved to a new area this time last year and we had to rent something in a pinch so I knew we would not be staying in this house for more than a year . For this reason, I saved all of my boxes and since I had a ton of storage space here I even left them taped up to save time for this move just one year late. It has helped cut my packing time a lot so far! Thanks again Jamielyn and I LOVE your site!
I’m glad this was helpful to you Sonya! Thanks for your comment. 🙂
I just found your blog and LOVE your tips. I actually just moved myself and I 100% agree with the way you move clothes (keeping them on hangers). It makes life so much easier on both ends of the move. Thanks for the tips!
xo Julianne
reallifesurreallife.blogspot.com
Thank you Julianne! My mom taught me that trick years ago and it has definitely come in handy as we’ve moved a few times! Hope your move went well! 🙂
It is worth the money to buy boxes and packing tape. Then the majority of the boxes are the same size and stack into the truck better.
We’ve moved 5 times in 5 years for job transfers, and will be moving again in the next 8 months. I highly suggest putting together a notebook or binder that has all your important info in it. For example:
-timeline or checklist (when to change addresses for subscriptions, when to turn off utilities, etc.)
-info from the old residence (especially for cancelling services-get confirmation #s)
-info for new residence (turning on services)
-contact info and records (doctor, dentist, vet, schools)
-if you’re renting, a copy of the contracts for the old and new locations
-a list of things to get done once you’ve moved-change drivers’ license, car tags, etc–and any important documents needed for that
Awesome tips Shannon! Thanks for taking time to write them all down! 🙂
Also, if you’re using a professional moving company, read your contract and ask questions! For example, some of the companies will also arrange for the removal of your packing boxes and paper a week after the move. Most will not move cleaning supplies, paint, food products, etc. I do a big clean-out a week before the move and see if my friends want any of it (I always hoard baking supplies-lol). Some of the pantry foods can be donated to a food pantry, cleaning items to a local shelter, some paints and such can go to Habitat for Humanity Restore, extra blankets and old pillows to a local animal shelter, etc.
Moving from dorm to dorm through college I used the garbage bag trick for my hanging clothes. However, I soon found that zip tying the hanger hooks together makes it 10x easier when moving the pile and keeping everything together.
Great idea Morley! I love zip ties, they are so useful!
The best thing I did in our last move, aside from labeling all of the boxes clearly, was to label the new house’s kitchen cabinets when we got there using painters tape with what I wanted in each cabinet and on each shelf. It took maybe 5 minutes? That way, the family that helped me unpack could unpack the kitchen while I did other organizing in the house without them asking me when they opened each box where I wanted everything. It was so efficient and I will definitely do it again in a heartbeat for our upcoming move. My kitchen is one place I thrive on organization as my kitchens have all been small and I love to cook with friends. The kitchen was completely unpacked by the end of move day one! Plus, I didn’t have to guess where my family put things in the weeks that followed our move. I even left the labels for a few days until my husband got acclimated to the new kitchen. 🙂 Trust me, do it, you won’t regret it.
That is an awesome idea Lindsey! I will definitely use that next time I move too! Thanks for sharing!
My boyfriend and I have done a few local moves from apartment to apartment in the past few years and the best tip I have is to overlap your places by a week. We move about one room a day, with the day being: load car with stuff, work, drop off at new place during lunch, work, stop by old place before dinner, unload at new place, eat dinner, unpack stuff dropped off that day, go to sleep at old place. Then late in the week we schedule movers for big items and only big items – for example, they move a (now empty) entertainment center and all the contents are waiting at the new place. Saves time unpacking and money on time based movers, since they are only loading items and not doing any packing or small item management. Also, for moving items yourself, use any open space available and reuse boxes, totes, suitcases, etc. Given that you’ve unpacked each night, reusing is simple.
When I was packing just recently, I made a list of everything that was in every box. It makes it a whole lot easier when you get to the other side and are looking for a specific item, to find what you are looking for. I got the tip from my cousin who was buying a house around the same time that we were.
Awesome tip Sherra! That would definitely make it easier so you don’t spend time opening up each box!
Cleaning supplies, paper towels, clorox wipes, a few rags go in the bucket and in the car. That way the bucket can be set in the pantry or laundry tub and you can get to it upon arrival in your new home.
Hammer, pliers, flat head & phillips screwdriver, scissors are packed in a make up kit box or small case. Tape, duct tape, and magic marker too. These will be needed in some capacity while you are going through the job of setting up a house.
Great ideas! Thanks Kitty. 🙂
I don’t move often, but have used boot boxes for the move. They are small enough for one drawer at a time. Just open box, dump drawer, close and label boxes. Then easy to just put the items in the new place. These work especially well for kitchen drawers and bathroom drawers too.
Also when moving clothes I gat a couple of large boxes, bag clothing, then use my broom or mop for a hanging rod in the box. This works great. Just make a hole in box for the broom and slide it through and hang clothes.
Thanks for the ideas Kris! 🙂
Use the language of colored/patterned tape & assign each room a color/pattern. Then add bright yellow tape on each of the fragile boxes. Now you have obvious visual instructions for how to handle & where each box goes that even the most rushed or youngest helpers can QUICKLY read.
Assign a color to “open first”, “take to storage”, even “sort & purge” if necessary after the move.
To be more economical, seal all boxes with clear tape, then apply a 6″ piece of colored tape centered on the top edge so half is on top, half is down the side & can be seen when boxes are stacked. This made the loading/unloading process so much faster! & no one could say “I didn’t know it was fragile”
Great ideas! Thank you for sharing Melva!
I know I’m a little late to the party, but I use coffee filters between plates and bowls when packing them in stacks. They’re next to free and don’t leave print or designs on my dishes. Next I wrap the stack in fresh newsprint- so I know I don’t have to wash them again before using.
Also, if you have items in drawers of a movable piece, like a nightstand, I’ll put something small like a hand towel or folded pillowcase over the contents, then Saran Wrap the drawer. Replace the drawer and then Saran Wrap the whole nightstand. It keeps the drawers in place and prevents the pulls from getting dinged or shattered. Tape the external end of the plastic wrap just in case!
Call a restaurant or talk to a bartender- we receive wine in cases with dividers- great for transporting glassware, bottles of oil/vinegar, or Christmas ornaments!
As someone who has done a few cross-country moves, it SUCKS to have items other than luggage, pets, and people in your vehicle. Bite the bullet and get the right box for your TV, mirrors, etc. Don’t be the guy carrying in a TV into a hotel room for overnight “just in case” someone figures out what the 42″ monstrosity with a power cord is in your backseat covered with your grandmother’s quilt. Chances are it is safer in the truck. The rule: the truck is for things. The car is for people. This can run like a vacation or you can turn your journey packed inside a cargo-hold.
Lastly, don’t save pennies on a cheap lock- get the big, heavy round one that bolt cutters don’t work well on. You’ll sleep better. And blank newsprint is next to free in comparison to replacing valuables and “memory” pieces. Use it liberally, and the kids can use it to draw on if you have leftovers. Or get crafty and use it/stamp it for wrapping paper later on. Good luck, everyone!
Love all these tips Elizabeth! Thank you so much for taking time to share them with us! 🙂
I started the same way packing clothes as you did, but realized I wouldn’t ruin the bags if I put the “drawstring” up around the hanger!
That is one of my favorite moving tips! Thanks for stopping by Cheryl. 🙂
My best tip is to use reusable grocery bags for items you will likely need right away and for loose items that you would normally not know what to do with (batteries, remotes, chargers, etc). Costco has giant bags that are AMAZING for moving large lightweight items.
Thanks for the tips! 🙂
You skipped number 9.
We are preparing for a move in about 6 weeks and when I purged my magazines (I had a TON), I saved them for packing material. It isn’t hard to rip out a couple sheets at a time, as you need them, but I ended up borrowing our church’s paper cutter and cutting off the spines so that I now have a tote full of paper to crumple and use around my dishes. With our other moves, I always packed all of our linens with the dishes and breakables to protect them and that worked great, but this time, we are moving in temporarily with my in-laws and that just wouldn’t work.
Great tips! Using magazine, newspaper, and paper lunch bags saved my glass dishes!
Wow-totally awesome and helpful info! Would like to add: If a moving company is packing you out make sure everything that can be put into a box IS, and is itemized. We fell for the “advice” that they use *our* belongings to pad the outside of the boxes and help stop things from shifting..and “amazingly” lost our belongings. (Quick example: a toolbox filled with brand new expensive tools. The unboxed toolbox arrived completely empty of its unlisted contents.) Make sure loose couch/chair cushions are *boxed*, if not plastic-wrapped to its furniture. We’ve often received other people’s cushions in our shipments. If shipping your (empty, obviously) pet’s crate and it comes apart, zip tie the pieces together (another gift from another move). Our last move was a DIY and I used the color coded idea above, but also numbered the *boxes* and put the corresponding list of contents in a *binder* so anyone helping/visiting/nearby only saw a numbered box and wasn’t privy to the contents-valuable, or otherwise. Lastly, the ***very*** first thing we always do upon arrival of a new home is set up/make the beds. That way, no matter what, we have a soft place to land as exhaustion hits.. 😉 Thanks so much-Blessings!
Great great tips! Thank you!
Your posts has a lot of good resources thank you for sharing. Especially like putting all your spices in the crock-pot and to remember to label your boxes. For more moving resources try looking up Road Runner Moving.
Instead using the bags that way. Start from bottom up, tie with the drawstring at the hangers, still useable at other end of move.
Pet Owners:
We always made sure to have animals in a separate room, with the door mark— do not open— never lost a pet in a move. Also, please put your phone number on their collars, microchips are great to, update, update update!!!
I read not to label your boxes with what is in them specifically but to instead number them and keep a master list by box number of what’s inside. That way 1. You know if you have all of your boxes. 2. If you hire movers they don’t know every item in your boxes and one is less likely to go missing. Color coding by room is a must though. We plan to assign each room a color and buy tape or have our 6 year old mark all of the boxes for each room a specific color.
I hadn’t thought of that before! Great idea Ashley! 🙂
This is not so much for the packing itself, but is connected. We always put a small piece of blue painter’s tape on the doors of cabinets or rooms as they are emptied to show that they are indeed done. We always to a double check regardless, as there are those mysterious things that always seem to end up back int them. Sometimes. The Painter’s tape is also nice for securing the lids on jars and bottles, even the pull tabs on things like the round salt boxes.
Great idea! Thanks for sharing. 🙂
We moved my parents’ home furnishings when we brought my Mom to our city to live. Being rather inexperienced, I fear that we lost something very sentimental (& even valuable) in the process. We were having things taken to storage, and to our home, both. As the professional movers finalized the emptying of the truck, I looked in it to check for anything remaining, and it was indeed empty, but there was an area up front that was curtained off. I asked what was behind it, and was told, “Oh, that’s our personal stuff.” Since that time, it appears that we MIGHT be missing a vintage piece: a wonderful large section of card file drawers (similar to those in libraries) that my Dad used in his work/study area. It is possible that it still may be in a far back corner of the storage area, but we aren’t physically able to move enough items to check right now/need help to do so.
This reinforces the worries about the possibility of your possessions disappearing during the “ride” from your old home to your new, so be sure to check the entire truck before paying ~ or letting them leave! I wish I had seen even a few of these hints when preparing for that event …
… These are AWESOME ideas! I am blown away by everyone’s innovative, and creative thinking! Once we get ready for our own move, I will be PREPARED,
THANKS!
Mary — thank you for your suggestion of the Moving Day app. We are just getting started with our first move in 20 years. We will be moving into a temporary place while we get some finances straightened out, so most of our belongings will end up in storage. This moving app will be awesome just in case we have to go retrieve anything from storage in the interim time period. Thanks again for the suggestion – I just installed it on my phone!
I wrap my dishes in dish towels or dish clothes Then you wont have the paper waste when you are done moving.
i number my boxes and keep separate inventory pages. Also, never ever pack plates flat in a box. Always pack them standing up. When you wrap glasses, make sure you stuff the with paper too. Not sure why but they won’t break that way.
Great tips, thanks for sharing! 🙂
One thing that worked well for us was color-coding the tape. We bought different colors of duct tape for different rooms (for example, green for the kitchen, blue for the bathroom) – it was a quick visual for where the boxes went. Before we unloaded the truck, I stuck a piece of the colored tape on a prominently visible place in the correct room. It works even when you have a lot of people helping. I still labeled everything as you suggested, but mostly for my own sanity while unpacking. Also, we used a HUGE thick black marker for writing FRAGILE – people don’t always take the time to read when there’s a big job to be done. Make the labeling unmistakable.
Also, ask your girlfriends to help you pack in places where you tend to store clutter. You aren’t going to have the brain cells to be judicious about cleaning out your medicine cabinet, but a ruthless girlfriend will, and she is a gift. Nobody needs to pack a half-empty bottle of expired meds, but my own pack-rat nature tends to come in when I am under stress. I’ve learned to give the throw-it-away job to a discerning friend because at some point I will stop being able to make every single decision myself.
Thanks for your tips! 🙂
It is really important to organize your move really carefully! Having a to-do list is very necessary.. Once you start packing your things you realize how many things you have! The post is really helpful and the printable are just great! Thanks for sharing! Greets, London Removals Ltd.
Awesome
Being organized when moving house is a really great idea! I love your tips! It is a very cool idea to put such detailed labels on the boxes ! Thank you! 🙂
Your tips is really good and very useful.A well-structured home is much easier to pack than one that is a disorganized mess. You can facilitate packing by making sure your belongings are prepared for the move. As much as possible, place the items that are to be packed by your moving service together in one area of your home.Wardrobe boxes make excellent alternatives to ordinary moving boxes for bulky clothing that you hang up. You can borrow or rent wardrobe boxes from your furniture mover to accommodate winter coats, sweaters, work clothes, suits, etc. Wardrobe boxes are fast and easy to pack and you can handle this packing on your own.
Boxes: if you’re by a Target go there right when they open, grab an empty cart and just walk in and find the morning stock crews amongst the aisles. They’ll have the boxes they’ve emptied broken down in carts already, ask them if you could swap carts then you can go fill your car up with the boxes you want. I always walked the cart back in to the same people or the stock room area because there’s usually some scrap in there and it’s the least you could do. The BEST area to go is the plastic storage bins aisles. Those sterlite draw boxes are great!
Great idea! Thanks Kate! 🙂
Thank you so much for sharing these ideas here! I am going to move to another town because of my job and I should start packing my stuff. Honestly, I had no idea how to start with the packing. I should definitely make a checklist. Thanks again!
Glad this was helpful to you! Good luck with your move! 🙂
I have three children and we are going to move to another house, a bigger one. Now, my husband works a lot and I can’t take care of the children and to pack the house. Thank you a lot for the tips because I really need some organization. You really helped me!
Good luck with your move! Glad you could use these tips!
I learned the hard way not to use boxes from food stores. Many years ago I picked up all my boxes at the local supermarket. After having lived in my home for 11 years without any infestations, as I started packing, I began to find roaches in my bathroom and kitchen. I was at a loss as to where they came from – now that I was moving, of all times. My brother-in-law was a butcher at a local supermarket. He told me the food warehouses at every supermarket he had worked at had a bad roach infestation problem. He said it was inherent with the industry. Most likely the boxes I had picked up contained eggs they had laid. Needless to say, I have never used food storage boxes again. I find the best free boxes are from liquor stores – no infestations, and super sturdy to boot.
Oh my goodness, thank you for your tip! That is definitely one I will pass along to other people!!
This site is simply fantastic! I wish I could write like you. Thanks for sharing all the tips and these amazing pictures. You’re very helpful to everyone.
Thank you for your nice comment Nancy! 🙂
When the Navy was packing and moving us every 2 years or so in the seventies, I learned to put everything I DIDN’T want them to pack into the bathtub. Once, the packers neatly packed up the trash. Another time, they forgot the drawer below the oven, costing me loads of lids.
It’s good to have a folder and make a timeline as well as a budget, and checklist of things you’ll need to do like a change of address. One thing I learned the hard way was to make an overnight bag with some changes of clothes and bathroom needs, so if there are any complications I don’t need to worry about opening a big box/bag and fishing for outfits. This is great advice, thank you.
Very helpful tips, thank you! I totally agree with the idea of using the colorful tapes, as a craft person my collection of tapes has outgrown my actual needs look ago, thanks for the idea! 😉
Something I did was clear out old bills from the filing cabinet and put them into the shredder. I then used the shredded paper to protect my decorative items. This worked quite well and I didn’t have to spend a fortune on bubble wrap.
Tip to add which realy helps packing and unpacking an cleaning after moving. Store away al smal breakeables in socks. From glasware to figureens. They stay clean and protected rapped in and surrounded by socks. (and a good way to sort trought all the socks in your house.
another tip…. Get a roll of masking tape and as you put items in boxes for garage sale you can price them then you don’t have to handle them again except to put them out on tables
I am very thankful to you that you have post such a great article. I have been following your blog for last couple of months. This article helped me a lot and one sholud keep these helpful tips in mind for an easier and stress free move.
My daughter told me that you can go to your local newspaper and ask them for end of the rolls of newsprint that they didn’t use. Some places give it to you for nothing and some charge a small amount. The good thing is there is nothing printed on it, so your items don’t end up with newspaper ink on them when you unpack them 🙂
I love all your tips, especially the plate packing. This is very helpful. Thanks.
This is a very helpful tip on how to pack things properly if you’re moving. I love how you pack those plate. Love the idea thanks.
Really useful post! I’m moving in two months and needed some good ideas for packing my items. The good thing for my move is that I started decluttering two months earlier and lots of unnecessary stuff found it’s new owner or was thrown away. My stuff now is not too much and transportation will be the easiest part. Your tips are great and I’ll definitely use them while packing and thank you so much about the checklist, I couldn’t find better. Greets!
This organizing ideas is just so awesome! It’s very useful and simple. Thank you for your tips! http://www.bigappleorganizers.com
very nice tips you shared thank you for this. i am gonna move within a week so these tips will help me in this regard.
We’ve moved nine times with the military, and wish we thought of an individual toy space allowance sooner, this past move we gave our kids each a tote to fill with the toys they want to keep. The rest we sell or donate. We pack books, blankets, and clothes separately, so the tote is just for their toys and personal items like fancy alarm clocks, legos, and hat collections. I enjoyed watching my children share their tote space and barter with each other for toys they want to sell or donate.
To pack glasses/vases/cups/food items in glass jars/etc: go to liquor store and get boxes with dividers. Slide an item into each compartment (no need for wrapping individually if you get the right sized compartments. Different alcohol bottles have different sizes so it works. We helped friends move that had a nutcracker collection – so much easier!!!!!
Maybe this was already stated (I couldn’t possibly read all the comments), but…
To make the clothing transfer even faster, PLEASE DON’T: poke a hole in the top of the bag, take the clothes off the rack, feed the hangers through the hole, put it back on the rack, pull the bag down, stuff the longer stuff upwards inside the upside down bag, and then tie the bottom against the gravity weight of the clothes…just don’t. 🙂
Simply turn the trash bag over entirely and insert the clothing from the bottom in the regular bag opening, and tie the handles around the hangers on top. No removal, no extra steps. It’s much quicker and just as effective.
From someone who has moved from Bozeman to Atlanta to Cleveland I can say packing for delicate chinaware was the biggest challenge me me. Placing foam pads between plates definitely helps. The idea is to make sure hard and brittle things do not come into contact with each other during transit.
Definitely going to do this.. thanks!
I’ve been moving from one place to another more than enough times. I never actually moved a very long distance. This winter me and my family will probably have to move overseas and this is why I searched the internet for some help. This post helps a lot and I will definitely bookmark it and come back later when I need it the most. Thanks for caring enough to share it with all of us.
I’m so glad this post was helpful for you! It definitely helps to stay organized when moving. Good luck with your move!!
Really Nice tips! I’m relocating soon and just started packing households. I’ve purged more than half of what I owned and now it seems much easier. Your tips and ideas are very helpful for me, some are quite smart. Thank you for these tips!
Glad some of our tips could help you! Good luck with your move!
These are all great tips – Try to organize and purge what you can in the months leading up to your move too. That’s the single best way to cut costs and get rid of stuff you don’t / won’t need!
Thanks for the tips, I love them! 🙂
These are very elegant looking designs. Can they also be custom printed with customer’s logo to give extra appeal?
Thank you. Unfortunately there is only one design of these! 🙂
Great tips! I especially like the tip regarding the foam plates between your dishes. That’s an inexpensive way to protect dishes.
Thank you for sharing an information which will help me to relocate. I am moving to another city soon so it will be very useful to me. Here you describe everything in a way that it makes moving hassle free. I and My wife, We both are working so we are not able to give extra time for packing, you gave excellent tips. Your idea to label moving boxes and packing in different boxes are great.
I’m glad these tips were helpful for you! Good luck with your move!
Moving packing is very stressful work. Safety packing is important because if the goods accidentally fall by hand, then the goods are not damaged. I am reading your blog and i get the right information here. I am happy with your blog. Thank you so much.
Great blog. All of these are great tips! Thank you so much!
We put our remote controls for the tv’s in a ziplock bag and duct tape them right to the back of the corresponding television. No more lost remotes!! We do the same thing with furniture hardware, screws, etc. … ziplock bag and duct tape to the bottom of the furniture. This is especially good for bunk beds.
Such a great idea! I’ve done that with screws and hardware, but I hadn’t thought about remotes or cords. So smart!!
Some good and effective packaging and moving tips include:
Ordering a lot of boxes in various sizes, I would recommend to order fewer big boxes and more small boxes in order to pack your stuff smartly.
Instead of using newspaper and magazine select special paper packaging, as this prevent ink stains which usually sticks over the objects during long distance moving.
Do not forget to label your boxes so you must know which objects are present in the box and to which room those items belong to.
Thanks for all the tips!
Very helpful. Love the foam plate tips