The prospect of moving into a new home is exciting, but packing everything you own into boxes probably isn't.It is possible to get the job done efficiently with a little organization and lots of boxes.Extra care and protection will be needed for valuable and fragile objects.
Step 1: Depending on your home's floor area, you can get various sizes of moving boxes.
For the best results, pick new or lightly-used moving boxes with a sturdy double-wall construction and no rip, tears, or stains.New moving boxes can be purchased from a home improvement retailer, moving company, or office supply store.Use your current home's floor area to figure out how many moving boxes you need.If the area of your home is 700–900 sq ft, you should estimate 15 small boxes, 13 medium boxes and 6 large boxes.If the area is between 900 and 1200 sq ft, estimate 21 small, 19 medium, 10 large, and 6 extra large boxes.There are 30 small, 29 medium, 15 large, and 9 extra large boxes.If the area is 1,600–1,800 sq ft (150–170 m), estimate 35 small, 33 medium, 19 large and 11 extra large boxes.If you use flimsy or damaged boxes, don't risk having your stuff fall out.A moving company may refuse to load boxes that are damaged.
Step 2: Important stuff to pack in a box.
When you arrive at your new place, you will want to collect items from around your home.You might have a few days' worth of towels, clothes, and cleaning supplies in your pile.This box is a type of bag.When you arrive, make it one of the last boxes you put on the truck so you can easily find it.
Step 3: Your stuff should be divided into fragile and non-fragile groupings.
Some people prefer to work room-by-room while others prefer a single sorting and packing center.Breakable items should be separated from non-fragile items so they can be packed into boxes.If you have not already gone through your stuff and gotten rid of things you don't want to pack up, now is the time to do so.Before you start packing, get rid of as much stuff as possible.
Step 4: Group similar fragile and non-fragile items together.
Group your books, stereo equipment, office supplies, and so on, in either a room-by-room or a central location.Group things together based on a combination of size, shape, sturdiness, function, and existing or intended location.
Step 5: Smaller boxes should be used for heavier objects.
Don't fill a large or extra large moving box with books.The boxes are too heavy to be moved.Put your small and medium boxes aside for heavier items and your large and extra large boxes for lighter stuff.New, undamaged moving boxes are rated to hold at least 50 lbs, but it is best to aim for 30 lbs or less per box.
Step 6: You can fill the boxes by unfold and tape them.
Push in on the creased sides of the folded box to unfold it into a square.The bottom flaps should be up if the box is upside-down.The larger flaps should be folded over the smaller ones.To stretch a piece of packing tape along the crease where the flaps meet, run a strip of tape up the sides of the box.2 more strips of tape should be added over the first strip and crease so that one is to the right and the other is left.Make sure it is firmly in place by pressing the tape down.There should be 3 strips of packing tape.If you want to add even more tape, you can either run 2 strips along the side seams of the box, creating an H-shape, or run two strips from corner to corner in an X pattern.
Step 7: For the best results, keep the weight of each box at or below 30 lbs.
The boxes can hold up to 50 lbs.The heavier a box is, the more likely it is to be dropped.Before you start packing, make sure to estimate the weight of the things you want to put in the box.The best way to handle heavy boxes is not to go over 30 lbs per box.
Step 8: Pack clothing, linens, and bedding in boxes.
If you leave your clothes and linens in their drawers, you could end up packing them in suitcases or duffel bags.Sort everything that is going into moving boxes by function, then either fold or roll it up.If there are items you don't want all wrinkled, you should put them in the designated boxes.To pack items in boxes, buy wardrobe boxes that have hanging rails.There are moving boxes for sale.It is best to use functional padding like packing peanuts, bubble wrap, and crumpled packing paper instead of using clothing and linens as padding material.Line the insides of the boxes with packing paper, butcher paper or craft paper if you are worried about your clothes getting dirty.If you have to reduce the amount of space taken up, put pillows in bags.
Step 9: There are clear zip-close bags for small and non-fragile stuff.
Put your office supplies in labeled bags that you can pack in the box, instead of just tossing the contents of your desk drawer into a moving box.You should do the same with cords, small tools, and other small items.It is okay to have a bag or two dedicated to small things that don't fit in any category.labeling the bags is optional since you can see what is in them.It may help you remember what happened.If you have screws and bolts for mounting your computer monitor, label the bag "monitor hardware."
It may seem like a lot of work, but it is the best way to protect your items from damage.Wrap each item with one or more layers of packing paper.Newspaper can bleed onto clothing, books, or glass, so keep that in mind.Too much packing paper is better than not enough.
Step 11: Line boxes with a single layer of packing peanuts.
This step should not be used for clothing, linens, and bedding.To cover the bottom of the box, add just enough packing peanuts.crumple sheets of paper into balls and line the bottom as an alternative to packing peanuts.Office supply stores, post offices, and hardware stores sell bags of packing peanuts or paper.
Step 12: Put heavier stuff first and fill in the gaps as you go.
If you want to fit smaller items into any spaces between or around the packing peanuts, you have to put the biggest and heaviest items in the box.Nested things in where they fit is not forcefully wedge anything into place.You can fill the remaining voids with packing peanuts or crumpled paper until you reach the top.Top off the box with packing peanuts or crumpled paper.Put a few recipe books on the bottom, put a kettle on top of them, and then add bags of fridge magnets and spatulas to finish it off.There should be no empty voids in the box.If you stack other boxes on top of it, the box could cave in.
Step 13: The box top should be secured with packing tape.
Close the larger flaps over the smaller ones.Don't use masking tape to seal the top of the box, and instead run a strip of packing tape over the seam between the closed flaps.Duct tape is a poor choice because it does not stick to cardboard as well as packing tape.
Step 14: After you fill the box, label it on both sides.
Write the contents of the box and where it will go in your new home.If you want to reuse the box, you can either use a permanent marker or securely-adhered stickers.If you are using moving services, write your full name as well.You could write "books, living room" or "toys, Maddie's room."Write "misc" if the box contains random items.It could be "miscellaneous.""misc."There are kitchen supplies.The top of the box has arrows pointing to it.The heavier objects should stay on the bottom.
Step 15: The weight can be kept under 30 lbs by using smaller boxes.
Smaller boxes are less likely to be damaged or dropped.Keep the boxes lighter than you would a box of the same size with non-fragile items inside, and reduce the packed weight to around 10 lbs or less if possible.Pick up a few specialty boxes for fragile items that have cardboard separators inside them.It is possible to pack fragile items in standard moving boxes.
Step 16: Pack peanuts or tightly crumpled paper at the bottom of the box.
If you want to add a single layer of packing peanuts, make the layer in the bottom of the box at least 2 in (5.1 cm) deep.crumple paper tightly into balls to provide better protection for your stuff.Line the bottom of the box with multiple layers of bubble wrap until it is at least 2 in (5 cm) thick.
Step 17: Wrap fragile items with bubble wrap, packing paper or its original box.
If you have the box with the interior padding, use it.Bubble wrap is better for delicate objects.It's better to use packing paper for objects like picture frames.Wrap each item completely, taping down the edges to keep it from unraveling.Stuff a bunch of crumpled paper inside of glasses, mugs, and vases that are hollow in the middle.Don't wrap fragile items with clothing or towels.These aren't secure enough to prevent breakage.
Step 18: Limit stacking by packing flat items vertically.
If you stack individually-wrapped plates or picture frames in the box, don't do it.If you slide them in vertically, use packing peanuts or crumpled paper to keep them upright and secure.If you put mugs and glasses upside-down, don't stack them right over each other.Cut sheets of cardboard to make platforms for the mugs and glasses and fill in the gaps with packing material.The heavier items should be put in the box first.A heavier object shouldn't be pressing down on a lighter object.
Step 19: The top of the box should be filled with packing material.
You need to fill all of the empty spaces, so use as much packing material as you can.You don't want fragile items in the box.Pack peanuts, crumpled paper, or bubble wrap at the top of the box.The box needs to be full but not bulging.Don't put fragile items in boxes.
Step 20: Pack the box with a strip of packing tape.
The larger flaps should be folded down.Run a strip of tape over the seam between the flaps and down each side of the box.Pick up the box and gently rock it back and forth to make sure you packed the items securely.You haven't used enough packing material inside if you feel any movement inside the box.
Step 21: On all four sides of the box, writefragile.
To write this in large letters, use a broad, dark marker.Draw arrows on the box to indicate which side is up if you include the contents.Don't put heavier objects on top of the box when packing the truck.