Less is more! Use packing as a way to clean out belongings for donations, a yard sale, and/or the recycling center. Aim to eliminate1/3 of your belongings. You’ll save time and expense.
Organization 101: If you haven’t seen it, needed it or thought about it in the last 12 months….get rid of it!
Start with out-of-season items. Next, pack things used infrequently. Leave until the last minute things you’ll need until moving day.
Do not use masking tape or narrow cellophane tape. You will find PVC (poly-vinyl chloride) to be the most effective.
Use newspapers only for cushioning not for wrapping items. The ink on the newspapers will rub off and can stain items such as fine china.
Label each and every carton.
Use a broad, felt-tipped marker, clearly marking room and contents.
Indicate “FRAGILE” on delicates; “THIS END UP” where appropriate.
Limit cartons to a maximum weight of 50 pounds
Empty drawers of breakables, spillables, non-transportable items and anything that would puncture or damage other items.
Pack similar items together. Do not pack a delicate china figurine in the same carton with cast-iron frying pans, for example.
Keep
all parts or pairs of things together. For example, curtain rod hangers,
mirror bolts and other small hardware items should be placed in plastic
bags and taped or tied securely to the article to which they belong.
Wind electrical cords, fastening them so they do not dangle.
Wrap
items individually in clean paper; use tissue paper, paper towels or
even facial tissue for fine china, crystal and delicate items. Colored
wrapping paper draws attention to very small things that might otherwise
get lost in a carton. Use a double layer of newsprint for a good outer
wrapping.
Place a two- or three-inch layer of crushed paper in the bottom of cartons for cushioning.
Build up the layers, with the heaviest things on the bottom, medium weight next and lightest on top.
As
each layer is completed, fill in empty spaces firmly with crushed paper
and add more crushed paper to make a level base for the next layer, or
use sheets of cardboard cut from cartons as dividers.
Cushion
well with crushed paper; towels and lightweight blankets may also be
used for padding and cushioning. The more fragile the item, the more
cushioning needed. Be sure no sharp points, edges or rims are left
uncovered.
Pack
small, fragile, individually-wrapped items separately or a few together
in small boxes, cushioning with crushed or shredded paper.
Place small boxes in a single large box, filling in spaces with crushed paper.
Avoid
overloading cartons, but strive for a firm pack that will prevent items
from shifting; the cover should close easily without force, but should
not bend inward.
Seal cartons tightly with tape except for those containing items that must be left open for the van operator’s inspection.
As
you finish with each carton, list the contents on the side of the carton
(for easy viewing while stacked) and in a special notebook. You might
want to number and/or code the cartons as well. Use a broad, felt-tipped
marker; Indicate “FRAGILE” on delicates; “THIS END UP” where
appropriate; If available, include your bill of lading number on every
box.
Indicate your name and the room to which each carton should be delivered at destination.
Tape a
sign on the door of each room at destination corresponding to the
carton labels so movers can get the cartons into the proper rooms
quickly.
Pack a
suitcase- For each member of the family moving, pack a suitcase as if
you’re all going on a 3-day vacation, including changes of clothes,
medications, eyeglasses, toiletries, etc.
Keep
the suitcases separated from all the other items to be moved, such as in
your car, at your new workplace, etc. so you’ll have everything you
need for the first few days without searching through boxes.
Create
“Open Me First” boxes- Pick one or two boxes per room as “Open Me
First” boxes. Put in them the things you’ll need first at your new
location. Then mark the sides of the boxes so you’ll know which ones
are which.
One room at a time!
Wherever possible, work on packing just one room at a time (instead of
several all at once) to keep things focused and organized.
Up off the floor!Instead
of the floor, use a completely cleared-off table top or counter in each
room for packing boxes. You’ll find you get much more accomplished.
Tracking
small parts- When taking apart items to be moved, such as tables,
securely tape screws and other small parts securely to the underside of
the item. You’ll always know where to look and save time putting things
back together.
Save
space- Use towels, pillows and t-shirts you’re packing as extra padding
around fragile items. It will save room in your boxes.
Packing Electronics
A picture is worth 1000 words-
Use a digital or cell phone camera to take pictures of how complicated
wiring (computer cords, speaker wires) is hooked up. Be sure to use
plenty of light and careful focus so the pictures will be clear. Print
each picture and put it in the top of the box holding the item. This
will make hooking up the items in your new place much easier.
Original is best-
Always use the original packaging when available. (I realize that most
of us don’t have the original packaging for much of anything, but I
thought I would bring it up anyway).
Double boxing-
For especially fragile electronics, pack them first in a box with an
excessive amount of biodegradable packing peanuts. Then pack that box
in a larger box filled with biodegradable packing peanuts. This two-box
system seems like a pain but seems to do a better job isolating items
from jarring impacts.
No loose ends-
Wrap each cord carefully with cable organizers, heavy twist ties or
heavy rubber bands. Never throw unwrapped cords into boxes- they get
tangled and caught on other items.
Cord labels-
Consider getting a label maker and labeling the end of each. Then
you’ll know exactly which cord you’re seeing and where each end connects
when you put things back together.
The two-inch rule- Use at least 2″ of biodegradable packing peanuts around each side of fragile items.
Box Label And Inventory
Fat is in!
Use the thickest, darkest marker you can find for labeling boxes.
Pencils, pens, tin or light markers are almost impossible to see even
just a few feet away.
Two sides….Label
each box on the two broadest sides, opposite one another. This way if a
box gets turned you can still identify its contents.
Abbreviate room names!
Start box labels with the abbreviated name of the room followed by a
box number, such as “BTH2-6” for “second bathroom, 6th box.” You can
then track each box to make sure everything arrived safely.
Label “Open Me First” on boxes where it applies.
Mark “Fragile” where appropriate.
Identify contents…Identify the major contents and where they came from, such as “Medicine Cabinet” or “Linen Closet- Towels and Wash Cloths.”
Box Inventory…Keep
a clipboard and write down each box’s room, box number and contents
(graph paper is great for keeping things recorded neatly).
Verifying delivery…When unloading, check off each box as it gets unloaded at your new place. Then you’ll know everything arrived safely.
Labels out! Ask movers to stack boxes in your new place with the labels facing out so that you can easily spot a specific box.
Open Me First
The Kitchen
Aluminum foil or plastic wrap
Break-proof or disposable flatware, cups, and plates
Coffee maker and coffee (don’t forget the filters!)
