Moving is never fun. Trying to fit your entire life into boxes and transport it to a new place can be quite overwhelming. That’s why moving hacks are so important. Whether you’re moving across the country or just moving a few blocks away, there will be packing involved. That’s a given. The only thing you can decide is if you’re going to make it easier or difficult for yourself. In this article, I’ve gathered up 12 moving hacks that’ll help you move with ease.
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1. Declutter before you pack
Moving is the perfect opportunity to get rid of stuff you don’t need. You’re already packing up everything in your life, why not take advantage of this moment to get rid of that stuff you’ve been meaning to toss for years? It will make moving easier because you’ll have fewer things to pack and unpack. And it’s a great excuse for a fresh start! Now’s the time.
Before you pack anything, sort through all your things. Make piles like ‘keep’, ‘maybe keep’, and ‘donate’. Put everything in your ‘donate’ pile into boxes, and when they’re full call the charity (Local thrift stores, Salvation Army, etc.) of your choice and ask them if they do pick-ups. They usually do!
If there are items in good condition that you think people would want then post them on Facebook marketplace, eBay, or where ever. But if listing them would be too much work for you right now, consider taking pictures anyway so that when things calm down after the move, it’s an easy decision whether or not to list them.
2. Start packing early, especially if you’re moving far away
One of the best moving hacks advice I can give you is if you’re able to start early, do so. I think it can be easy to get overwhelmed when you look around your home and see all of the stuff that needs to be packed up for your move. However, if you just start by packing a few boxes every day, soon enough your house will be ready for moving day!
I would also recommend starting with the things you use least first; this could mean those books on the top shelf that have been unopened since your last move, or the pots and pans in the back of your cabinet that have never seen action. The less stuff you need to pack closer to moving day, the better!
If you’re really ambitious and want to pack as far ahead of time as possible—although I wouldn’t recommend this unless it’s a local move—you can even start months ahead of time by packing away seasonal items (i.e.: winter coats in summer or swimsuits in winter). If there’s any overlap between seasons in terms of clothing items, like sweatshirts versus jackets or flip flops versus sandals, then make sure you keep those out so you don’t forget about them or lose them during packing.
3. Clean as you pack
Packing up your home can be hugely overwhelming by itself, let alone taking on any extra tasks. But what if we told you that you could knock out a spring cleaning at the same time? How about a deep clean of each room as you pack it up? It’s not just possible, it’s the perfect solution for organizing and cleaning done in one go.
Imagine how much calmer and more put together you’ll feel once you move into your new place with all those clean clothes, dishes, and linens waiting for you in their new homes. You won’t have any outstanding cleaning to do when unpacking in your new house—you’ll already know that every single item has been cleaned before it was even packed away!
4. Use boxes from grocery stores
You can find sturdy, free-of-charge boxes at your local grocery store. Just make sure the boxes are:
- Not damaged
- Large enough to hold the items you’re trying to pack
- Free of labels (you don’t want to be carrying a box that says “frozen peas” around all over)
If you don’t have enough boxes on hand, you can use laundry baskets or suitcases as moving hacks when packing up nonbreakable belongings like clothing and linens. Simply load the suitcase with your stuff—and voila! You’ve got an item ready to be transported.
5. Label all your boxes
Label all of your boxes with the room they belong in, as well as their contents. If you have anything fragile, write FRAGILE on the box. If you have something heavy, write HEAVY on the box. And if you have something that you absolutely need to unpack immediately upon arriving at your new place, then mark the box OPEN FIRST.
Additionally, consider using different colored permanent markers for certain boxes. For example:
- RED marker: rooms like kitchens and bathrooms (where breakage might occur)
- GREEN marker: electronics
- BLUE marker: clothing
6. Use suitcases for clothing and bedding
As mentioned earlier, suitcases are one of many great moving hacks because suitcases help to keep your clothes wrinkle-free and organized during a move. They can also be used for blankets, sheets, and pillows! Suitcases are easy to transport in your car, so they have a lot of advantages over boxes.
7. Make a laundry basket dresser
Take advantage of laundry baskets and plastic bins by using them to store items you otherwise would have folded up into a cardboard box.
For example, you can fit all your socks and underwear into one or two baskets. Use another basket to stuff with towels. And fill up a plastic bin with sheets instead of folding them up.
Pack the items of dresser drawers into those same containers–they’re made for people’s clothes anyway!
8. Pack hanging clothes on hangers in garbage bags
Let’s face it: you’re probably not going to have a ton of extra time when moving. So here’s a way to save some. This hack lets you hang your clothes on hangers, then transfer them in one fell swoop to the closet at your new place, saving you from having to unpack and hang up each shirt/dress/pair of pants.
First, gather all the hangers that are used to hang your clothes. Once they’re all gathered, put them in large garbage bags and tie them shut around the top of the hangers. Then, label the bags based on what room they’ll go in once you get to your new place. Voilà: no more wrinkled clothes!
9. Use paper instead of bubble wrap
It’s true: you can use newspaper or brown packing paper in place of bubble wrap. This is part of the list for great moving hacks because It’s more readily available, more cost-effective, and better for the environment. As an added bonus, it’s also easier to pack with—you can easily mold paper to fill in odd-shaped spaces and add another layer to protect your items.
10. Put plastic around liquids to avoid spills during transport
If you don’t have a lot of plastic bags on hand, you can use plastic wrap, which is great for items that can’t be placed in a bag, such as bottles. Just place the plastic wrap over the top and press it down around the edges so it sticks to itself and covers the opening. You might want to do two layers just to be safe. Then simply put the lid back on and your liquids are ready to go.”
11. Take pictures of electronics before you unplug them
You know when you unplug your TV and sound system in preparation for the move? Yeah, that’s normally easy enough, but it can be a pain to remember how everything was connected—and make sure you’re not leaving any cables or accessories behind.
Enter the power of taking pictures of everything before you disconnect. If you’re selling your stuff, these photos will come in handy for the buyer, too. Now all you’ll have to worry about is getting rid of that old VHS player on eBay.
12. Use the original box things came in
Reusing boxes that things originally came in also falls under best moving hacks you can use when packing up your belongings. The boxes are built to accommodate the items you have and are oftentimes better quality than any other box you could find since they’re designed to be shipped around.
They’re also free, which is always nice. Plus, reusing such boxes is good for the environment and will make you feel like a responsible adult—just what you need while going through the stress of a move!
Conclusion
I hope you enjoyed reading this article, “12 Genius Moving Hacks That Will Make Packing Easier.” When it comes to moving, there’s never a convenient time to do it — but that doesn’t mean you can’t make the process more bearable. The moving hacks provided will hopefully serve as inspiration for some of your own moving hacks, and if you implement them before your next move, everyone will be happier for it.
