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How to Pack for a Move: A Room by Room Guide to Ensure an Easy Move

Dec 24, 2019

While moving may be an essential part of many people’s lives, stressing out about moving is not. Stress usually happens when people don’t have enough time, they feel overwhelmed, and don’t know how to pack for a move.

In the modern world, we’ve become accustomed to being stressed all of the time for various reasons. It’s important to remember that stress causes cardiovascular, hormonal, nervous, and respiratory system changes. 

Your body can’t handle these changes all of the time, which can result in various mental and physical health issues.

Don’t let moving be a negative stressor to your wellbeing. Give yourself plenty of time and pack one room at a time.

If you’re looking for information to relocate your business, read this article.

Otherwise, here’s a simple home guide on how to pack for a move to make it easy and stress-free.

How to Pack for a Move: Gather Your Supplies

Before you begin taking apart furniture or making piles, start by gathering the things you’ll need. 

This includes packing paper that doesn’t bleed ink, newspaper, stretch wrap, and other padding. Opt for non-styrofoam padding, as styrofoam may take up to 1 million years to biodegrade

Of course, no move would happen without boxes. Make sure to choose the right sizes for your stuff, putting heavy items in smaller boxes. 

To refrain from overpacking, be sure to get enough boxes for your stuff.

Check locally for places you can get them for free. Using recycled cardboard saves trees, up to 99% of water, and up to 50% less energy. 

You can utilize plastic bins and trash bags that you already have, too.

To seal your boxes, you’ll want packing tape, scissors, and permanent markers. You may also need string or rope to tie things in place.

Create a labeling system for yourself, marking each box with the room it belongs in and its general contents. Write “heavy” and “fragile” on relevant boxes.

You can even use colored tape for some boxes to keep yourself organized.

Finally, you’ll want to have tools and cleaning supplies ready. You may need screwdrivers, box cutters, and a tape measure.

Once you have these things, you’re ready to start with the first room.

Garage

To make things easy, start with the least-used area of your home. For most people, that’s the garage.

Make piles for things to throw away, things to donate, and things to keep. This is a practice you’ll want to do for every room.

Get rid of things you haven’t used for years. You can donate them, give them to friends, or throw them away if they’re in bad shape.

Organize as you pack. Keep your toolbox handy for things you need while you pack. 

Otherwise, empty all gas-filled equipment like lawnmowers, chain saws, and grills. Find out where your local disposal site is.

Put lawn furniture cushions and shop rags into garbage bags.

Check this section for items that are prohibited on the moving truck – FAQ, 14, What items should I move myself?

Dining Room

Once done with the garage, move on to the dining room.

Roll up your rug, if you use one, and secure with string or rope. 

Pack your decor with enough padding. Remove the legs from your chairs, if you can, and put the screws in a plastic bag taped to the chair.

Secure the kitchen table by wrapping it in a blanket. This is what you should do for all of your big furniture to prevent damage.

Kitchen

Taking on the kitchen may seem like a big task, so be sure to leave yourself enough time.

Wrap dishes and breakables in padding. If you can, use sectioned cardboard boxes for your glassware and cups so they can stay upright.

For small appliances, remove loose components in a plastic bag and tape them to the appliance. Wrap up the cords and fasten them with tape.

Pack dry goods together after you’ve gotten rid of things that are expired. If things are stored in glass, give them extra cushion with kitchen towels to make sure they stay safe.

You may notice that you have some kitchen items that you rarely or never use. Now is a good time to consider getting rid of them.

The last kitchen thing you’ll pack is refrigerated items. Put these in a cooler with ice, or make sure to eat what you can before moving day.

Bedrooms

You can easily pack all of your clothes in hampers, trash bags, and boxes. Moovers Chicago provides wardrobe boxes for free for your hanging clothes.

Organize your jewelry and accessories into bags or in a chest. 

Put mattresses in bed bags and bedding in trash bags.

Empty all the drawers and pack the items in boxes.

Bathrooms

Seal and cover cosmetics before putting them in a newspaper-lined box. 

You can use towels to cushion your stuff. 

If you installed your own showerhead, remove it and reattach the old one. Let it dry out before you pack it.

Leave out your daily items until it’s time to go.

Laundry Room

The laundry room should be pretty easy. 

Pack up your detergents and stain removers. You may have to take them in your own car, as many moving companies consider these hazardous.

If you own the washer and drier, unplug them and secure the cords.

Living Room

We saved the living room for last. That way, you always have a place to hang out while other rooms are being deconstructed and packed.

Wrap up your artwork, mirrors, and decor in padding. 

Moovers Chicago will disassemble/reassemble all the furniture, unless your furniture requires special disassembling/assembling. Items such as: cribs, bunk beds and medical beds are only disassembled, but not reassembled for safety reasons.

Remove light bulbs and lampshades and then assess your electronics.

It may be helpful to take a picture of your set up electronics before packing them so it’s easier to put things back together.

Pack books, CDs, and DVDs into boxes without overstuffing.

Final Thoughts

Now that you know the basics of packing up your home, we want to give you a pro-tip.

Pack a few boxes of things you’ll need immediately and daily. This includes toiletries, tools, cleaning supplies, a few days of clothes, snacks, a first-aid kit, and medical items.

Put these items in your car rather than in a moving truck.

That way, you can easily access what you need while unpacking the rest of your stuff. 

Make It Easy For Yourself

Our final tip on how to pack for a move is to be as organized as possible. 

Make lists, take one room at a time, and get rid of clutter as you go.

If you want to make the process really easy, contact us. We can pack and move your items for you so you don’t have to think twice about it. 

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