Essential Packing Tips for Your Next Move

Before your next move, you want to consider some essential packing tips, so you know your items will arrive safe and sound and so that you can even save some money on supplies. Note a few tips you'll want to keep in mind before you move or help someone else with their move, so everything is properly protected and you don't overspend on items you don't necessarily need.

1. Never wrap anything but dishes in newspaper

Newspaper is good for cushioning fragile and delicate items, but the ink on paper can easily rub off onto clothes, shoes, artwork, and furniture. These items are very difficult to clean, so those stains can be permanent. The ink that gets transferred to dishes, however, can usually be washed off this surface, although you may still want to exercise caution about using newspaper for fine porcelain; this material can be a bit porous and absorb that ink as well. Look for craft paper that you can buy with moving supplies; this is as versatile as newspaper but it doesn't contain ink that will transfer to another surface.

2. Cushion and wrap furniture

You may not think much about cushioning or wrapping furniture when you move, since furniture is so sturdy and durable. However, furniture can easily move around in the truck and get scratched and may also fall off a hand truck or furniture mover if you should use one. Invest in furniture wraps or blankets, also available at most moving supply stores, and wrap all your furniture to protect it from scratches, tears, and other such damage.

3. Use clothes and other household items for packing materials

To save money on packing supplies, use clothes to wrap items. Drinking glasses can be slid into thick socks, and sweatshirts can wrap around vases, plates, and cups to keep them secure. You can even stack plates in between folds of a thick blanket; put one layer of the blanket on the bottom of the box, add a plate, fold a section of the blanket over it, add another plate, and then keep repeating this until the plates are all packed.

You can also tuck smaller clothing items around things that are packed in boxes for added cushioning and to cut down on the amount of foam packing peanuts you need. If you have some old newspapers, crumple them into balls and use that for cushioning those empty spaces in boxes, making sure the paper doesn't touch your packed items and transfer ink, as mentioned above.

Always make sure that you have quality boxes to put everything in as well. Your things are only as safe as your boxes are strong.

For more information, contact local professionals like Store-It-Safe.