Packing Tips

 

Keep the following supplies handy for packing and keep them all in one area, “packing central”:

  • Boxes
  • Marking Pen
  • Bubble wrap
  • Newspaper and tissue
  • Tape and scissors
  • Tape measure

Use strong boxes and containers that can be secured tightly. Purchase special boxes for dishes, wardrobe and other special items. Pack audio-video equipment in their original boxes. Label cables and tighten transit screws. If removing screws, tape them to the objects they are removed from. Avoid loading more than 50 pounds into any one box.

Label each box and indicate the following:
(a) Which room it should go in
(b) Whether it is fragile
(c) If it should be loaded last so it will be unloaded first.

Cushion contents with packing material such as bubble wrap, newspaper or tissue. Save room by using
towels and blankets to wrap fragile items. Pack books tightly on end in small boxes. If musty smelling, sprinkle talcum powder between the pages and wrap the book before packing. Leave stored for a couple of months to eliminate the smell. Have rugs and draperies cleaned before moving and leave them in wrappings for the move. Pack medicines in a leak proof container.

How to Pack Boxes

SELECT THE PROPER SIZE AND TYPE OF CARTON

Heavy items such as books, record albums, canned food, etc. should be put in smaller cartons. Some items such as large pictures, mirrors, glass tops and shelves, clocks and mattresses may require special cartons which we can provide.

PACK ONE ROOM AT A TIME

Packing can appear to be an insurmountable task when viewed from the perspective of the entire house.
Packing one room at a time (and staying with that room until it is fully packed) has the effect of dividing the overall task into several smaller and more manageable tasks. This approach also makes it possible to set realistic goals, i.e. pack the dining room today, the kitchen tomorrow, etc.

TAPE THE BOTTOM OF CARTONS

Taping the bottom of cartons before filling them prevents the contents from spilling out the bottom during the move.

HEAVY ITEMS ON THE BOTTOM/LIGHT ITEMS ON TOP

In each carton the heavier items should be placed at the bottom and the lighter items on top to prevent damage.

USE A LOT OF PAPER

All breakable items should be wrapped individually in paper. Paper should be used to cushion the bottom, sides and top of cartons.

PLACE BREAKABLES CORRECTLY IN CARTON

Plates should be stacked vertically as if in a dish drain; glasses and stemware should be placed in an upright position; again, use plenty of paper on all fragile and breakable items.

CORRECTLY FILL CARTONS

Fill all cartons to the top without overfilling. Cartons with items sticking over the top cannot be properly closed or stacked; cartons that are underfilled tend to crush when stacked. Always make sure each carton is filled totally to the top before closing. A small space at the top can be filled with paper, a towel, a blanket or other similar items.

CLOSE CARTON AND SEAL SHUT WITH TAPE

Cartons should be closed-top and sealed with tape to prevent damage and make stacking easier.

LABEL EACH CARTON

Use a felt pen to clearly label each carton as to its general contents and the room it is to be placed in at destination. Label on the side of each carton rather than on the top so that cartons in stacks can be identified. If a carton is packed in a manner that requires it to be always kept in an upright position, draw arrows on each side indicating which end must always be kept up. Any cartons containing particularly fragile items should be labeled as such.

STACK CARTONS

Time will be saved on your move if you arrange cartons in stacks of similar sized cartons four to five feet high. This enables the cartons to be easily dollied from the house to the truck.

Download a printable PDF version of our packing tips.