General Packing Tips

 

1. 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.

2. 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.

3. One 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.

4. Less is more-  Use packing as a way to clean out belongings for donations, a yard sale, and/or the recycling center.  Aim to eliminate 1/3 of your belongings.  You'll save time and expense.

5. 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.

6. 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.

7. Save space- Use towels, pillows and t-shirts you’re packing as extra padding around fragile items.  It will save room in your boxes.

8. Criss-cross tape- Tape boxes along the seams where the flaps meet together.  Then tape perpendicularly at the center of the first tape, forming a cross.

9. Stacking-  Stack boxes with the heaviest on the bottom, lightest on top to prevent crushing.

10. The 30-pound rule-  Keep each box below 50 pounds absolute maximum and below 30 pounds wherever possible.  Heavier boxes lead to injuries, are much more likely to burst their tape or seams and tend to get dropped.

11. Scale- Keep a bathroom scale in the room you're packing so you can keep the boxes below the weight limits.