The stresses that people endure when moving are comparable to what families experience when navigating a divorce. You’re ripping up one chapter of your life to create a new one somewhere else.
Even if you’re moving a business, the experience is similar. Once you arrive at your new destination, an entirely new neighborhood and customer group are waiting there to get to know you.
One of the most significant components of moving is to pack your belongings into boxes. Did you know that there’s a right way to complete this work to reduce damage risks and maximize your space?
These tips will help you pack quickly and safely like the pros.
What Is the Best Way to Pack My Belongings?
As you gather the moving boxes you’ll need, please remember to get the other supplies to protect your items. Cushioning foam, packing paper, Styrofoam peanuts, bubble wrap, and plastic wrap are all essentials.
It also helps to have a permanent marker and some labels to keep your boxes organized once they get packed.
After you’re organized, it helps to assemble your moving boxes. Some people prefer to do them all at once, while others like to put them together as they’re needed. You’ll need to turn them into a cube, applying a couple of strips of packing tape to the bottom where the flaps meet.
Once your boxes are ready, it helps to start in a single room while following these steps.
- Group the items you need to pack by a similar weight and size. By keeping the belongings in each room, you can unpack more efficiently after arriving at your new home.
- Place some packing materials at the bottom of each box. It could be packing peanuts, paper, or even towels.
- Wrap the heaviest items with packing paper or bubble wrap. These belongings should get placed at the box’s bottom to reduce damage risks.
- Next, wrap the lighter items with additional packing materials, separating them from what you’ve already placed at the bottom of the moving box.
- Even if you don’t have fragile items, it still helps to pack the heaviest items on the bottom and lighter ones on top of them to prevent crushing incidents.
- Before each box gets closed, it helps to cushion the entire package. You can stuff crumpled paper, packing peanuts, clothing, towels, rags, and other soft items to fill the area completely.
- Most boxes should weigh 30 pounds or less when they get packed. If you lift something heavier easily, that amount should be considered your maximum. Please remember that an over-packed container can rupture, leading to damage and potential injuries.
- Close the box. Use packing tape to seal it securely. Once the flaps are closed, you can label them with their destination room to make the unloading process much more straightforward.
How to Stack Moving Boxes on Your Truck
If you haven’t hired professional movers to handle the logistics of your relocation, you’ll need to move those boxes onto a truck. Although you can use a pickup or trailer for small moves, it often helps to rent one from a local provider.
Stacking your boxes is a puzzle that follows the same process as your initial packing work. It helps to put the heaviest items on the bottom and the lightest ones on top.
When you purchase the boxes from the same supplier, you can quickly fill up the truck’s interior with a solid stack.
If you have furniture or odd-shaped items to move, you can still maximize your space. One option is to stand your couch on its side, remove the cushions, and stack boxes inside it.
When loading a large truck, it also helps to put the heaviest things toward the front middle. By keeping these items locked into this spot, you’ll have fewer balance issues during the drive. It might be necessary to strap some items to keep them secure during the moving process.
Mistakes to Avoid When Packing Boxes
The biggest mistake people make when moving is to keep things they no longer need. There is always something that you no longer want, which means you can save time and money by donating it, giving it away, or taking it to the local landfill.
Please try to recycle as many items as possible when you start cleaning out the junk.
The other problem involves liquids that get packed for a move. Cardboard doesn’t handle moisture well! If you unscrew the top of a bottle, place plastic wrap over the opening, and then screw it back into place, you’ll reduce damage risks.
It is stressful to move, but it can also be lots of fun! If you need help with your relocation, don’t forget about us! We provide a wide range of services at a fair, competitive price to make the entire experience more convenient.
