Packing to Move
Before you even think about packing, look at what you can and should throw out, while also tossing all recyclables into the recycling bins in your community. Then the fun begins: you must pack strategically, ensuring that you have enough supplies on hand to do the job--masking tape, old newspapers and of course, boxes. Does this Spark an idea?
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Things You'll Need
- Boxes
- Packing tape
- Masking tape
- Magic Markers
- Newspaper
- Packing peanuts, preferably biodegradable (optional)
- Packing paper (optional)
- Bubble wrap/bags (optional)
Instructions
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Start packing early. Putting everything off until the last minute puts undue strain on you before the physical drain of your move day.
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Take stock of all your belongings--and that means everything. You probably don't need a good 20 percent of the clutter in your house or apartment. Get rid of it--that means using your trash cans, recycling bins and so forth to fullest effect.
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Visit the public dumps and recycling centers. Do not inconvenience your neighbors, though, by dumping your old arm chair in the community trash. Take your old belongings and recyclables to public dumps and recycling centers. Recycle whenever you possibly can. Do not dump old electronic equipment and computers--be environmentally conscious, and take them to electronic recycling centers in your area.
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Start room by room. Pack all your glasses and breakable kitchen items securely in bubble wrap and/or newspaper. You needn't invest in the bubble wrap if you have plenty of newspaper. When you pack the glasses or breakable plates into the boxes, use your Magic Marker and write "Fragile!"
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Put heaviest items in first. This should be obvious, but in the brain drain that is your move, you may forget. Put your heavy books at the bottom, lighter books on top. Be careful not to over pack each box. If it's too heavy, your friend won't be able to move it--and remember, unless you've hired professionals, you have to think about not over-burdening your friends.
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Find your mementos and most sentimental items--yearbooks, photographs, old love letters, your college ring--and put them in a special box or two marked "Mementos." These are the boxes you move yourself. You may even want to keep the box with you in the car or truck.
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Wrap your perfume bottles and other breakable items containing liquids in bubble wrap and newspaper. Allow plenty of padding between bottles. You do not want spillage while you are driving to Lubbock for your new life or the plane is flying over the Italian countryside! It's not just perfume, of course, that you should worry about. If you insist on saving every last ketchup and mustard bottle, wrap those items with plenty of padding as well. You really don't want a mess on your hands when you turn the key to your new place.
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Tips & Warnings
Donate old clothes to Good Will, the Salvation Army or to friends.
Donate old books to your local library.
If you haven't hired professional movers, plan on at least one of your moving "friends" to cancel on you that day. Sounds crass, but it happens quite often ("Sorry but I have the flu..." "My back just went out..." and so forth). The only people you can rely on really are professional movers. Invest in them whenever possible. It is also bad karma to rely on friends. If you do use friends, reciprocate in some way.
