Comments on: How to Pack Household Items for a Move

on 9/28/2008 Thanks for the information! 5*

on 9/26/2006 The guys at Staples let me have their shipping boxes. This was a huge help when packing big items, like the TV. I would stay away from any boxes that have ever had any food products in them. My college roommate brought an infestation of fruit flies to our apartment after picking up moving boxes from the grocery store!

on 11/22/2005 When packing stuff from a particular room (such as the kitchen), label your boxes (K) for kitchen, followed by a number. For example, make "K1" the stuff you use and need the most. When you arrive at your new home or apartment, you can place all the number 1's in the most convenient places. Less important stuff would get a higher number.

on 11/22/2005 Many moving companies will sell their used boxes to the public at a fraction of the original price! I saved a lot of money when we moved three years ago, and I stored them all in my attic. I am now moving again and will reuse these same high-quality boxes.

on 11/22/2005 Color code your boxes. When you label or number them, use one color per room. That way, even if you don't know what's in the box, a quick look at the color tells you where it goes.

on 11/22/2005 The boxes that reams of paper come in (which have lids) are just the right size for books. They work for other items as well.

on 11/22/2005 Grocery store boxes can harbor pests, which is NOT something you want to deal with when setting up your new home. Boxes from any other source would probably be better.

on 11/22/2005 If you have several boxes that will be moved directly to an attic/basement and you will be using friends or movers to assist in your move, COLOR CODE!
You will need: permanent markers, large sheets of paper and tape.
Draw a big square in one color on a large piece of paper (let's use red for example purposes) and tape that paper to a specific area in the attic. Now, draw big red squares on all the sides of all the boxes which contain Christmas decorations, ornaments, etc.
For each "Category" do the same thing using different colors.
This technique greatly reduces the anxiety that pops up when you go to look for a seasonal item and realize that all the boxes said "attic" and you were nowhere in sight when your helpers began stacking box after box.
With the colors, at least you (and your helpers) have a more specific idea of where to find (and put) dear Aunt Rose's nativity set or your mother in law's wreath of baby's breath!

Good luck!
-K.J.

on 11/22/2005 Pack all items together such as CD's, bedding, books and magazines that way it will be easier to unpack. Also you can pack stuff from certain areas in your room for easier setup at your new home.

on 11/22/2005 After you have packed and taped the box closed mark them on EVERY side and on the top with a black marker labeled kitchen, master bath, little Johnnie's room, etc. This way you will not have to turn the box around to see which room it will go in. Happy Moving!!

on 11/22/2005 Try going to the liquor
store and asking for boxes. Theirs have divided sections, which will protect your glasses. Stuff paper on top of them to hold securely.

on 11/22/2005 Number each box on all sides. In a notebook, create an inventory of what is in each box, where it is from, and where it goes in the new house. Big help all around the board!