Tips for Packing Moving Boxes

Easily one of the least enjoyable parts of moving is packing and unpacking boxes (that is unless you are doing the actual moving, then lugging heavy furniture upstairs takes the top spot.) The reason that having to pack boxes is so un-enjoyable is fairly obvious, as it is one of the most time-consuming aspects of a move, especially if you have a lot of stuff that is coming with you to your new place. With that said by following some simple tips for packing boxes, you can make the entire process a lot more tolerable.

Besides giving tips for packing boxes in the literal sense, we are also going to discuss the best way to divvy up this task so that it is both methodical and easy to follow. This will not only help you while packing up your stuff for a move but it will also make the unpacking a lot easier when you get to your new place.

So let’s first start by taking a look at how you should pack up your belongings to ensure that they get to their new home in one piece.

Tips for Packing Boxes

If you followed our tip about getting free boxes from local retail stores then you should have a decent amount of boxes to work with. We also outlined the best way to buy moving supplies online to save money. If you are having trouble storing all of these boxes while you are packing up then you can break them down and fold them up for easy storage. This is done by cutting the tape on the bottom of the box, taking the folds out and then just folding at the creases of the box. This will allow you to easily store a greater amount of boxes and all you will have to do is refold the box when you need it.

If you do decide to do this be sure to tape down the middle of the bottom of the box (with two layers of tape), as well as tape across (with two layers of tape), and it is best to also tape around the side of the box. Doing this will ensure that the box does not come apart during the move.

To give a brief summation of some things to watch out for when boxing up your belongs take a look at the tips for packing boxes below:

• Plainly label each box with its contents
• Gently shake the box after it is packed to see if anything moves inside
• Write fragile on boxes that contain delicate items
• Don’t over-pack a box, it’ll be difficult to close and secure it
• Double tape the top and bottom of the box
• Use more packing material then you initially think you need

When packing items in a box you want to make sure that there isn’t a lot of room inside for them to move around. If you are packing items like plates or other breakable items then you probably want to use packing to wrap each item individually. This can be avoided if you are going to personally carry this box to your car and transport it to your new place yourself, but if it is going on a moving truck then it is best to wrap the items individually.

It is also important when packing boxes that you keep larger items on the bottom of the box and smaller items at the top of the box. The reason for this is because if you stack larger heavier items on top of smaller lighter items there is a chance they will break and also there is a chance that the “stack” you have created in the box will topple over.

The most important thing to take note of and probably one of the most important tips for packing boxes is that you do not go over 35 lbs. when packing a box. This will obviously vary if you have a very large box, but most boxes cannot take more than 35 lbs. If you do not have a scale available to ensure that this weight limit is not exceeded, just pick up the box and see if it feels heavy or not. You always want to make sure that you are able to easily carry the box and using the 35 lb. limit will help to reduce the chances that the bottom of the box will fall out.

After you have placed all of your items in the box you then want to use a decent amount of packing material to make sure that the items are secure in the box. Use more material then you initially think you will need and you want to make sure that when you close the box there is some push back from the packing material.

When you are ready to tape up the box make sure to use two strips of tape both along the seam on the top of the box and across the box, then gently shake it to make sure that nothing moves. After this mark the box with what room it came from and a brief description of what is inside.

A Plan For Boxing Up Your Possessions

Similar to other suggestions that we’ve put forth with figuring out what to take and leave and calculating how much you actually have to move when it comes to tips for packing boxes we highly suggest that you go room to room. This means that the things in your bedroom are packed in boxes and they are not commingled with things from other rooms. The reason for this is so that when you actually unpack these boxes you will be able to easily do so. For instance, you will be able to unload all of the boxes on the truck that say master bedroom directly into your master bedroom and unpack from there.

When packing up your apartment or home you should start with the room or items that you will not need to use on a daily basis. This is particularly important if you begin packing a few days or weeks before your move.  The last thing you want to have to do is open up a box to get a particular item out after you have gone through the trouble of packing it up.

Be sure as well when you are going through your apartment or home and packing that you clearly label where that box came from and what is inside of it. Most people take a few days to unpack their items and if everything is clearly marked it will make the unpacking a lot easier. Not only because you won’t have to sift through a number of boxes to find what you are looking for, but also because you will be able to visualize where you want everything to go and then unpack accordingly.

While packing and unpacking is never fun, if you break it down by rooms it will seem a lot more manageable and it will probably reduce a lot of the stress involved in packing up your home. You will be able to see the progress as it is being made, which is always encouraging, and you will be able to better see that the end is in sight.