Packing Materials for Moving – Boxes and Supplies You’ll Most Definitely Need

Around 15 million households in America move each year. And wrapping up your belongings is a huge part of every move, causing the most stress and exhaustion in every cross-country relocation. But with the right packing materials for moving, this undertaking doesn’t have to be so hard and overwhelming. And with the right tips on using those supplies most efficiently, your transition will be bliss.

One of the most common relocation mistakes people make is not buying appropriate packing supplies for moving. There are tons of boxes and packing supplies around, and each of them has its purpose and usage. So no matter your reasons for the move, or even if you are relocating at the last minute, you will have to master the skill of proper boxing up, which can’t be done without proper materials. Keep reading, and in no time, you will learn even how to protect and move a grandfather clock.

Packing Materials for Moving – Start With Boxes

As you can imagine, one of the first things on your expenses checklist should be boxes and other containers. There are all different kinds of containers on the market, but how to choose the best for you? If you talk to professional cross-country movers, their relocation tip would be to buy medium-sized containers, preferably with handles. They are easier to carry and are more durable, just ensure you reinforce them with some duct tape on each side and not fill them all the way to the top. Also, if you opt for hiring movers, once you contact them check if they offer box and packing supplies as part of their packing services.

Before you start with purchases, one of the best tips is to create an inventory list of things you’re bringing along. This way you’ll know exactly how many boxes you need and how big they should be. For example, you can put clothing in garbage bags, but the best way to save some money on relocation costs is by buying containers for belongings that can’t be safely transported otherwise.

You Will Need Special Boxes for Your Breakables

That’s right, when it comes to dealing with glassware or some other fragile things, the best solution is to buy containers that are made solely for this purpose. These cardboard containers are sectioned, so your glasses don’t touch each other. Therefore, you will avoid damage and move safely. But there are other types of containers you can use for different household belongings as well:

• Wardrobe containers for clothing – With these, you will keep your clothing from wrinkling (clothing will stay on hangers) and safe from dust and moisture as well.
• Containers for dishes – pack your dishes like a pro with sectioned containers. These heavy-weight carton containers are also made for heavy kitchen things like pots and pans.
• And for pictures? – Picture containers are stronger than regular ones and big enough to fit large pictures.

Head of to Stores and Get More Materials

Aside from containers, you will require some other materials to protect your belongings and move most efficiently. The most important thing in a good casing is to cover each item before you store them in a container and fill out any hollow space between stuff inside the container. Here are some of the things you must buy:

• Protective paper,
• Bubble and plastic cover,
• Duct tape,
• Blankets,
• Towels,
• Sheets,
• Cushioning foam,
• Labels,
• Markers.

Keep in mind that you will have to bring your valuables with you. Among those should be personal and other important documents.So make sure to organize your documents before the relocation.

When to Use Packing Paper and When Bubble Wrap

When organizing a move, you must be familiar with the whole process and all steps. For example, will your belongings be in storage units or directly shipped to a new destination? This info is important to know because you will have to prepare your belongings for storage. The same is when using bubble wrap. For some objects, bubble wrap is an excellent solution, but for some is catastrophic, and knowing the difference will make your unpacking after the move blissful. For example, bubble wrap is extremely important when dealing with fragile items, but it is not recommended to cover a wooden or some other organic material with it. Plastic or bubble covers can create condensation and moisturize the wood. The wooden belongings are best packed in paper.

Packing Material for Moving – Blankets and Supplies for Proper Protection in Truck

Before you start dealing with your couch and sofa, you should contact and ask your cross-country moving company if they will pack your furniture. A most reputable mover will have this kind of service free of charge as part of their moving services. If this is the case – great, because you will not even have to buy anything as your company will provide all. But if not, you will have to buy some materials to pack your electronics, sofa, and other bulky and large items.

Also, when relocating furniture, you will have to use blankets or sheets. This way, your sofa will be protected from accidental tearing apart or dirt. As you know, other belongings will be placed on furniture in a truck. If you have a fabric sofa or couch, you can apply plastic wrap to protect it before shipping, but if you have a leather sofa, the plastic will do the same as if it’s placed on wood. A lot of moisture and humidity can destroy the leather.

Other Packing and Moving Supplies You Will Require

So we covered the basics when it comes to the materials you require.Still, you can use many more materials to ensure your belongings are safe, and you have a stress-free relocation. For example, you can take contractor bags to pack your books. These sacks are strong and durable – just ensure you don’t overfill them with books. Also, don’t forget about vacuum sacks, as they are great for storing bulky and large items like bedding and pillows. But you can put other items inside, like winter clothing if you are relocating in summer. You don’t even have to unpack them right away until you require them.

Use Contractor Tape to Reinforce Your Carton Containers

Duct tape is fine, but contractor tape is even better. Reinforce your container’s bottom and sides with it. Also, if anything needs to be extra solid, this is the one for you. While we are at tapes, don’t forget to buy a duct tape gun. There will be a lot of containers and things you have to seal, and a gun will save you a lot of time and trouble.

Toolset and Ziplock Bags

These things are deal-breakers, so ensure you don’t forget about them. Ziplock bags are necessities when relocating to a new state because you are probably relocating your entire home and can’t even imagine how many things will end up without a box or categorization. To avoid putting a bunch of trinkets, hairpins, kids’ toys, and other things in random boxes, put them in ziplock bags and do the sorting after you move. Also, buy a box cutter, scissors, screwdriver, nail puller, flashlight, and knife. You will feel the necessity for these tools for unpacking too.

Dollies, Ramps, and Moving Straps

When moving across the country, you should make your work easier whenever you can. And the most important part of every move is to be aware of things you can and can not do. This way, you will avoid unnecessary injuries and damages to your belongings. First, if you are relocating from a multistoried home with stairs, consider renting a ramp. You will save yourself a lot of time and your movers’ backs. These things don’t cost much to rent, so why not do so?

Also, once you rent a ramp, you should rent or buy a dolly. Dollies are excellent for large appliances and furniture. But if you have fewer things to move, or dollies and ramps can not be used in your place, don’t worry. There are straps you can buy, excellent for safely carrying large furniture and best of all your hands will be free so you can maneuver better. Also, if you plan to move your piano on your own, consider renting a trailer for this purpose. If there is a piece of furniture that is not able to go through the front door, it will have to be hoisted from the balcony or window.

Check this video to see how to use straps properly.

Don’t Forget About  Labels and Labeling Systems

Last but not least, there is no successful move without a detailed labeling system. As you know, there are all kinds of labels you can now buy or even create at home, from colored stickers to colored dots, to labels with the names of the room. There are even labels-checklists. But before you decide what kind of labels you will buy, you have to make a labeling plan and strategy.

The best relocation hack is to use a combination of two or three labels. For example, designate a color for a specific room (for example, pink for the living room.) Then take a marker and write down “the library” and a number for what shelf is in that container. This way, you will not have to sort anything after relocation. Don’t forget to create an inventory list of all belongings you have, place that list inside your relocation binder, and color-code each page with the corresponding room too.

Sit Back and Relax and Let Cross Country Movers Group Do Everything for You

As you can see, moving cross country is not an easy job, and it requires a lot of preparation, organization, and different strategies. But there is an easier way to relocate to another state – you can hire movers to do all that we talked about above and more. Either way, since you’ll probably have to book them for other services such as auto transport, why not hire them for wrapping up of your belongings as well? The cost of your relocation will not change significantly, but you will have much more time and energy to deal with other things such as finding a job and a school for your kids, preparing your home for sale, finding a place to live, transferring utilities, and many more. So, when calculating your expenditures, make sure when to include the work time you will lose when dealing with things you could have outsourced to professionals.