The most challenging aspect of moving is probably packing in boxes. It's critical to properly pack your boxes to ease the strain and lower the risk of breaking your belongings during transportation.
You should remember that preparing moving boxes isn't just randomly putting your belongings inside. It’s very thorough organization that will ensure everything is safely packed and ready for a move. If you are unsure how to do that, we are here to help!
Preparation
The best way to pack moving boxes is to be organized, not just stuffed with your possessions randomly. If you organize it well, you will:
● Ensure everything from your old place is packed.
● Ensure everything is properly protected, like fragile items.
● Know what’s inside each box.
● Assign boxes according to the rooms.
● Have a much easier unpacking experience.
Before you begin packing and answer how to pack boxes, you will first need to provide all the needed supplies, including.
● Different size boxes.
● Boxes with dividers for glasses and fragile kitchenware.
● Boxes for clothes.
● Bubble wrap and packing tape.
● Makers and labels
● Plastic bags.
● Furniture pads.
Top 5 tips on how to pack moving boxes.
1. Get rid of all unnecessary stuff
There are always items you can get rid of, regardless of how often you declutter. One of the easiest ways to make packing boxes easier and save time and money is to organize (and discard) the items you no longer desire and/or need.
Before packing, go through each room and remove everything you won't take to your new home. Everything falls within this category, from clothing and office supplies to furniture and home decorations.
Sort these things into three piles:
● Recycle
● Donate
● Discard
2. Don’t leave the space but don’t overload the box
How much weight should moving boxes have?
That, of course, depends on the size. Generally, you don't want your boxes to weigh more than 30 pounds unless you can move heavier boxes on your own, but we do not recommend them.
However, if you have a big box, it can weigh around 50 pounds or less. Even if a cardboard box states it can store up to 60 to 80 or more pounds, don’t do it. When not overly heavy, boxes are more maneuverable and less likely to split open during shipping.
Your boxes should be filled entirely without becoming overly heavy. You must repackage the boxes if you are unable to move them independently. It can be more bother than it's worth to leave an excessively heavy box because you will require at least two people to transport it.
3. Don't underestimate small boxes
You could assume that packing 10 large boxes will be easier; well, it's not. Packing 30 little ones might sound a lot more, but a lot easier.
In the long run, if you can't move the boxes by yourself, you've made your move much more difficult.
Always stick to smaller boxes. While packing them all up may take a bit longer, moving and transporting them will be much simpler.
4. Label each and every box
Once you have all the boxes packed, you can start labeling them. Or even better, label each box just after you pack it. This way, you cannot miss what's inside that box and will know in which room it belongs.
Even if it's not the largest packing no-no, this will cause major hassles when it comes time to unpack. This doesn't mean you need to list every item in every box; you should identify them with the room they belong in and whether or not there is anything fragile within.
Label the box if it contains necessities that must be opened first, such as cleaning materials for your newly purchased home. You can also write that a box contains stuff you won't need for a while, such as seasonal clothing and holiday decorations.
5. Don’t forget to pack the essential box
The essential box will usually include the following:
● Medications
● Necessary documents
● Basic toiletries, including soap, shampoo, deodorant, toothbrush, and toothpaste.
● Clothes for your first couple of days
● Charger for your phone and laptop
Don’t forget to have one box for each member of your household. You should also include one box for your silverware and plates, as well as meals for the next few days.
During your relocation, keep your essentials box or boxes as close at hand as you can. This means you should pack them last on the truck, so they're right up front or carrying them in the truck cabin or your vehicle.
Things to Avoid When Packing in Boxes
1. Overstuffing your boxes
Depending on their size and whether they have a single or double wall, your packing boxes can support anywhere from 30 to even 150 pounds. Thus, crucial that you respect these boundaries, but we would even recommend going 20 pounds less than the maximum weight.
Even though they are durable, cardboard boxes aren't designed to contain more than their weight limit, but sometimes not even the stated limit. This means packing too many items into a box that is too small is a recipe for catastrophe.
And what results from packing a box too full and making it excessively heavy? A moving threat with a potential for breakdown.
2. Not securing the items
When packing a box, it's just as important to fit your items in as it is to wrap and secure them. Avoid attempting to save time and money by failing to properly wrap your possessions, especially the sharp and fragile ones.
Damage from this can include shattered belongings and dangerous-to-handle or unpack boxes. Regarding materials for packaging goods, you have a wide range of possibilities, some of which you already have in your household.
Take advantage of items like towels and linens, which can offer a lot of cushion and padding, in addition to buying packing paper, bubble, and plastic wrap.
3. Not sealing the liquids
Because cardboard doesn't stand up well to moisture, even a small drop can jeopardize a box's structure and potentially cause significant damage and a huge mess.
To avoid this, remove the top of a bottle of liquid, cover the opening with plastic wrap, and then firmly put the top back on. Next, fasten a second sheet of plastic to the top's outside. Your liquids are now maximally secured!
Conclusion
In this article, we explained how to pack boxes for moving in the easiest way possible. We included dos and don’ts and the supplies you will need for packing. All you need to do is follow the steps!
