If you’re like most people, you probably have a lot of clothes. And if you’re moving, you probably don’t want to leave any of them behind.
But how do you pack them so they don’t get wrinkled or damaged in transit? Here are some tips on how to pack clothes for moving.
If you can, start planning to pack up your belongings six weeks before you move.
In the beginning, you’ll need to do some prep work, like getting rid of things you don’t want, cleaning, and buying boxes and other supplies for packing. The last two or three weeks before the move is when you can actually start packing.
Clothes are easy to pack because they can be folded and placed in packing boxes, put in garbage bags or wrapped with plastic wrap, or even left in the dresser drawers. They will survive the move in one piece.
When possible, keep clothing on hangers. Folded clothes can go in dresser drawers. To protect clothes, line suitcases and cardboard boxes with packing paper. For clothing items you won’t be using soon, use plastic storage containers.
Trash bags are a great way to pack your less expensive clothes. They are low cost and can hold a lot of clothes. You can also use garment bags to move hanging clothes, which double as protective sheets.
The answer to your question is that it depends, but more often than not, it is a good idea to put items in a box if they will fit.
If you’re in a hurry to move and don’t mind ironing out a few wrinkles once you arrive at the new home, consider using a simple cardboard box to move your hanging clothes.
All you’ll have to do is take the clothing off the hangers, fold everything neatly, and place them inside the box.
To pack your hanging clothes inside of a trash bag, simply put your hangers through the neck of the bag, then slip the rest of your clothes over the hangers and down into the bag.
Next, tighten the drawstrings around the hanger hooks, tie and secure with the hooks outside the bag.
There are several types of containers that are good for packing clothes when moving.
Cardboard boxes are good for folded clothing. Wardrobe boxes are perfect for hanging clothes, so they don’t have to be refolded when you move. Suitcases and duffel bags can also be used to pack folded clothes and shoes.
The best way to store clothes in storage is to place all your clothes in plastic containers with clip-on lids. These will protect your clothes from moisture, dust, mould and mildew.
Make sure you give your plastic containers a good clean and dry them thoroughly before you place any clothes inside. This will ensure that your clothes stay in good condition while in storage.
You should avoid packing your boxes in a way that makes them heavy, as this is more likely to cause damage.
Instead, break up heavy items across several boxes. For example, a big box of books can be a big threat if it comes crashing down - not to mention, hard to carry.
Although it may seem that folding your clothing makes the most sense, rolling your clothes saves nearly double the space!
Start with your larger clothing items such as jeans and outerwear, and end with your smaller clothing items such as tee shirts and tank tops.
The advantage of rolling clothes is that they occupy less space. This is because you can stack them more tightly together and fill up all the little nooks and crannies in your dresser. When you fold clothes, you often are not able to do this.
The cheapest way to move a short distance is by doing it yourself. Use your own truck/trailer and get help from several friends or family members who are able to lift heavy objects. Make sure you have enough food and drinks for everyone, and that you don’t have any other plans for the day.
Before moving, clean the clothes to prevent smells and make unpacking more manageable. Don’t overstuff the boxes, as it can damage them and make them prone to tears. Carry valuable clothing items with you in your car, such as those with sentimental or monetary value.
The movers will typically provide you with wardrobe boxes for your clothes. These are tall boxes with a hanger bar across the top. You can hang all your clothes in these boxes while the movers are loading your other pre-packed boxes and furniture onto the truck.
If you’re moving a short distance, you can pile clothes onto a cart or drape them over a box right on the hanger. Just be sure to tie hangers together and move them in groupings of 5-15. Cover each grouping completely with garbage bags or sheets to protect from dust and dirt.
To neatly stack hangers, loop a rubber band around all the hooks, wrap under the hypotenuse of the hangers, and loop back over one or more of the hooks. Be careful not to over-stretch the rubber bands; adding explosive power to your hangers will only make packing more difficult.
You can also avoid wrinkles if you pack your clothes properly: place the bigger garment at the bottom of the pile and then add layers of other clothes on top of it. Wrap it all up using the large bottom garment as your “bag”. You can pack by outfits, by kind of garments, or by size… Place the heaviest clothes at the bottom of your box or drawer.
You can make the most of the space in your car by packing your belongings in bags that are flexible enough to fit into different spaces. For heavier items, use durable shopping bags, and for clothes, use clean plastic bags or strong new garbage bags.
Packing multiple thin layers is more efficient than packing a few bulky items. Bulky items take up a lot of space and leave less room for other things you may need.
Rolling is a great way to save space when packing T-shirts, pants, casual dresses, swimsuits, and pajamas. However, rolling is not the best way to pack bulky clothes like sweaters. Button-up shirts are also difficult to roll without causing creases in the fabric.
If you tightly roll your clothes, you can fit more of them in your bag and reduce creases. It may take a little longer, but it’s worth it.
Rolling your clothes instead of folding them can help you save space in your bag, especially if you’re only bringing carry-on luggage. This method also allows you to better organize your bag by being able to see every item of clothing. Rolling is especially great for small items made from synthetic fibers like nylon, as they are less likely to wrinkle.
In some cases, rolling clothes can save space in your luggage. This is because as you begin to pack rolled items into your bag, it gives the appearance of having additional room, compared to adding folded items.
The best items to put in small boxes are heavy items like books, CDs, and canned goods. Books should be packed flat, with the largest and heaviest books at the bottom. Once you’ve filled the box with books, use plenty of packing paper to fill in the gaps.
According to InCharge.org, federal law requires interstate movers to give your belongings to you when you pay 100 percent of the costs in a binding estimate or 110 percent of a non-binding estimate where additional weight or services have caused the final costs to rise.
Items that are in your home for aesthetic purposes are good items to pack first when moving. This might include artwork, decor, books, magazines, and the like. These items are easy to pack first because chances are you won’t need them during the move or the weeks preceding it.
If you are moving house and have decided to do your own packing, these timeframes can be used as an estimate:
Author: Jay Baxter
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