You might not think clothing needs to be handled any special way during moving, but you’d be wrong. Here are some tips for packing clothes during a move to improve efficiency and provide protection.
Clothes may be the bane of our childhood existence (when it comes to Christmas presents, at least), but we appreciate them more as we mature into adults. As such, it’s important to protect them, especially if you have a favorite suit, blouse or pair of pants.
1. Downsize First
Before you start, evaluate your wardrobe and get rid of anything you don’t need. Whether you donate, sell or trash clothes, the less you have to move and pack, the better. Once you’ve narrowed down your clothing selection to what is needed, you can start packing.
Just like you would with other belongings, make sure your clothing boxes are labeled, preferably with an easy-to-read label.You can sort by family member, room or clothing type—whatever makes unpacking the clothes easiest. You’ll be tired after your move, so you don’t want to waste time figuring out what clothes go where in your new residence.
3. Vacuum-Seal Bulky Clothing
Certain blankets, winter coats and other clothing can take up a lot of valuable space in your boxes, moving truck or portable storage container. Compression bags are affordable and easy to use, making them ideal for pillows, comforters and bulky clothing.
4. Use Space-Saving Folding Techniques
Don’t just ball up clothes and toss them in a box with your shoes. Save space by using techniques like the “army roll method” or stuffing shoes with accessories or socks, for example. Even standard ironing and folding techniques can maximize your packing space.
5. Consider Specialty Boxes
Another tip for packing clothes during a move is to use an appropriate box, like a wardrobe box. These are designed for hanging items and help you avoid wrinkles. But they also help you pack efficiently. Since they take up a good amount of space, though, use them sparingly and only with your most precious clothing.
6. Sort By Season and Weight
When you pack and load the moving truck, do so from heaviest to lightest. That means many clothes should be packed toward the top of boxes, loaded on top of other boxes and loaded toward the front of the moving truck or portable moving container.
7. Set Some Aside for the Move
Finally, don’t forget yourself on move day! You don’t want to pack up all of your clothes and waste all that time finding them again or spending money buying new options. Set aside a suitcase or single box for each family member and transport it yourself in a vehicle.
If you’re preparing for an upcoming move, why not consider a portable moving container? Contact SAM (Store & Move) today for a no-obligation quote.
