Moving is tedious, and gets overwhelming with the thought of packing belongings you’ve collected over the years. The first question usually is - “what should we start with first?” We’ve had instances where many of our clients claimed that their previous moves resulted in misplaced or damaged belongings. As a matter of fact, broken and damaged household items top the list of moves processes gone bad.
Packing requires a lot of patience, and it is a good idea to hire professionals to handle all packing and unpacking needs. However, there are a few things you might want to take care of yourself, like your clothes, documents, collectables, etc. Additionally, some of our clients like to get a head start until our team arrives. Either way, here are a few tips to get you started on your packing journey.
Five In-House Packing Supplies For your Move
Packing and moving bulky items like furniture, electronics, hefty artworks etc., will require special handling, and we can’t emphasise the need for professionals to get the job done. However, here’s a list of a few packing materials available right at home, which you can use to pack your belongings without spending a penny on packing material.
Pro Tip: Keep important documents (bank records, birth certificates, school records, etc.) and valuables (jewellery, collectables, antiques, etc.) with you in your car or as a part of your luggage if you are moving to another city.
1. Newspapers & Magazines
Before you go on a cleaning spree and get rid of your old newspapers and magazines, hold on to them. Newspapers and magazines are best for packing fragile glassware, china, and crystal ware. Here’s what you need to do, take a paper four times the size of the item you need to pack. Wrap the material around the fragile item and give it a good amount of cushioning with the paper. Stack upright plates side by side, and top them with rolled-up pieces of packing paper. Add cushion between the plates and bowls using bubble wrap, clothes, or other soft materials, and you are done!
Pro-Tip: Remember, if the newspaper gets wet, it can bleed onto your white plates and stain expensive crockery. So, be sure to take care of potential water damage.
2. Bedsheets & Towels
You probably didn’t realise that your bed sheets, towels and pillow covers can double up as excellent packing material. You can also use a soft cloth to wrap paintings, photo frames and other fragile items. You can use pillow covers to pack dishes. Just to be clear, cloth is not an ideal packing material for fragile items, as it cannot cushion the impact of a fall. However, it can protect your articles from dents and scratches. You can also consider placing your precious jewellery in soft cloth to keep it safe.
Pro Tip: Follow the thumb rule: The heavier the stuff, the tighter the fit of the box should be to ensure it is adequately supported and that it does not tear through the packing while moving
3. Paper Waste
While cleaning up your home and sorting junk, you might come across a lot of waste paper. While you might wonder how you accumulated trash, that’s beside the point. Waste paper is handy in packing fragile items. You can use them for filling up hollow spaces and wrapping showpieces or your desk collectables!
4. Plastic Bags
Banned they might be, but we still can’t get over hoarding plastic bags. Undeniably, plastic bags serve as excellent packing materials, especially if you are a plant lover and have cute little ceramic planters. The plastic bags keep your pots and the soil intact and prevent the spoiling of other items.
5. Old Clothes
Surprisingly, old clothes work the best of all the above packing materials. These are the best packing material to rely on for larger pieces of your precious, fragile items. The soft fabric of old clothes acts as a perfect cushion to protect your dishes, bowls, chinaware cutlery, etc., against breakage. There’s no “right” way to pack with clothes, but here are some simple tips:
- Use only thick clothing like old sweatshirts and hoodies.
- Use thinner clothing (like t-shirts) to fill the space, not to pad.
The only drawback to using clothing is that it takes up more space in your box than other packing materials.
Getting Help From Professionals
Packing seems like too much work? Hire professionals for the job! Yes, professional moving service comes at a cost, but they can be well worth the added expense if you're really under pressure. Professional packers and movers can help you save a lot of time and enhance your relocation experience. Pikkol Packers and Movers provide unmatched moving services at affordable rates. With years of experience and expertise in relocating 75000+ families countrywide, we hold best-in-class packing, moving, transporting, storing and unpacking facilities. We strive to provide you with a hassle-free move.
Happy Moving!
