Tips For Packing

If you’re looking for ways to reduce the costs associated with moving, self-packing is an excellent approach to consider, provided you can pack your belongings in a manner that ensures they will be successfully protected against the rigors of handling, loading, and transport to your final destination. Following are some guidelines and tips from Peasley Moving & Storage that will help you achieve success.

Peasley Moving can provide you with helpful information and packing cartons & supplies but it’s up to you to create a plan for your packing process. To begin, you should take the time to record an inventory of the furniture and belongings that you will be moving, paying extra attention to those items that you will need easy access to before, during, and immediately after the moving process. The sooner you begin the packing process the better and a great place to begin packing process is with belongings that are of a seasonal nature or used infrequently.  Some examples include; spare linens & towels, clothing for other seasons, rarely used crystal and china, and extra pots and pans.

Packing can be a very time consuming process and it can be quite stressful and costly if you are not ready for the moving crew to begin loading the truck on moving day.  Whereas Peasley Moving can usually pack up an entire household in a matter of a few days, most consumers will require several weeks to complete their packing.  With this in mind, getting started on the packing as early as possible will save cost and unwelcome anxiety as your move date approaches.

What Should Be Packed?

Unfortunately, every item that needs to be packed may not fit neatly into a standard box. There’s no need to pack furniture or large home appliances as these will be properly pad wrapped for protection by Peasley Moving on loading day. Some items don’t require packing in cartons if they are relatively light weight and unbreakable (i.e. clothing and towels) – they can simply be left in the drawers of your dresser or bureau. However, anything that is fragile in nature or loose (i.e. light bulbs, china, stemware, chandeliers, lamp shades, electronics) should be properly packed in quality moving boxes with proper packing materials.

NEVER pack items that are poisonous, flammable, corrosive or perishable.  Also NEVER pack  irreplaceable or highly valuable items such as jewelry, vital documents (passports, wills, stocks & bonds, birth certificates, social security cards, valuation policies, deeds), or currency. Other “never pack” items include; prescription medications, specialized collections (i.e. coins, stamps).  Such items should remain in your possession for the highest level of security.

Peasley Moving offers a wide range of packing options and many do-it-yourself customers opt to do most of the packing themselves and then hire us to pack and/or crate their fragile, heavy, and awkward items to ensure they arrive at destination intact and without damage. You should also be aware that some items require specialized shipment preparation, some of which can be performed by you and some of which is best left to the professionals.

Kitchen Packing

Carefully wrap all breakables including dishes, glassware, serving plates, stemware, cases, glass jars, and china with clean newsprint and pack them densely with plenty of dunnage (wadded up newsprint) in proper dishpack cartons. A properly packed dishpack should allow no movement of the items it contains and the items should be properly padded with dunnage on all 4 sides and top and bottom. Clean newsprint should also be used to wrap all pots, pans, and kitchen utensils before they are packed densely in medium cartons (3.0 cu ft). All kitchen books, binders, and paperwork should be packed in book cartons (1.5 cu ft) with adequate dunnage. Any previously opened products and perishables that are subject to spoiling, spilling, or leaking should simply be disposed of prior to move day in order to avoid contaminating the rest of your household goods. Many kitchen cleaning products and chemicals are hazardous in nature and should be handled as outlined in the Hazardous Materials section that follows.

Living Room Packing

Anything of a fragile, valuable, or delicate nature should be properly wrapped in clean newsprint and packed densely in dishpack cartons with plenty of dunnage at the bottom and top of the carton for best protection. Lamp shares should be placed in appropriately sized, sturdy cartons and surrounded with dunnage to protect against crushing. Hanging artwork and mirrors should be carefully wrapped and safely packed in picture/mirror cartons. Oversized, heavy, or highly valuable artwork and sculptures often requires specialized crating by Peasley Moving to ensure safe handling and delivery.  Pillows, throws, and other soft and lightweight items should be packed in medium cartons (3.0 cu ft). Living Room furniture will be properly pad wrapped for protection by the moving crew and upholstered furniture will also be stretch wrapped for protection against dirt and dust.

Dining Room Packing

Whereas the majority of fragile glassware, china, and serving dishes are found in the Dining Room, please refer to the same guidelines outlined for fragile and delicate item packing in the Kitchen and Living Room.

Bedroom Packing

As referenced previously, soft and lightweight items like clothing and bedding can be left in the drawers of dressers and bureaus as long as they are not overloaded. Loose items on night tables, bureaus, and dressers should be tightly wrapped in clean newsprint and packed densely in book boxes (1.5 cu ft) with plenty of dunnage to prevent movement and crushing. Clothing in closets can be loaded directly into wardrobe cartons (10.0 cu ft) with hanging bars and shoes can be loaded in the bottom of these wardrobe cartons. Extra pillows, blankets and other bedding that will not fit in drawers should be packed in medium (3.0 cu ft) or large (4.5 cu ft) cartons. For best protection against dirt and scuffs, mattresses should be packed in an appropriate mattress carton or a heavy duty plastic mattress bag.

Bathroom Packing

Many products and chemicals found in the bathroom are considered to be of a hazardous nature (refer to hazardous materials) or at risk for spilling or leaking (i.e. shampoo, lotions, hair products).  Just as in the kitchen, the best way to avoid the risk of damaging other items, it is recommended that open products subject to spilling or leaking be discarded prior to move day. The remaining items in the bathroom such as brushes, small appliances, and other personal care belongings should be wrapped tightly in newsprint and packed in book cartons (1.5 cu ft) with adequate dunnage. Towels and linens can be placed in drawers as space allows and any extras should be packed in medium cartons (3.0 cu ft) or large cartons (4.5 cu ft).  Mirrors and hanging artwork should be properly protected and packed in picture/mirror cartons unless they are oversized or heavy, in which case custom crating may be required.

Hazardous Materials

Materials considered to be hazardous in nature should never be packed or transported as they can potentially destroy other belongings in your shipment or threaten the safety of the staff that is handling and transporting your household goods. The list of items considered to be hazardous in nature includes, but is not limited to anything of a flammable or explosive nature (oil-based paint, varnish, thinners, fertilizers, gasoline, kerosene, heating oil, aerosol cans, nail polish and remover, ammunition, and explosives). Products of a highly corrosive nature or items that pose a health threat if spilled or breathed should never be packed or transported (i.e. pool or spa chemicals, insecticides, pesticides). Further, vessels such as propane tanks and gasoline cans should be excluded from your shipment. All of the aforementioned items and anything else of a hazardous nature should be properly disposed of well in advance of your moving date.

If you have questions about proper packing or packing cartons and materials, please contact us via our convenient Free Quote Form or call us at (208) 375-0961.