Little packaging tips

Packing material and other essential supplies:

• Cardboard boxes
• Wardrobe boxes
• Ropes and ties
• Plastic bags
• Filling material
• Scissors and markers
• Wrapping paper / Foam paper
• Bubble wrap / Tight wrap
• Packaging tape and scotch tape dispensers

LITTLE PACKAGING TIPS

• Before packing, sort out items to give away and sell. This will prevent you from carrying old things with you.
• Buy boxes from a moving company to make sure you have boxes in good condition and corresponding sizes. This will make it easier to stack them and you can store more in the truck. Boxes obtained from the grocery store or other stores are not always clean and often cannot support the weight of the items stored in them. In addition, their unfitting dimensions make loading difficult.
• Don’t wait until the last moment.

If you personally take care of the packing, pack a few boxes a day and start several weeks before the move.

• Don’t pack your tools first.

You will need several tools that will allow you to quickly assemble and disassemble pieces.

• Make sure you don’t lose small pieces of your furniture.

Avoid having to search for essential items. For example, when disassembling furniture, avoid putting screws and other small items in some random place. A simple trick is to place each small piece of a piece of furniture (screws, hinges, handles, etc.) in a bag, and then reassemble them to the pieces of furniture in question. These little pieces will be extremely important when the time comes. A simple trick, yet the most effective!

• Start packing room by room,

and start off from one corner at a time. It is best not to mix items from different components in one single box.

• Start off by packing the least useful items,

such as decorative items: records, books, stuffed animals, and save the most important objects like everyday kitchen or bathroom items to pack lastly.

• Balance the weight of your boxes.

For example, avoid putting lots of books in one corner of a large box and stuffed animals on the other.

• Fill your boxes to the maximum

to prevent them from collapsing when stacked upon another box.

• Use small boxes for heavy objects (books, etc.) and medium-sized ones for lighter effects like pillows, blankets and stuffed animals. Aim for the maximum weight of 15 to 20 kg for each box.
• Color code your boxes based on each piece:

red = kitchen, blue = bathroom… Nothing stops you from writing the name of the room on the box, either. The movers will then have the opportunity to choose the moving system which suits them best: by identifying by the color or the name of the room they belong in.

• Be sure to use filler and padding materials inside the boxes.

The more you fill the unused spaces with flexible loads, the more safely immobilized your items will be.

• Place your plates vertically in your boxes rather than horizontally.

To reduce breakage risks, store your plates vertically in the boxes. However, do not forget to protect your plates, for the sake of minimizing the risks as much as possible.

• For packaging, use only unprinted paper.

Regular newspaper is messy and can stain your items.

• Roll up your clothes.

Instead of folding your clothes, you should roll them into a cylindric tube(not into a ball!). They will be in much better condition than folded.

• Before packing medication and health care products, make sure their caps are safely closed.
• Remove the bulbs before packing the lamps
• Place frames in boxes, between some sheets or some blankets to protect them properly
• Get yourself a box or two for essential items you will need as soon as you enter your new home, for the first night, the next day, the first week: pajamas, bedding, toiletries, dish towels and rags, detergent, some utensils, cardboard plates and plastic glasses… Above all, carry them with you in your car to make sure they don’t get lost under a pile of big boxes at the back of the last room!
• Carry your valuable photos in person, financial documents (checks, insurance policies, investment certificates, etc.), legal documents (wills, passports, etc.), jewelry, stamps and valuable coins, as well as your medical and family history.
• Take the time to write a list of contents on each box.

If you do not have time to unpack your boxes quickly, this system will allow you to easily find the objects you are looking for at your destination.

• Hazardous materials, such as flammable products, varnishes and thinners, gasoline, kerosene and oil, liquefied gas, aerosols, nail polish and solvents, ammunition and explosives, corrosives and detergents, are examples of items that cannot be used.

Have a good move and good luck!