MOVING CLOTHES PACKING SUGGESTIONS

 For many of us, clothing is an important part of the packing process for house moving. It’s a big job, made even more difficult by a stuffed closet. It’s all too easy to leave packing clothes until the last minute or to pack haphazardly.

If you’ve ever moved clothes in a disorganized manner, you know it’s not the best way to go. Yes, it saves time during the packing process. However, once you arrive at your new home, it becomes clear that this was not the best strategy. You find yourself digging through boxes, searching for what you want, and lamenting, rather than simply taking a few extra moments to plan.

That doesn’t have to be the case. You can pack your clothes for moving in a way that makes unpacking easier with a few simple steps. And, believe it or not, it won’t take any longer.

Organize, declutter, and launder

For many of us, clothing is an important part of the packing process. It’s a big job, made even more difficult by a stuffed closet. It’s all too easy to leave packing clothes until the last minute or to pack haphazardly.

If you’ve ever moved clothes in a disorganized manner, you know it’s not the best way to go. Yes, it saves time during the packing process. However, once you arrive at your new home, it becomes clear that this was not the best strategy. You find yourself digging through boxes, searching for what you want, and lamenting, rather than simply taking a few extra moments to plan.

That doesn’t have to be the case. You can pack your clothes for moving in a way that makes unpacking easier with a few simple steps. And, believe it or not, it won’t take any longer.

Declutter

Declutter your closet to give yourself a fresh start. Take a good look at your clothes and decide whether you really need to bring them with you. You did, after all, live in that dress once upon a time. But when was the last time you put it on?

putting items into different piles

You’ll feel a weight lifted off your shoulders if you downsize your belongings. You might even be able to get some money for your moving expenses if you sell some items or put them in a consignment store. It takes time to sell items, so don’t put it off until the last minute.

Make separate piles for items to sell, donate, and keep. Find an organization to which you want to donate and make sure you understand their donation policies and times for receiving donations. Say good-by to your old clothes, shoes, and accessories and send them to a good home.

Organize

Next, organize the items you intend to keep. It’s entirely up to you how you want to go about it. We recommend organizing by room first, so that the boxes you pack can be delivered to the appropriate bedroom when you arrive. Then you can separate the items for your closet from those for your dressers. Keep things together to help you organize your boxes when it’s time to pack.

Separate by season, especially if your new home is in an area with drastic wardrobe differences to accommodate extreme heat or cold. Do you have clothing for sports such as snowboarding or surfing? Keep these separate as well.

Launder

Do your laundry before you pack to save time and effort. The best part about this step is that you can do something else while you wait for a load. That’s probably second best. The best part is having clean, fresh-smelling clothes for a new beginning in your new home.

Of course, wash your dirty clothes, but also check the clothes that have been sitting for a while. If anything smells musty or needs to be refreshed, run it through the washing machine. It’s preferable to keep your boxes fresh than to smell like stale sweaters or well-worn gym socks.

Prioritize based on the season

When it comes time to pack, you don’t have to do it all at once. Don’t worry about packing in a marathon session; instead, give yourself plenty of time to do it in stages. You’ll need clothes, underwear, and shoes for the time you’re still at home. Begin with the items you require the least.

You won’t need those parkas, winter boots, and scarves if you’re moving in the summer. If you don’t intend to unpack these items when you arrive, make sure you pack them properly to protect them from things like moisture and insects while they’re in storage.

Don't forget to include an essentials box.

You’ll need something to wear during your first week in your new place. Don’t put extra strain on yourself by rushing through the unpacking process. Set up an essentials box for the clothes you’ll need instead.

For the first week in the house, each family member should have their own duffel, suitcase, or box. Remember to bring your pajamas, socks, and underwear. Adults should pack clothes for work as well as clothes for leisure time. Children of various ages should have enough changes to get through time spent outside or messy meals.

Select your packing methods.

You may choose different packing methods for different types of clothing depending on how far you’re moving. Wardrobe boxes allow you to keep clothes on hangers while packing and unpacking, making packing and unpacking much easier.

You may be able to leave clothing in your dresser drawers if you have professional movers on the job. Not only does it save space and packing materials, but you also save time. Check with your movers to see if the drawers will stay in the dresser or if they should be removed and wrapped in plastic for transport.

Even if you don’t have a wardrobe box, you can leave your clothes on the hanger. Tie small groups of 5-10 hangers together for easier transport. Cover them with a large garbage bag if you want to protect them from dust or dirt on the way.

Packing service

Vacuum-seal bags are ideal for storing seasonal clothing that won’t be needed for a while. They’re especially useful for bulky items because they compress them and save space. If you’re storing your clothes for an extended period of time, they’ll need to breathe, but these bags are great for the short term.

To avoid damage, keep your delicate items and shoes in separate boxes from your other clothes. If you have silk or other delicate fabrics, wrap them in tissue.

The weight of clothing adds up quickly. Use smaller boxes whenever possible, even if it means using more of them. Oversized boxes become heavier quickly and are more difficult to move. Use what you have on hand instead of boxes. Clothing can be safely packed in duffel bags, suitcases, laundry hampers, and other bags.

Make use of labels

Labels are your greatest ally. They are, at least during the packing and unpacking process.

Don’t cut corners and skip labeling after all of this hard work to ensure you pack thoughtfully and set yourself up for a smooth unpacking. Labeling boxes will help ensure that they arrive in the correct rooms and that you can easily unpack them. Label your boxes on all sides and the top so that your movers can easily see what goes where.

 

By Move Move Movers