How To Pack For A Move: 50 Fast & Simple Moving House Packing Tips

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how to pack for a move

Packing. The dreaded ‘p’ word.

Like almost everyone, you’ve probably put packing off for as long as possible. Now moving day is right around the corner and you don’t have a clue where to start or any idea how to pack for a move properly.

Well don’t worry, we’ve heard it all before!

Which is why we put together the most comprehensive list of fast and simple moving house packing tips. So hopefully you can avoid those last minute panic-packing problems!

Explore Our Packing Guide:

Moving House Packing Tips

1. Stop Procrastinating

Suffering from packing procrastination? We’ve all been there. But don’t let your moving day creep up on you. You need to stop procrastinating and start packing! If you’re moving with a procastinator, read our guide on how to deal with unhelpful characters when moving house.

2. Make a Packing Checklist

It’s important to be organised, and making a checklist of everything you need to pack is a good way to make sure you don’t miss anything. We also have a moving house checklist, which will work alongside your packing checklist nicely.

3. Don’t Hoard Things You Don’t Need

If you’ve left things off the packing checklist, you’ve done it for a good reason. Don’t be afraid to get rid of them! The more you pack, the more work for you. So go ahead and chuck out that rusty old TV that’s been stored away in the garage for years!

4. Create a Packing Kit

To be a pro packer, you’ll need a pro packing kit on deck for all situations. Here’s some essential items you’ll need:

  • Duct tape
  • Labels
  • Permanent markers
  • Stanley knife
  • Scissors
  • Measuring tape

5. Start Gathering Boxes

You can’t start packing without boxes, and you’ll want a lot of them. If you search your local hardware stores like Bunnings, op shops, and online marketplaces like Gumtree, you’ll be sure to find a bunch of free boxes. The condition of used boxes isn’t always the best, so you might want to purchase some new packing boxes as well. They’re super cheap, and come in a variety of sizes to suit all your packing needs.

6. Organise & Label Every Box

It’s time to put your packing kit to good use and start organising your boxes. Using coloured paper or labels and assigning colours to a room is a great system to quickly distinguish what goes where without having to read the whole label.

When labelling a box, don’t hesitate to include as much information as possible. 

The following is a list of all the things you can include on a label:

  • What room it belongs to
  • Categorise what’s inside
  • List what items are inside
  • Priority of when the box should be unpacked
  • Write ‘Fragile’ if the box contains fragile items
  • Write ‘Essential’ if the box contains essential items

7. Reinforce The Boxes

Some of the old boxes you gathered might not be in the best condition. It’s important to reinforce all the boxes with duct tape on the sides and bottoms to avoid any moving day catastrophes.

8. Pack Things You Don’t Use Often First

When it’s time to start packing, you’ll want to pack things you hardly use first. This is usually stuff like old books and CDs you haven’t used in a while, as well as tools and other things stored away in your garage. 

Packing up this stuff ahead of time is a fantastic time-saver and will save you a lot of stress too.

9. Don’t Overpack Boxes

We all think we are expert packers and can precisely fit everything into one box like a game of Tetris. But when packing for a move, you don’t want to overpack boxes. You have to remember you’ll be doing a lot of the heavy lifting, so keep the boxes on the lighter side if possible. As a rule of thumb, pack boxes to a maximum of 20kg.

10. Heavy at the Bottom – Light at the Top

Correctly distributing the weight of each box is very important. Do this by packing heavy items at the bottom and light items at the top. Firstly this protects your lighter items from being damaged, and secondly it makes carrying the boxes easier.

11. Wrap Everything Correctly

When it comes to wrapping, you don’t want to get lazy. Go with a ‘better safe than sorry’ approach. Some wrapping essentials you’ll need are:

  • Butchers paper or packing paper
  • Bubble wrap
  • Zip-lock bags
  • Sheets, blankets & clothes

12. Make Sure Boxes Are Filled

If a box isn’t filled, top up the empty space with your wrapping material, whether it be sheets, bubble wrap or even pillows. This will prevent movement when the box is being transported.

13. Make Sure Boxes Can Close

You’ll also want to make sure all your boxes can close properly. You never want to pack a box that has something sticking out the top. If you have any items like this, repack them in another box. Once a box is packed and can close properly, tape the top up to keep it secure.

14. Use Your Pillows & Sheets to Protect Things

As previously mentioned, you can use your sheets and pillows to protect other items when packing. This works wonders on large items such as appliances and it saves you having to pack your pillows and sheets in their own box.

15. Luggage & Bags Make Great Boxes

Not everything has to be packed into a box. Suitcases and even bags are great substitutes and are perfect for packing your clothes.

16. Avoid Mixing & Matching

You might be tempted to chuck a kitchen item in the bathroom box because it fits perfectly, but this is never the way to go. Mixing and matching the items in your boxes will only create chaos and confusion when you’re unpacking into your new home.

17. Take Photos

If you absolutely love how your display cabinet or TV unit is currently arranged, take a photo! It’s always hard remembering where to put things in your new house, but this way you can make sure you get everything exactly in its right place.

18. Double Check You’ve Packed Everything On Your List

When you’ve finished packing, refer back to the list you made. Have you packed everything? Have you packed anything you weren’t supposed to? Double check and triple check your boxes to make sure your move goes smoothly.

19. Enjoy It!

Moving houses is always a special moment in life, so take some time to enjoy it. Packing can be a draining activity, but it will all be worth it once you’re moved in!

20. Hire a Professional Removalist

To remove all the hassle of packing and moving, it’s best to hire a professional removalist. At Gentle Giant Removals & Relocations, we’ll assist with the packing process, we’ll supply cartons and boxes and we’ll even help unpack too. To check out all of our services, head to our removal services page. Or to check out where we work, select your area below:

How to Pack Glasses for Moving

As removalists, we are commonly asked how to safely pack kitchenware, and one of the most common questions about packing that we get asked is ‘How do I pack my glassware safely?’. Here’s 5 handy tips that’ll ensure you can pour yourself a wine in your favourite glass as soon as you’re moved in.

1. Prepare The Box With Protection

For maximum protection of your precious glassware, you’ll want to prepare the bottom of the box with crumpled paper, newspaper, or bubble wrap. This will provide enough cushioning to stop the glasses from hitting the bottom and becoming damaged if dropped.

2. Wrap Each Glass Individually

It is important to wrap each glass individually and carefully. Wrapping them individually prevents any glass-on-glass contact.

3. Pack The Heavier Glassware First

You don’t want any of your delicate and fragile glasses or cups buried in the box underneath a bunch of heavier items. So it’s best to pack your glassware methodically, starting with the heaviest items first and placing the most fragile items at the top.

4. Add Extra Cushioning For Wine Glasses

Wine glasses are typically very delicate so you’ll want to take extra precautions with packing them for a move. We suggest adding extra cushioning in the form of crumpled paper inside the glass and also around the stem before you wrap it.

5. Bubble Wrap Is Your Best Friend

If you have bubble wrap on hand, don’t be afraid to use a bunch of it for your glassware. Not only does bubble wrap do a fantastic job protecting glass, but popping it when you unpack makes for great fun as well!

How To Pack Plates For Moving

If you have a large amount of plates in your kitchen, the prospect of packing them all can be daunting. Make sure your plates are packed securely with these tips.

1. Use Your Strongest Boxes

When packing plates into a box, the weight will quickly add up. Using new and strong boxes is recommended to prevent the box breaking from the weight of the plates.

2. Wrap Each Plate Individually

Like glassware, you don’t want your plates to come in contact with each other when moving around inside the box. You can prevent this by wrapping each plate individually, or using a large sheet to create a layer between each plate inside the box.

3. Add Some Extra Padding At The Top

When your dishes are all packed up, it’s time to add some extra padding at the top of the box before you seal it up. Scrunched up packing paper will do the job just fine. This will ensure there’s no room for the plates to shift during transportation. 

4. Make Sure The Boxes Are Labelled ‘Fragile’

This is a very important step, but an easy one to forget. Your plates are fragile, so label the box accordingly!

5. Don’t Stack Your Plate Boxes

Your plates are ready to be moved! When packing your plate boxes into a removal truck or any other vehicle being used for transportation, make sure the boxes are placed at surface level and not stacked at all. You’ve spent all that time packing your plates, so don’t risk them getting damaged before you get to your new house.

How To Pack Clothes For Moving

Clothes are often something that get left to the last minute when packing for a move, which often leads to clothes being wildly thrown into boxes the night before moving day. Avoid the wardrobe mayhem with these simple tips.

1. Donate Clothes You Don’t Wear

Moving is a great excuse to thoroughly sort out your wardrobe and get rid of any clothes you don’t need. Not only will moving with less clothes be easier for you, but you can donate the clothes you don’t want to ensure they don’t go to waste!

2. Give Your Clothes A Wash

Some of your clothes might not have seen a wash in a while, so giving them all a proper clean before packing is essential. This way, whenever you unpack your clothes boxes after moving in, you know they are fresh and ready to go.

3. Sort Out All Your Clothes

Sorting out your clothes by category will make it so much easier when unpacking. We recommend having one box of essential clothes and sorting the rest out however you like, whether it be by size, style, or material – whatever works for you.

4. Fold Your Clothes Neatly

Yes it might be tempting just to toss all your clothes into a box as quickly as possible, but that will be a nightmare when you’ve moved in and are searching boxes for something decent to wear. We know it’s boring, but make sure you fold all your clothes as neatly as possible before packing them.

5. Use Garbage Bags To Pack Hanging Clothes

If you have delicate hanging clothes but no garment bags to protect them, we have a simple life hack that will help you out. Just use a garbage bag instead! Cut a small hole at the bottom of the garbage bag and then slip your hung piece of clothing inside the garbage bag. Then all you have to do is poke the hanging hook through the hole you cut, and now your piece of clothing is ready for moving day!

How To Pack Books For Moving

For all you bookworms, here are some tips to avoid bent covers and torn pages when packing books for a move.

1. Organise Your Books By Size

Books can be an absolute pain when packing because they come in all shapes and sizes. Organising them by size before you start packing will give you a much better idea of what size boxes you’ll need and how everything is going to fit.

2. Use Smaller Boxes

Books can be quite heavy. And a big box of books would be very, very heavy. That’s why we recommend packing books in small boxes to keep the weight low and avoid any unnecessary moving injuries.

3. Make Sure Boxes Are Strong & Reinforced

As just stated, the weight of books quickly adds up, so make sure your boxes can handle the weight. If you’re using used boxes, reinforce the boxes with duct tape and line them with packing paper.

4. Wrap Your Valuable Books

We all have our favourite books, and they’ll need extra protection to ensure a safe trip to your new home. Wrap your valuable books up in sheets or an old shirt to keep them safe!

5. Leave A Couple Of Books Unpacked

If you’re a hardcore reader, you won’t often go a day without reading. So don’t make the mistake of packing all your books up in boxes! It might be a while before those boxes get unpacked. Leave a couple of books you’re currently reading unpacked so you can still get your reading fix in.

How To Pack Kitchen For Moving

You’ve finished packing your kitchenware but what about the rest of the kitchen? From appliances to cooking utensils to food, there’s a lot to consider, so make sure you’re organised with these tips.

1. Try To Empty Your Fridge Before The Move

Resist the urge to do any big food shops as you approach moving day. Ideally, you want to move as little food as possible, especially items that need to be refrigerated. So plan a couple of big feasts to clear out that fridge before moving day!

2. Declutter Your Pantry

Packing your kitchen provides a great opportunity to declutter your pantry. All those cans of food hiding away at the back of the pantry with an expiration date of 5 years ago don’t need to be making the journey to your new home. 

3. Be Careful With Dangerous Items

This one is pretty simple, but often overlooked. The kitchen is filled with dangerous items, especially things like knives and scissors. Be careful when moving these items and mindful when packing them, as you don’t want anyone getting a nasty surprise when unpacking.

4. Don’t Be A Hero With Heavy Appliances

There’s no need to be a hero with heavy appliances! Fridges and dishwashers are not only deceptively heavy, but they are awkward to carry as well. At minimum, it’s a two-person job, however the more helping hands the better.

5. Pack Your Essential Kitchen Items Together

You’ll want to put aside one box to be your designated kitchen essentials box. This is anything you’ll need for some easy meals just before and after you’ve moved in. Here’s a list of essential items you’ll want to have on hand:

  • Plates, 1 per person
  • Bowls, 1 per person
  • Cups, 1 per person
  • Some cutlery
  • A sponge and soap
  • Tea towels
  • Toaster
  • Coffee maker if you’re a caffeine lover 
  • Food essentials like bread and cereal (pack light here because you can always go to the shops) 

How To Pack A TV For Moving 

Whether you’re packing a TV for moving or packing a desktop computer, screens are always a tricky one to pack for a move. They’re an awkward shape, they’re fragile and there’s often too many cables and devices attached to keep track of. Don’t worry, these quick tips will have you watching Netflix in your new home in no time.

1. Disconnect All Cables & Devices

It might seem like a smart decision to keep all the cables and devices connected when packing your TV, that way you won’t have to spend time plugging everything back in. But this will most likely have the reverse effect, and cause an absolute mess when unpacking. You don’t want to be wasting your time untangling cables! 

And if you’re worried about forgetting where everything should be plugged in, taking a photo of all the cabling is a great idea.

2. Remove The TV Stand & Any Other Attachments

On top of the cables and devices, you’ll also want to remove the TV stand and any other attachments before packing. TVs are fragile, and so are the stands. If still attached when packed there’s a big risk of damaging your TV.

3. Clean The TV

The back of a TV often gets neglected when cleaning the house, which is why they’re usually very dusty. So now is the perfect time to give your TV a clean. Just dust off all the dust and wipe everything down with a cloth. Make sure you give the screen a once over too. Removing all the small debris is important because they can potentially scratch your screen in the moving process.

4. Wrap The TV In Bubble Wrap Or A Sheet 

Now your TV is clean and ready to go, the next step is to wrap it safely. This is ideally done with bubble wrap, but an old bed sheet can work well too. Make sure the whole TV is wrapped securely, and that the sheet or bubble wrap isn’t sliding off the TV when placed into a box.

5. Use The Original Box If You Have It

If you’re someone that always keeps the boxes for everything you buy, then you’re in luck. TVs are notoriously hard to pack, so having the original TV box makes life a whole lot easier. If you’ve chucked out the original box, it might be worth checking your local hardware store for a suitable box with the right dimensions for your TV.

Make Moving Day Easier With A Reliable Removalist

Well done, you’ve finished packing at last and you’re ready for moving day!

But moving day is another massive challenge in itself. Make your moving day stress-free and seamless with a professional removalist. 

Gentle Giant Removals & Relocations have experienced relocation personnel who provide the full range of removal services. Contact our expert removalists today for a free, no-obligation quote.