12 Clever Home Packing Tips for Your Next Move

We’re moving (again) and my husband and I are currently knee deep in packing. No matter how many times I pack, it always feels overwhelming. We’ve collected moving boxes and we are purging along the way. I’m determined to be more organized this time, making it possible to unpack efficiently and avoid a storage room full of  mystery boxes.

Thanks to Pinterest, I discovered the best packing tips across the web. Here are my favorite 12 home packing tips we’re using for our big move.

1. Give Each Room a Number. Design Mom puts in a little extra work up front to make unpacking go smoothly. Grab a clipboard and notebook paper and create a number and record for every room in the house. When you arrive at your new destination, you’ll have a detailed record to help you unpack each room!

   

2.  Add Glad Press N Seal to Your Packing Supplies. Hello genius. Use it to keep your puzzle pieces from getting everywhere. Use it to keep your clothes from falling out of dresser drawers. Wrap up your silverware in its keeper. Keep your jewelry from shifting or getting lost with some Press N Seal (goodbye tangled necklace chains).

   

3. Keep Hanging Clothes on Hangers with a Garbage Bag. I just breathed a huge sigh of relief, thanks to I Heart Naptime. Put a hole in a garbage bag, slip it over a group of hangers, then tie a knot at the bottom. I would add a rubber band to the grouping of hangers at the top.
4. Remember the Details that Can’t Be Packed. Part of moving is getting your stuff packed. The other part is remembering to take care of all of the other stuff, like bank accounts, utilities, and school records. This go-to list from Listotic will make sure you don’t forget anything.

   

5. Avoid Spills. Your packing is sure to include soaps, detergents, shampoos, cleaners, and more. Don’t assume their lids are spill-proof. Give yourself some peace of mind by wrapping each one with tape or placing them in a Ziploc bag.
6. Make a Plan Before Filling Your Moving Truck. This handy diagram will help you make a plan to use the space in your moving truck most efficiently.
7. DIY Box Handles. Listotic changed my world again with this simple trick to make your own box handles.

   

8. Label Kid’s Items with Photos. Help your kids take responsibility for their toy room and bedrooms when they arrive at their new place. Take photos of what’s inside their packing boxes, so they can easily find their toys and clothes – and help organize them.
9. Pack Heavy Items in Small Boxes with Handles. Have you ever made the mistake of putting as many books as you possibly can in a large moving box? Oh. Me either. Don’t break your back hauling huge, heavy boxes. Save the large boxes for the lighter items and pack the heavy things in small batches.
10. Use Fitted Sheets to Protect Your Mattresses and Furniture. We definitely have extra sheets for this! 
11. Save the Soft Stuff for Packing Filler. Save those socks, blankets, pillow cases, stuffed animals, and sheets to use as filler for fragile items. You need to pack them anyway, so why not put them on double duty. 
12. Create an “Exit” Box. Keep a box of items you’ll need when you arrive – toilet paper, soap, assembly tools, and more. 

What are your favorite packing tips?