Questions discussed in the article:
- What else you need to know about packing clothes when moving
- How to choose the right packaging for clothes when moving
- How to prepare clothes for packing when moving
- How to properly pack different types of clothing when moving
Each of us has moved or changed our place of residence at least once in our lives. Therefore, we all have an idea of what an important, responsible and exciting event the move is. Proper organization of the processes of packing and transporting things will allow you not only to keep them in perfect condition, but also to save time when arranging your new nest. Read about how to pack clothes for moving, while spending the minimum amount of effort and money, in our article. To be more prepared or even make your moving easier we also recommend watching helpful videos with moving tips from professional movers with years of experience. Your life will be easier if you address part of your moving to professionals. Find some time to check moving company reviews and ask for at least 3 moving Quotes. Expenses are always disappointing but using nowadays tools like approximate moving cost calculator or numerous apps will help you to plan and even save your money.
What you need to know about packing clothes for moving
In the process of preparing to move to a new place of residence, you will need not only to disassemble and properly prepare the furniture for transportation, but also to securely pack all your clothes. Therefore, we recommend that you take note of several important packaging rules:
- when dividing clothing into groups, you should focus on two bases: the season and the owner (children’s sweaters, men’s pants, women’s dresses);
- polypropylene bags will perfectly protect your clothes from dirt and mechanical damage;
- in order to save space, it is better to connect the packages together with sticky tape;
- be sure to make the appropriate labels on each stack.
How to properly pack clothes for the move?
For these purposes, it is recommended to use special polypropylene products that will allow you to form stacks with clothes and securely fix them. In this package, you can transport any wardrobe items without worrying about the safety of their appearance:
- lingerie;
- t-shirts;
- tracksuits;
- fur coats, mantos;
- coat made of natural wool, in particular, with collars;
- business suits.
It is worth noting that in vacuum bags you can not only pack clothes for moving, but also use them for further storage of out-of-season things (jackets, down jackets) and spare sets of bedding.
That is, all things that take up a lot of space can be packed in sealed bags, using a special device (or a simple vacuum cleaner) to pump out excess air and thus save the maximum amount of free space. If you have a lot of oversized items of clothing, try to choose packages of appropriate sizes. After moving, the vacuum bag will need to be opened, the clothes shaken, possibly washed and smoothed – and the former form will be returned.
You can buy vacuum bags or covers for clothing in stores with household goods, hypermarkets or order them on one of the Internet trading platforms.
How to pack clothes for moving: 5 preparatory steps
Step 1. Lay out and sort the clothes.
Many of us save up various items of clothing for years, getting rid of unnecessary things only in the most extreme cases. Before you pack your clothes for the move, take out everything you have and spread it out on the bed or floor. After that, it is necessary to sort the clothes by color, size and material, while simultaneously putting old and unnecessary things in a separate pile.
Decide on the main groups and arrange the clothes in different piles.
To pack the stacks, select the appropriate transport systems. For small bundles of clothing, small boxes are suitable, and for large ones, you will need suitcases, bags or large boxes.
Step 2. Get rid of unnecessary things.
Moving is a great reason to review your wardrobe. Try on clothes that you haven’t worn for a long time, examine them for mold, mothballs, moths, and bed bugs. A musty “aroma” is also a signal to get rid of this or that thing. In addition, you should put aside those clothes that have long gone out of fashion. Thus, you have a whole stack of unsuitable, old and unfashionable clothes that you are unlikely to use in everyday wear.
Run your fingernail over the fabric. This will allow you to detect insects lurking in your clothes or see the remnants of bedbugs (dried blood). It is better to get rid of such things, especially if you have long forgotten about their existence.
Items of clothing in good condition that you have become small, disliked or out of fashion, you can give to those in need in shelters or other charitable organizations.
Throw away all your torn, worn, and dirty clothes. Do not forget to sort out hosiery and underwear, which often accumulate in the drawers for long months or even years.
Step 3. Set aside the clothes you will need right away.
In a separate bag, you should pack the clothes that you will need immediately or in the first days after moving, since it will be very problematic to look for a replacement home kit or work suit on the first morning in a new place. Don’t forget to also leave the clothes you plan to wear on the day of the move, including underwear and socks.
In a bag with basic necessities, you can pack not only clothing items, but also toothbrushes, soap, shampoo and other important things.
Step 4. Use old clothes to pack the fragile items.
You probably have glass and ceramic dishes that you are going to move to a new apartment. Before you pack these items for moving, wrap them in old clothes. To save space in the boxes, it is better to choose things that match the shape and size of the dishes. For example, tall, narrow items can be packed in the legs of trousers or jeans, and T-shirts and sweaters can be used to transport wide plates.
Carefully pack fragile items: place them on top of each other or side by side.
In order to further protect glass, porcelain and ceramic products, you can lay an additional layer of clothing between them before moving. For this purpose, a shirt or pants made of soft material are perfect.
Glasses and glasses for moving can be packed in knee socks or socks.
Step 5. Leave some things in the dresser drawers.
If there is a chest of drawers among the transported furniture, some things can be left in its drawers. But it should be things made of light fabrics: underwear, socks, pajama sets, T-shirts. Jeans, sweaters and outerwear should be packed separately. There are two ways to transport the chest of drawers: in its entirety or in disassembled form. To transport the chest of drawers in the assembled state, you will need strong assistants.
In cases where the drawers of the chest of drawers are easily opened and are not equipped with a locking mechanism, it is better to pull them out. Each box should be properly packed in a tight bag or wrapped in plastic wrap. Please note that there should be several layers of film, so that the contents can not fall out, get dirty or get lost in the process of moving.
If you do not plan to disassemble the chest of drawers before moving, you should wrap each drawer with a cord. To do this, you will need ropes made of dense material: just tie them to the chest of drawers on top of each drawer, securely securing the ends.
During the move, the chest of drawers will need to be carefully fixed in the back of a truck or trailer. This can be done both with strong cords, and using cargo belts. It is necessary to tightly wrap the chest of drawers with tapes and attach it to the bottom or sides of the truck.