Tested packing strategies from people who've moved dozens of times. How to label boxes, protect fragile items and pack so that unpacking is fast.
Packing well is the single biggest thing you can do to make moving day — and the week after — easier. These are the tips that actually make a difference, gathered from people who've done this more times than they'd like to admit.
Buy more boxes than you think you need — running out mid-pack is the most common mistake. Use small boxes for heavy items like books (a full box of books is genuinely hard to lift) and large boxes for light, bulky items like bedding and cushions. Get proper packing paper rather than newspaper, which leaves ink on everything. Bubble wrap, tape (a lot of it), and a permanent marker are non-negotiable.
Label every box on the top and at least one side — boxes get stacked, and you need to read the label without unstacking everything. Write the destination room in large letters, not just "kitchen" but "kitchen — top shelf" or "kitchen — fragile glasses". Number your boxes and keep a simple list of what's in each one; this takes ten minutes and saves hours when you're hunting for one specific item in a new house full of identical boxes.
Pack one room fully before starting the next — half-packed rooms create chaos. Start with rooms you use least (spare room, loft, garage) and finish with the kitchen and bathroom, which you need until the last moment. Keep a box of "first night essentials" separate and load it last so it comes off the van first: phone chargers, toiletries, a change of clothes, bedding, kettle, mugs, tea/coffee, and any medication.
Wrap each fragile item individually — don't rely on items cushioning each other. Plates pack better on their edge (like records) rather than stacked flat. Use clothing, towels and bedding as free padding around breakables — it protects items and saves you packing materials. Glasses and mugs should go in individually with paper stuffed inside them, not just around them.
Take photos of how electronics are wired up before you disconnect anything — you'll thank yourself when reconnecting the TV in the new house. Keep all screws and small fixings for flat-pack furniture in a labelled freezer bag, taped to the item itself so it doesn't get lost. Empty drawers of heavy items before moving chests of drawers, but light items like clothing can often stay in place if drawers are taped shut.
Use suitcases and holdalls for clothes instead of boxes — you already own them and they're easy to carry. Leave clothes on hangers and group them with a bin bag pulled over the top, tied at the hanger hooks — instant wardrobe boxes. Don't empty every single drawer if the furniture is going in the same orientation and isn't too heavy to carry with contents inside — check with your removal company first as some prefer drawers emptied.
Valuables, important documents (passports, certificates, house paperwork) and anything irreplaceable should travel with you, not in the van. Liquids, aerosols and anything flammable need special handling — ask your removal company what they can and can't transport. Houseplants are best transported in your own car — they don't travel well in a packed van for hours.
Start using up food in the fridge and freezer so you're not transporting (or binning) a full freezer. Defrost the freezer at least 24 hours before moving day. Do a final sweep of lofts, sheds and garages — these are the areas people forget until the last minute, then end up rushing.
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