How to Pack for a Move: Room-by-Room Guide

Good packing is mostly about two things: the right container for the weight, and labels that tell the crew where a box goes. Everything else follows from there.

Supplies worth having

Small boxes for heavy things, large boxes for light things (this is the rule people reverse most often), dish barrels or double-wall boxes for kitchens, wardrobe boxes for hanging clothes, packing paper, bubble wrap, quality packing tape, stretch wrap, and thick markers. Skip newspaper on anything white — the ink transfers.

The order to work in

Start with the rooms you use least: storage, guest rooms, the garage, seasonal closets. Finish with the kitchen and bathrooms, which you need until the last morning.

Kitchen

The slowest room in any house. Wrap plates individually and stand them on edge like records — they survive far better vertical than stacked flat. Nest bowls with paper between them. Wrap glasses and stemware individually and pack them in a box with cell dividers. Keep boxes under about 40 pounds. Empty, drain, and dry small appliances. Seal anything liquid in a bag before it goes in the box.

Living room

Take the TV off the wall and pack it upright in its original box if you have it, or a purpose-made TV box. Photograph the back of your electronics before unplugging so reassembly is obvious. Slide artwork into picture boxes with corner protectors; never lay glass flat under weight. Wrap lamp bases separately from shades, and never pack anything inside a shade.

Bedrooms

Wardrobe boxes save hours — clothes go straight from the closet to the box on their hangers and straight back into the new closet. Roll folded clothes into suitcases and duffels you already own. Bag bedding and use it as padding around fragile items. Keep bed hardware in a labeled zip bag taped to the frame.

Bathrooms

Group by person, not by category. Seal every bottle with tape over the cap, then bag it. Pack a first-night bathroom box: toilet paper, hand soap, towels, shower curtain and rings, toothbrushes, medications.

Garage, tools, and outdoor

Drain fuel from mowers and trimmers — movers cannot legally transport fuel or propane. Keep sharp tools in their cases or wrap the blades in cardboard and tape. Bundle long-handled tools together. Paint, solvents, and chemicals usually cannot ride on the truck either, so plan a disposal or a car trip.

Labeling that actually helps

On the top and one side of every box write: destination room, a one-line summary of contents, and FRAGILE or THIS SIDE UP where it applies. Number the boxes and keep a short list on your phone. When you are looking for the coffee maker at 9 p.m., you will be glad you did.

What to keep with you

Documents, passports, medications, jewelry, laptops, keys, chargers, and anything irreplaceable travel in your own vehicle.

Rather not do any of it? Packing and unpacking is one of the services we offer — call Dinka Moving Services at (983) 204-4460 for a quote.