Packing made simple.

Declutter so you can pack less.

A crucial packing tip is making sure you don’t move anything that you no longer need. Lighten your stress and workload by decluttering before you enter the packing stage, which means figuring out what to toss, keep, sell, or donate. Take measurements of your new home and get rid of any furniture that won’t fit or you know you won’t use.

Invest in quality moving boxes.

It’s tempting to go to your local grocery store and try to score some boxes for free. However, moving boxes are relatively inexpensive, and the added durability can be worth the cost in the end.

Grocery boxes and reused moving boxes can be compromised due to wear and exposure to moisture or worse…a bug infestation. The last thing you want is a box falling apart in your hand while you’re trying to move it into the house.

Morton Moving & Storage offers quality moving boxes for purchase. Specific moving boxes are available for hanging clothes, televisions, dishes, books, and more, in addition to bubble wrap and packing paper. Call 731-668-6683 to discuss your specific needs. 

Set a timer and pack for an hour or two a day.

Don’t bite off more than you can chew. When it comes to packing, break down your packing into steps. If you procrastinate and try to pack everything the night before, you’ll likely become overwhelmed with stress. There is ALWAYS more packing than you anticipate.

Tackle one room at a time and spend an hour or two each day packing up items into boxes. Pack pairs or sets together and make sure your box is the appropriate size to hold a complete set of belongings.

Pack a moving essentials tote.

When you first move into a new home, it’s unlikely the first thing you’re going to want to do is to unpack clothes, do laundry, and go grocery shopping. Moving can take a lot out of your family, which is why creating a moving essentials tote ahead of time is tremendously helpful.

• Clean Bedding and Pillows: It’s amazing what a freshly made bed can do to make a room feel settled instead of in chaos! You’ll also thank yourself at the end of an exhausting move-in day when you can crash on a clean bed without a problem.

• Cleaning Supplies: If you don’t have access to your new space before moving day, you have all the more reason to come prepared with essential cleaning supplies. You’ll want to complete a few basic cleaning tasks before placing your items throughout your home. 

  • Sponges

  • Dish soap

  • Hand soap for each sink

  • Paper towels

  • An all-purpose cleaner

  • A broom and a dustpan

  • Dust clothes or rags

  • Pro tip: At least one toilet paper roll for each bathroom!

• Toolkit & Flashlight: If you don’t have a small toolkit, it may even be worth purchasing a new one ahead of time. Save your receipt; if you don’t use it, you can always return it!

• Paper, Writing Utensils, Tape, and Scissors: Thinking of labeling your rooms to help movers find where your boxes belong? You’ll need a Sharpie, some paper and tape for that. Having friends or family help with unpacking? Direct them by labeling cabinets or drawing floor plans. Worried you’re going to forget to tip your movers? Leave yourself a note! These are just a few reasons you may want a pen and paper handy on moving day. You never know when you’ll need these items, so it’s best to come prepared.

• Phone Charges and Bluetooth Speaker: Your phone battery may drain quickly on move-in day with calls you have to make or just from playing music while unpacking. Don’t forget to keep your charger handy so you can juice up! Also, having a Bluetooth speaker to play upbeat or soothing music can help keep the stress at bay.

• Snacks and Water: Moving is obviously physically hard work. Be sure to have snacks and bottled water on hand! If possible, put the water bottles in a fridge at the new home before you arrive so they are nice and cold! If that isn’t a possibility, pack a cooler full of ice with the waters in it. Grab and go snacks like protein bars are great to have on hand. Apples, bananas and grapes also make great moving day snacks for their burst of energy!

• A Small Overnight Bag: One of the best ways to feel put together during a move is to pack a bag like you are staying overnight somewhere. Because let’s face it, that new home will feel like you’re staying overnight somewhere other than home! At least until some boxes are unpacked!

  Plan ahead by leaving out a pair of pajamas, a change of clothes for the next day, plus your toiletry essentials like toothpaste, a toothbrush and your shower essentials. If your new home has a bathtub/shower combo, also try to leave out at least a clear shower curtain with rings so that you can actually shower. You’ll definitely want to wash up after a long day of moving!

• A pair of pajamas

• Clothes for the next day

• Daily medications

• A toothbrush and toothpaste

• Shower essentials (soap, shampoo, conditioner)

• Pro tip: A shower curtain

By following this moving essentials kit list, you should have everything you need while you’re unpacking, without having to go searching for things that are packed away!

Give each room a different color packing label.

To stay organized, print off multi-colored packing labels or use different colored masking tape and give each room its own color. Label the contents of each box and include the room it belongs in. Then in your new place, use colored tape to mark entrances to rooms. This moving tip will save movers a ton of time. Instead of needing to read the label explicitly or play the room guessing game, they can just match color to color.

Don’t overpack a moving box.

One mistake a lot of people make when moving is trying to cram all of their belongings into a few cardboard boxes they have around the house. Use as many boxes as you need to create easy-to-lift loads. Keep your largest boxes to no more than 50 pounds.

Use the right size boxes.

Place heavy items like books, in small boxes, and lighter items in larger boxers. This makes it easy for movers to organize and pack boxes into the moving truck. Be sure to pack heavier items on the bottom and lighter items on the top to avoid damaging breakables. Boxes are an essential part of packing a moving van tightly to prevent breakage. It is always best to allow your professional movers to include all the boxes in your move rather than hiring them "just for the big items". 

Don’t leave empty spaces in boxes.

Fill in any gaps with packing paper, clothing or foam peanuts to prevent items shifting around during the move. Use tape to close the bottom and top seams and around the edges where stress is concentrated. 

Bundle the breakables.

For any fragile items you pack, use plenty of bunched-up paper and padding. Never place these items in boxes freely without some extra cushion. Spend the time packing these items correctly to save you stress in the long run. Wrap each piece separately and add a layer of bubble wrap between each piece. Packing plates and glasses vertically can decrease breakage.

Repurpose household items for packing.

Think about how you can repurpose things you have — like hampers, suitcases and laundry bins for storing some of your clothes and household items. To help take up as little space as possible, use vacuum sealing for your clothes.

Label and take photos of furniture parts and accessories.

Take the extra time to protect larger pieces of furniture before you move. Remove and secure all drawers and doors beforehand. Also, label cables, drawers, doors, and anything you need to remove so you know where it goes when you put it back together. Put screws and bolts into plastic bags and tape these to the back of the furniture.

When packing up electronics, take a photo of the back configuration so you remember which cord goes where. Take photos of any furniture you take apart to serve as a guide for putting it back together. Also, make sure you label doors, screws, and anything else you take apart.

Always do a walk -through with your movers upon arrival. Notify them of any fragile pieces that may need special care such as a wobbly furniture leg or previously repaired item. 

Don’t pack these items with other household belongings.

Consider what should not be packed in the moving truck. Some things can be hazardous during the moving process, so it is best to move them separately or dispose of them before moving.

Tools, painting equipment and cleaning chemicals should be packed together in clearly marked boxes. You may want to use plastic totes to prevent messy or dangerous leaks. Pack bottles and medications together and keep them separate from other belongings.

Other items to pack separately:

• Fire Extinguishers

• Ammonia

• Chlorine granules

• Heating agents like Sterno

• Paints and varnishes

• Auto batteries

Stock up on packing material for the kitchen.

Consider packing everyday dishes, bakeware, Tupperware, and silverware separately. Crumpled newspaper, bubble wrap or corrugated cardboard will help prevent your fragile items from breaking, but just about anything can be used to pack breakable items. Utilize dish towels and even paper plates to create buffers.

Remember, crystal, china, ceramics, and keepsakes need to be carefully packed with lots of padding. Pack these items in smaller boxes with appropriate packing materials and labeled as fragile.

Use plastic wrap to avoid leaks.

Take care of anything that has the potential to spill. For instance, a shampoo bottle that seems tightly sealed outside of a box can somehow magically figure out a way to ooze over all your other belongings. In this case, keep all toiletries and liquids separate from dry items. Also, consider using plastic wrap as an additional seal between the bottle and the lid.

Use straws to keep jewelry from knotting.

Avoid knotted, tangled and broken jewelry by taking extra care of these items. Place your necklaces through straws to keep the chain from tangling, or lay them flat on a small towel and roll it up. Use a plastic pill case to organize and transport your extra small jewelry like rings and earrings. Always keep these valuables with you and transport them to your new home in your private car.