Moving is a significant life event. You’re essentially stuffing everything you own into boxes and containers and hoping it all makes it to the new place in sound condition. While the bigger items are bound to make you or the professional household movers sweat physically, often, the smaller belongings can cause the most stress. From packing these little items to protecting them from getting lost, here are a few useful tips for handling your smallest belongings during a move.
1. Use small fabric belongings as filler in bigger boxes.
Potholders, dish towels, washcloths, cloth table napkins, hand towels, even socks — the average household has a lot of these small fabric belongings. Try working these items in as filler in bigger boxes. For example, dish towels and potholders can be used to layer between plates to protect them in a box. Socks can be used to hold small breakables from the bedroom, such as perfume bottles or glass figurines. If you have a box that needs some filler to prevent items from shifting, fill the box with small cloth items as well.
2. Pack small breakables in small boxes inside large boxes.
When possible small breakable items, whether they are household decor, kitchen items, or something else, should be packed in their own smaller boxes. Wrap these things in packing paper or bubble wrap and secure the packing material with tape.
Place them in their own small box. Put that little box in a bigger box for an added layer of protection.
3. Keep smaller items contained where they should go as much as possible.
A lot of smaller items can be contained where they would typically be in the house. A few examples:
- Silverware can be contained in a flatware tray and wrapped with plastic wrap
- Spices and seasonings can be placed inside pots with lids
- Socks, ties, and accessories can be kept inside a dresser drawer
- Towels, shower curtains, and bathroom supplies can be housed in a bathroom laundry hamper
- Shoes can be tucked away in suitcases that will go in your closet
4. Attach removed hardware to furniture pieces for reassembly.
It’s typical to need to disassemble some furniture pieces before a move. You may have to take apart your bed frame, tables, and other large pieces that are hard to maneuver through doorways. It is all-too-easy to lose the hardware for disassembled furniture during a move, but there is an easy solution. Stick all the loose hardware in a small zipper baggie. Label the baggie, and then tape the bag to an underside area of the furniture piece if possible. Take care not to tape to a surface that might be damaged by the tape.
You can also place all the labeled bags of hardware in a safe place for easy retrieval when you get to the new home.
5. Create an inventory list of smaller items and where they are packed.
If you are really concerned about losing small items during a move, try creating an inventory list of your small items and note where you pack them. Your list may look something like this:
- Pens and pencils: contained in small box in desk drawer
- Silverware: secured in flatware tray in box labeled kitchen utensils
- Small hand tools: packed in a box inside a large tote labeled garage
Moving Doesn’t Have to Be a Chore — With the Right Help
The average American will move as many as 11 times in their adult life, and all the small and large items have to be handled every time. Make sure you get relocated with as little stress as possible by working with a professional moving company. If you need help moving, contact us for a free moving quote today.