Moving is an activity that no one really wants to do. Sure, the actual move is exciting and it’s always good to get a fresh start somewhere else. But the actual process of moving is not easy or enjoyable. For that reason, people are always looking for hacks that can help them bypass some of the more unpleasant parts about moving.
Seal Drawers
These hacks listed here, presented by moving and storage experts, will help anyone simplify their move so they can get to the best part about moving – when you’re done.
Instead of removing everything from your dresser and nightstand drawers, cover them with cling wrap. This will effectively create boxes for the items that are in your drawers and prevent them from falling out during the move. And when you get to your final destination, all you have to do is remove the wrap and put the drawers back into their slots. It eliminates the need for additional boxes for the items in your drawers and the wasted energy of removing everything before putting it all back after the move.
Just be sure to wrap your drawers with two or three layers of wrap so that it’s secure. One layer isn’t always going to stick, but a double or triple layer allows the cling wrap to stick to itself. When you get to your new home, use scissors to cut through the wrap instead of trying to find the end and unpeel it. This makes it faster and more efficient.
Put Padding Between Plates
You can always purchase a specialized box that is designed for packing plates and other breakables and comes with built-in padding, or you can save some money and just put dish towels or pot holders between your plates so they don’t break during transport. A plate box is convenient, but it costs more than your average box (and significantly more if you can get most of your boxes for free) and you have to move your towels anyway. Why not use them to keep your fragile plates and other breakables safe throughout the journey.
Towels are also excellent for wrapping picture frames, artwork, and glassware, and for stuffing into gaps between items in boxes. Don’t buy towels just for this purpose though (unless you happen to need more towels). You can also use t-shirts, socks, and other articles of clothing for padding as well.
Use Soap or Toothpaste to Fill Nail Holes
Using soap or toothpaste to fill nail holes is a hack learned from college students who never seemed to remember to buy spackle before moving out. To avoid charges for having nail holes in their walls, students would pack toothpaste or soap into the small holes and smooth it flush with the wall. Be sure to use a soap or toothpaste color that matches the walls, but otherwise, this method is a great way to remove the appearance of holes in the wall without using spackle, which can be more expensive as well.
Place Cling Wrap Over Open Bottles
Even if your toiletries and cleaning supplies all have lids, they might not be tightly sealed or leak proof. There’s nothing more aggravating than getting to your destination and discovering that your bottles fell over and the contents leaked out into the box or container, damaging all the other items inside.
For every bottle that has already been opened, remove the lid and place a small piece of cling wrap over the bottle’s opening. Then, replace the lid and close it as tightly as possible. This will ensure that even if the lid comes loose or isn’t leak proof that the contents of the bottles will remain inside the bottles and not all over your other things.
Color Code and Label Boxes
If you’ve ever moved before, you probably already know enough to label your boxes with the room the box and its contents belong in. This is moving 101, as it makes it easy for your movers to know where to put each box and it helps you find things you’re looking for more quickly. But, you may not know that color coding your labels also helps. Here’s why.
Sometimes, during a move, labels get smeared or otherwise damaged. If you have to move in the rain, for example, there’s a good chance that your label won’t make it through unscathed. But, if you’re using a color coding system for your labels, you can still tell at a moment’s glance where a box belongs. It’s a great way to have a backup organization system in case your original plan fails.
Cut Out Handles on Boxes
Moving is so much easier if you use boxes that have handles, especially once you’re tired. Those boxes become heavy and handles make them a lot easier to maneuver. Buying boxes with handles will set you back a fair amount of money, but you can create your own box handles on any of the free boxes you get from sites like Craigslist or Nextdoor.
Approximately one-third of the way down the sides of the boxes, cut a rectangle out that is about the size of an adult hand. The rectangle doesn’t have to be perfect. You’re just looking for a way to get a good grip on the box so you can carry it out in front of you instead of trying to lift it from the bottom.
Tape Hardware to the Item it Belongs To
You’re probably going to have to disassemble some furniture to get it out of your old house and into your new one. A common problem is finding the hardware to reassemble it when you get to your final destination. To avoid this problem, put all hardware for each item it belongs to in a ziplock baggie and tape the baggie to the back of the item. You won’t lose it and it will be readily available when you need it.
Conclusion
No move is without some headaches and you aren’t going to prevent all of them, even with these hacks. But you can avoid most of them by planning ahead and being smart about packing, labeling, and preparing your home for the move.
