Last Updated on May 30, 2021
Moving from one house to another can be stressful and exciting all at the same time. Staying organized, making lists, and planning ahead make the whole process a lot easier, but so does having a few handy moving tips and tricks up your sleeve!
Staying organized, making lists, and planning ahead makes the whole process a lot easier.
Because my family is planning a big move in the near future, I've spent the last week looking for ways to make the whole moving process more enjoyable. I'm really not one to obsess over the little things, but I do want to get our belongings from one place to the other in one piece. We've just purchased a few new furniture items and I don't want to risk any damage. These are the moving tips and tricks that were most helpful to me!
I've also included a checklist of non-packing essentials that should be planned in advanced. Hope they help! Plus, I found this great (very thorough) checklist from Art & Home for you to follow, from picking your move date to setting up your beds for your first night in your new home.
Moving Tips & Tricks
1. DIY Box Handles
Make picking up and lifting heavy boxes a little easier by cutting handholds in two sides of the box with a utility knife! Leave the top flaps of your triangular cut-outs attached and simply fold them in. I also find it helpful to reinforce your cut edges with a little packing tape so that they don't rip (especially the top corners).
2. Padding & Space Fillers With Soft Items
Place stuffed animals, pillows, sheets, blankets, and other soft items in trash bags and use them as padding next to fragile items in the moving truck. It also helps fill up irregular empty space in the truck so your belongings won't shift around during the move.
Use pillows and stuffed animals to fill irregular empty space…
3. Defrost Your Refrigerator
Plan ahead! Don't forget to defrost, towel dry, and clean your refrigerator 24-48 hours before moving day. This will help prevent a stinky, wet mess.
If your refrigerator will be sitting for a while, it's important to clean it REALLY well. Otherwise all of the little food particles that are left behind start to stink. It will be a nice surprise for you when you go to open it up at the new house. 🙂
Also, if you're trying to save space for a long distance move, consider utilizing the empty space in your fridge for light weight items, and don't forget to pad the handles and the face of the fridge really well because they dent very easily.
consider utilizing the empty space in your fridge for light weight items…
4. Masking Tape On Mirrors
Use masking tape to place a large X on your mirrors and glass frames. It won't prevent it from breaking, but it will absorb shock and keep the glass in the frame in the case that it is dropped or shuffled in the moving truck.
place a large X on your mirrors and glass frames…
5. Take A Photo of Your Cords
Trust me, this moving tip and trick will save you tons of time! Before you disconnect your computer cords to be boxed up, take a quick snapshot of the cords on the back of your television and other electronics so that you can remember where they all go! My husband would probably think this was silly, but I'm cord impaired. I'd rather never watch TV again than try to actually hook it up.
take a quick snapshot of the cords…
6. Use Rolling Luggage For Heavy Items
If you've got them, use your rolling luggage bags for really heavy items like books. Now you can avoid the heavy lifting and simply roll the bags onto your moving truck.
simply roll the bags onto your moving truck …
7. Put Hanging Clothes In Garbage Bags
Keep your clothes on the hangers while still protected in garbage bags! This saves the hassle of taking them on and off of the hangers. It also keeps your clothes all together in the order you had them hung, less wrinkled, and ready to hang up when you get to your new home.
No need to take them off the hangers…
I've also seen the garbage bag put on the opposite way, with the hangers in first. Just poke a hole for your hangers to fit through the bottom of the bag. You can't fit as many clothes in this way, but they stay in better form, and you can tie the bottom off with the drawstring closure. Label each bag (mom's side, dad's side, etc.) and then you can hang them up where they belong before easily ripping the bag off.
8. Pack A First-Night Box
Chances are, you're not going to be able to unpack and organize your new home the day of the move. But, this quick moving tip will save you searching for your contact solution, makeup remover and more! Pack a labeled box with all of your first-night essentials and load it last so it's the first thing off the truck. Better yet; keep it in your personal vehicle.
Load it last so it's the first thing off the truck…
You might want to include: toilet paper, toiletries, medications, snacks, basic cleaning supplies, COFFEE and a coffee maker, a first-aid kit, a utility knife, pet supplies, a night light for the kids, bedding, disposable plates, cups, and utensils.
It is also a good idea for each member of the family to pack a small bag that contains personal belongings that they might need for the first couple of days. Just pack as if you're going on a short trip! This way everyone has a change of clothes and anything else they might need.
9. Safely Pack & Move Plates
Because foam plates are already in the shape of a plate, it makes perfect sense to use them to protect your delicate glass and ceramic plates. Place one in-between each plate to prevent them from chipping or breaking. Read more here.
Protect your delicate glass and ceramic plates the easy way…
10. Plastic Wrap Is Your Friend
Of all the moving tips and tricks I have for you, this is the best! Use plastic wrap to keep items in their place. No sense in emptying your drawers or silverware tray when you can use plastic wrap to keep drawers shut or smaller items in their intended container.
11. Paper Bags In Place Of Newspaper
Paper bags are perfect for protecting glass cups and small bowls in the moving process. Double the bags for extra protection. Bonus: there's no ink-bleed like you'd get from newspaper.
12. Use Wine Cases For Your Glassware
Visit your local bar, restaurant, or winery, and you're bound to come home with several empty wine box cases! The inserts in these boxes are perfect for protecting glass cups, wine glasses, and vases.
These boxes are perfect for protecting glassware…
13. Make A Packing Supplies Basket
Put together all of the things you need for packing in a basket! This way you can carry it around with you and have everything at your fingertips. You might want to include: packaging tape, labels, scissors, Sharpies, a screwdriver, baggies, a utility knife and a bottle of wine. 🙂
Don't forget to include a bottle of wine…
14. Double Up On Fitted Sheets
If you're anything like me, you have a closet somewhere in your house with old sheets and blankets. Use those fitted sheets to protect your mattresses on moving day! Put one on just like normal, and then place another on the bottom for complete coverage. This will keep dirt and debris off of your mattresses in the moving process.
Use fitted sheets to protect your mattresses…
15. How To Pack Jewelry
When traveling or moving, jewelry has a tendency to get tangled, broken, or lost, but there are a few cheap and easy ways to prevent this from happening. Here's an easy, organized moving trick!
- Connect your necklaces through a toilet paper roll to prevent them from knotting. This is great for a short trip or packing up for a move.
- Use egg cartons to store and protect small pieces of jewelry like earrings, rings, and bracelets.
Re-purpose egg cartons and toilet paper rolls…
16. Keep Screws & Bolts Organized
When packing and preparing for a move, that usually involves taking furniture apart, and trust me, it's really easy to lose those small screws, bolts, and nuts if you're not careful. Simply use packaging tape to tape them to the underside of the furniture you're disassembling. For larger parts or for several pieces, you can also place them in a ziploc baggie before taping them to their corresponding piece of furniture. Now it will be a breeze to put them back together at the new home!
Even more Moving Tips & Tricks to Save you Time and Hassle!
17. Use Storage Bins For Seasonal Items
If you don't already have your seasonal items stored in plastic bins, invest in them now! Pack all of that stuff up that you only use once a year in bins, and you'll be able to easily identify what needs to be stored in the attic or garage come moving day.
You can even use different colored tape for easy identification…
18. Invest In Convenient Boxes
Sure, it's a good idea to start saving boxes months before the move, but it's also an excellent idea to invest in boxes that are made for particular uses. Check out this wardrobe box! It might be a good idea for expensive suits and coats. There are also boxes made for framed art work and mirrors, packing paper that won't leave ink stains, and box cell inserts made for separating delicate items.
Start saving boxes months before the move …
19. Drain Gas & Oil From Lawn Equipment
Gas and oil are considered hazardous and flammable. It's probably not a good idea to pack a lawn mower or weed eater full of gas in with the rest of your stuff in the moving truck. Be sure to drain it out before loading it up. Your lawn mower needs a good tune up every now and then anyway.
Drain it out before loading it up …
20. Double Box Your Valuables
If there is anything you're worried about breaking during your move, consider double boxing it for extra protection. This is especially true for electronics (like your computer or television). Although the original box that they came in is best, double boxing is another alternative if you no longer have them. Don't forget bubble tape and other protective stuff, too!
Consider double boxing it for extra protection …
21. Utilize Everything!
Think outside of the box with this moving tip! Literally. Use your pot holders to safely hold knives, store socks inside of shoes and boots, use the inside of your washer and dryer for storing pillows and bedding — anything you can think of to fill up empty space! This will save much needed room on the truck.
22. Print Out Bright Colored Labels
Packing is a tedious job! Writing and labeling every box is something you will have to do over and over again. Plan ahead and print out brightly colored labels. Now you can just slap it on to identify each box. It will also be much easier to pinpoint a box — you can see it from across the room!
Now you can just slap it on …
23. Use A Moving Key
Instead of labeling every box, use a moving key! This way you can just slap on a colored sticker or label without having to write on every box. Or, for instance, you can write the contents on each label, but easily be able to identify the room the box goes to by its color.
Easily be able to identify the room the box goes to…
24. Color Code With Tape
While we are on the subject of color coding, duct tape these days comes in just about every color and pattern (Minions, hotdogs and rainbows… seriously). Invest in a few rolls and use them to identify your rooms or contents.
Duct tape these days comes in just about every color …
25. Leave Lightweight Items In Drawers
No sense in unpacking your lightweight items from your dresser drawers! They aren't heavy enough to affect the moving process, and this way you can keep them where they belong without wasting any time, space or boxes.
26. Use Towels To Protect Boxed Items
Wrap your delicate kitchen items in towels and hand towels for extra protection. You can also use them to fill up extra space in a box to prevent the items from shifting and potentially breaking.
27. Upright Piano Moving Tip
If you've ever experienced the joy of moving an upright piano, you know that there's actually no joy involved in it at all! It's the most awkward, heavy and frustrating piece of furniture to maneuver. It's virtually impossible to lift into a truck without a ramp. I stumbled across this genius way to make the task so much more manageable with just a couple of 2 x 4's! I will be using this moving trick for our upcoming move.
28. Pack It Tight
Once you've got all of your household items on the truck, you'd think you were safe from breaking them from a drop, but all of those items are at risk of being shuffled around on the bumpy road — probably your best bet for damage. The tighter you pack, the better! Try to fill every nook and cranny, almost like a Tetris game. This way the items are less likely to shuffle.
Fill every nook and cranny …
29. Pack The Truck Like An Expert
Depending on the items you are moving, and how much, there are different techniques to packing a moving truck, but there are also the basics that will help you pack fast and efficiently. This diagram might help you with a good strategy.
30. Lay Everything Out First
I mentioned earlier about trying to pack the moving truck as if you're playing a Tetris game to prevent shuffling during the drive, but that's not easy if you don't have everything in sight to strategize. If you can, place everything outside on the lawn or driveway before loading up so that you have everything in eye's sight before determining your strategy.
Think of it as a game of Tetris…
31. Have A Sense Of Humor
Relax! You'll get there eventually. Moving day is probably the easiest excuse to get frustrated and tell your husband what an idiot he is. Remind yourself before the day starts that everything will be ok.
32. Celebrate With A Drink!
Congratulate yourself on a successful move using our easy moving tips and tricks with a bottle of champagne or whiskey. Whatever.
33. Non-Packing Essentials Moving Tricks and Tips
Don't forget about all of the non-packing essentials! Yeah, it's not fun, and that's why I leave these things up to my husband while I drink wine and blog about them. Make a list of all of the things that will need to be done in the weeks ahead of your moving date. This will relieve stress and ensure that every little detail is taken care of.
I leave these things up to my husband while I drink wine …
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