Packing Tips for a Stress-Free Move

Packing is the part of moving that takes the most time and causes the most stress. It is not the heavy lifting or the logistics. It is the slow, room-by-room process of wrapping everything you own and putting it into boxes without breaking anything. But with a simple system, it goes a lot faster and nothing gets damaged.

Here are the packing tips our crew uses every day, from how to wrap dishes to how to keep track of 40 boxes in a new house.

Start With the Right Supplies

Before you pack a single box, get the right materials. Trying to save money on supplies usually costs more in broken items.

• Sturdy boxes in three sizes. Small for heavy items (books, canned goods). Medium for most things. Large for light, bulky items (pillows, linens, lampshades). Do not use old grocery boxes. They collapse under weight.
• Packing paper. Plain newsprint, not newspaper (the ink transfers). This is your main wrapping material for dishes, glasses, and anything fragile.
• Bubble wrap. For high-value fragile items like framed photos, electronics, and anything glass.
• Packing tape and a tape gun. Do not use masking tape or duct tape. They do not hold under weight and they leave residue.
• Markers. For labeling every box. This is the single most important step most people skip.

The Room-by-Room Method

Do not pack randomly. Go room by room, finish one room before starting the next, and label every box with the room name and a short description. Here is how to approach each room:

Kitchen

The kitchen takes the longest because it has the most fragile items.

• Plates: Stack with packing paper between each plate. Wrap the whole stack in more paper, then place it in the box on edge (like records in a crate), not flat. Plates are stronger on edge.
• Glasses and mugs: Stuff the inside with crumpled paper first, then wrap the outside. Stand them upright in the box, never nested inside each other.
• Pots and pans: Stack with paper between them to prevent scratching. Wrap lids separately.
• Knives: Wrap each knife in a few layers of paper, then tape the paper closed. Or use blade guards if you have them.
• Small appliances: Wrap the cord around the base, wrap the whole thing in paper or bubble wrap. If you still have the original box, use it.

Bedrooms

• Clothes on hangers: Use wardrobe boxes. These are tall boxes with a built-in hanging bar. Your clothes go straight from the closet to the box, still on hangers. This saves hours of folding and unpacking.
• Folded clothes: Use your own suitcases and duffel bags. They are going on the truck anyway, might as well fill them.
• Bedding: Garbage bags work well here. Stuff sheets, blankets, and pillows into clean bags. They compress well and protect against dust.
• Jewelry and small valuables: Carry these with you. Do not put them on the truck.

Bathroom

• Toiletries: Put caps on tight, then put each bottle in a zip-lock bag in case it leaks. Pack them standing up.
• Medicines: Carry these with you. Do not pack them on the truck where they can get hot.
• Towels: Use towels as padding. Wrap fragile items in towels to save on packing paper and fill empty spaces in boxes.

Living Room

• Electronics: Take a photo of the cable setup behind your TV or entertainment center before you unplug anything. Label each cable. Wrap remotes together in a bag.
• Books: Use small boxes. Books are heavy. A large box full of books is impossible to carry and the bottom will blow out.
• Framed pictures and mirrors: Wrap each one in bubble wrap, then pack them on edge (not flat) in a box with "FRAGILE" written on all sides.

Garage and Outdoor Items

• Tools: Small tools go in a toolbox. Wrap sharp edges.
• Hazardous materials: Movers cannot transport propane tanks, gasoline, paint thinner, pesticides, or ammunition. Dispose of these properly before moving day.
• Garden items: Empty pots, clean tools, drain hoses.

Five Rules That Prevent Breakage

1. Heavy items in small boxes, light items in big boxes. This is the number one rule. A big box full of books will break. A big box full of pillows is fine.
2. Fill every gap. Crumpled paper, towels, socks, anything soft. Items shift during transport, and empty space means things bang together.
3. Do not overpack. If you cannot close the box without forcing it, take something out. An overstuffed box will not stack and the contents get crushed.
4. Tape the bottom of every box. Use the H-tape method: one strip down the center seam, one strip across each end. This is especially important for heavy boxes.
5. Label two sides. Write the room and contents on the top and one side of each box. When boxes are stacked, you can still read the labels.

Should You Hire Packers?

If you do not have the time or do not want to deal with it, professional packing is worth the cost. Our crew can pack an entire house in a day, using the right materials and techniques. Everything is wrapped, boxed, labeled, and ready to load. For fragile or high-value items (pianos, art, antiques), professional packing is especially smart because the movers take responsibility for how things are packed and transported.

Orange Movers offers full and partial packing services in the Fort Lauderdale area. Call us or request a quote online.

Related service: Packing & Unpacking