Smart packing: the ultimate packing guide for your move
Choosing the right packing materials
Good packing materials are the foundation of a successful move. Invest in sturdy moving boxes in various sizes: small boxes for heavy items like books and dishes, large boxes for light but voluminous things like bedding and pillows. Never use boxes that have been damaged or soaked, they give way at the worst moment. Besides boxes, you need: bubble wrap or packing paper for fragile items, tape (at least 5 cm wide, good quality), a thick marker for labelling, and bags for soft items like clothing and linens. Stretch film is ideal for keeping drawers and doors of furniture closed and for holding stacked items together. Also consider furniture covers for sofas and mattresses, they protect against dirt, moisture and scratches. A good investment in materials prevents expensive damage afterwards.
Packing room by room
The golden rule: pack per room and label each box with the room of origin and the destination room in the new house. Start weeks in advance with rooms you use least, the guest room, attic, storage area. Pack the kitchen and bathroom last. Kitchen: wrap plates individually in paper and place them vertically in the box (like records in a rack). Fill glasses and cups with newspaper and place them upside down. Pots and pans can be stacked together with a tea towel between them. Bedroom: use your suitcases for clothing and your pillows as filler material in boxes. Clothes on hangers can stay hanging in a garment bag or bin bag. Bathroom: place liquids upright in a separate container or bucket and seal caps extra with tape. Living room: wrap decorations and frames individually in bubble wrap. Electronics in original packaging is ideal; if not, wrap them in blankets.
Protecting fragile and valuable items
Fragile items require extra care. The rule of thumb: if you were to shake the box, nothing should move. Every space in the box must be filled with cushioning material. For dishes, glasses and vases, use at least two layers of protection: first packing paper or bubble wrap around the item, then filler material around it in the box. Clearly mark boxes with fragile contents with "FRAGILE" on all sides and top. Place them on top in the truck, never under heavy boxes. Art and paintings are packed in special picture boxes or between two pieces of cardboard with bubble wrap in between. Protect mirrors and glass with an X of tape across the surface, if it breaks, the tape holds the shards together. Valuable documents, jewellery and electronics are best transported yourself in your own car. Photograph everything before the move, in case a damage claim is needed.
Smart packing hacks that save time
There are countless smart tricks that make your move more efficient. Use colour coding: stick coloured stickers on boxes corresponding to rooms in your new house and hang the same colours on door frames. This way movers know exactly where each box goes. Take photos of the back of your TV and computer before disconnecting cables, so you know exactly how everything needs to be reconnected. Use egg cartons for small loose parts like screws and plugs from disassembled furniture, and tape them to the furniture piece. Roll clothes instead of folding, it saves space and prevents wrinkles. Fill empty spaces in boxes with socks, tea towels or towels. Keep a box with basic tools separate: screwdriver, pliers, utility knife and tape. You'll need this as soon as you arrive. And the most important hack of all: start on time. Procrastinating leads to hasty packing, and hasty packing leads to damage.
What you'd better not pack yourself
Some items are better left to professionals. Very valuable or fragile pieces such as antiques, art, musical instruments and designer furniture require specialist packaging and handling. A professional moving company has custom-made crates, acid-free paper and shock-absorbing materials that you can't just buy in a shop. Aquariums must be transported empty, fish go in special transport bags with oxygen. Plants survive a move best if watered shortly before departure and transported upright in open boxes. Hazardous substances like paint, petrol, gas cylinders and cleaning agents cannot go in the moving truck and must be transported separately or disposed of. Frozen food from the freezer is best left behind or consumed beforehand, frozen food doesn't survive a long moving day. And always keep medications, passports and important documents with you, never put them in a moving box.
About Vermaat Verhuizingen
Vermaat Verhuizingen relocates private clients and businesses across the Netherlands. Our articles are written from practical knowledge of the moving trade, from narrow Amsterdam staircases to international moves. More about us →
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