Packing Tips for Self-Service Moves
If you’re moving, and you’re planning on packing your items yourself, you should take some time to properly pack and secure your items. Many people who are moving tend to just sort of take what they can get in terms of boxes – a cardboard box is a cardboard box, right?
Well, not all cardboard boxes are made equally, unfortunately, and many times items packed in unsafe boxes for moving purposes end up getting damaged in one way or another. The problem just gets worse with the more stuff you’re looking to move, so getting your items packed right the first time will save you a lot of time and effort.
If your moving company will be packing your items for you, you don’t really need this blog, but for all those out there who plan on DIY-ing it up, you should keep reading to learn more about how to properly pack and ship your items.
For starters, make sure to get moving boxes. You can find moving boxes at most hardware stores, and companies such as U-Haul and maybe even Self-Storage and other storage unit facilities will be able to either furnish you with proper moving boxes, or at the very least point you in the right direction so you can go get some from your nearest store.
Proper moving boxes are typically made of stronger corrugated cardboard, which allows you to more securely pack items in them. There are typically five different types of moving boxes. Small boxes are for your odds and ends, particularly books and the like. Medium boxes also fall into this category, but you’ll need fewer of them.
You’ll need at least a couple of large boxes to handle some of the larger items in your home, and for your dishes and the like you should probably look into getting a dish pack, which is a specialty box designed to haul around dishes. Wardrobe boxes are your largest boxes, designed to fit in most all your clothes in one fell swoop.
How many moving boxes you’ll need largely depends on how much you’re shipping, so gauge your move as you’re boxing your items and go from there. When picking up supplies, don’t be afraid to ask questions pertaining to the various types of boxes, as the people who sell you your boxes will likely be able to explain more about their particular boxes.
When packing, always make sure to use packing tape – duct tape doesn’t stick to corrugated cardboard, so keep that in mind. Free boxes are enticing, and you can use some free boxes for unimportant goods in your move, but you should strive to protect anything valuable. Use packing paper, which you should be able to get wherever you get your moving boxes, as ink from newsprint can actually stain your household goods.
If you’re interested in shipping your household goods, you can read more about the process right here on our website! If you’re shipping a car along with your household items, we can help with that as well.
Take a minute to fill out our free online quote request form and you’ll get a free quote to ship your vehicle immediately. We work with only top-rated auto shippers so you know you’ll be in good hands from start to finish.
You can also contact us over the phone at 800-930-7417 to get started. Our friendly representatives can answer your questions, give you a quote, book your shipment, and much more. So no matter what you’re looking to move, let American Auto Shipping help you get it done.
Since 2007 Dave has written all the content and blogs for American Auto Shipping and during this time added the duties of customer support and transport logistics.
He currently resides in Washington with his three kids and their mom and cat. A fan of Marvel movies and good stories, when not shipping cars Dave can be found working on his novel, enjoying a good book or playing some tournament HALO.
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