If you have chosen a self-pack move this useful guide aims to help you wrap, pack and protect your belongings in preparation for your move.Packing Tips For House Removals
In this packing guide:
- Packing materials and equipment you will need
- Putting together your moving boxes
- When to start packing and how long it takes
- Using a removal company to do your packing
- Where to start with your packing
- Packing each room and how to best pack particular items
- Packing valuables
- Labelling boxes
- Top tips for packing
- What not to pack
PACKING MATERIALS AND EQUIPMENT YOU WILL NEED FOR MOVING HOUSE
Before you start packing for your move you will need:
- A selection of small, medium and large moving boxes
- Packing tape
- Scissors/Small Knife
- Marker Pen
- Packing paper (Avoid newsprint—it can leave a mark on items)
- A clear surface to pack on
Check out our guide to packing boxes and materials for moving house.
What sort of boxes should I use for moving house?
Best type of box for moving house
Use boxes that are designed for moving house and strong enough for their purpose – don’t use old supermarket cartons or fruit boxes. These may be weaker and likely to split or get easily damaged if dropped or rained on!
Choose the right size box for what you are packing
- Small Moving Box – (aka Bournes PK 6) Ideal for Books, Records, Tools, Foodstuff, Heavy Items, Bottles & Liquids – typically holds a 3 foot shelf of books / dvd’s
- Medium Moving Box – (aka Bournes PK 2) Ideal for China, Glassware, Toys, Pans, Electrical small appliances – typically holds the Contents of a single kitchen cupboard
- Large Moving Box – (aka Bournes PK 3 or 4 (layflat)) Ideal for Linen, folded clothes, soft toys, curtains – typically holds Bedding for a single bed OR 2 foot rail of clothes OR 3 drawers of clothes
Wardrobe Cartons – great for packing hanging clothes if you want to move them on their hangers to avoid folding/creasing.
PUTTING TOGETHER YOUR MOVING BOXES
Assembling your boxes properly for safe loading is really important in reducing the risk of damage. Here’s how to do it:
On one end of the box fold the smaller flaps in first and then fold in the larger flaps.
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- Push the sides of the box together until the larger flaps touch tightly and tape the seam. Start taping about 5 inches on the side of the box and continue across the seam and up 5 inches on the opposite side.
- If the box will be filled with heavy items it’s a good idea to put some extra tape as above across the middle of each flap for extra strength.
- Flip the box over so the open end is facing up ready to load. Once your box is full tape across the seam as you did above and label. Don’t fold the top of the box criss/cross!
This is our number one tip. A significant amount of the stress of moving house comes from packing, so use a removal company with packing services to do this for you if you can. There are lots of reasons we advise this:
- Saves you time – it can take weeks for an individual to pack their own home. Depending on the size of your move a removal company may be able to pack, move and unload everything in a single day!
- Reduces the risk of items getting damaged – movers are professionally trained in how to best pack all types of items for transport. They use specially designed materials and have years of experience in what to do to protect your items in the best way.
- Reduces stress – having to live amongst boxes for several days or suddenly realising you need something you packed weeks ago can be really stressful, especially at a time you’re likely to be anxious anyway. Letting a removal company handle packing for you can alleviate this.
Removal companies often offer different levels of packing service so they can pack all or just some of your items, for example just the fragile things. Check out our packing options for removals to find out more.