Start well in advance of the moving day and
avoid the last minute packing, rush, and strain
Use only boxes with lids. This allows better
packing of the moving truck and greatly reduces the possibility of damage.
If necessary, purchase boxes and packing
materials from a moving company. Use linens and towels to cushion fragile items
Label all boxes with a list of contents, and
which room they will be moved to in your new residence. If a box has fragile contents,
boldly mark the outside of the box "FRAGILE". Label both the top and the side of
each box.
Leave clothes in drawers.
Use about four inches of crumpled paper in the
bottom of every box loaded with fragile items. Wrap each item individually and add paper
cushioning around it.
Wrap plates, saucers and china individually,
then bundle in groups of three or four. Stand them on end in the carton; never lay them
flat.
Wrap cups and glasses individually and pack
them rim down in the box. If items are particularly delicate, pack one box inside another.
Don't use newspaper to wrap fine china and
other items that can't be easily washed. Newspaper ink smears easily.
Box stereo and computer equipment to prevent
damage.
Pack pictures and mirrors in boxes. If you are
concerned about damage, have these items professionally packed.
Check to see that caps are secure on
toiletries, medicines, laundry soap.
As you pack small boxes, move them into a
staging area such as the living room or the garage. This makes moving day progress faster.
Make sure a few hand tools are easily
accessible. You may need them right away in your new house.
Upright file cabinets with drawers can be left
full. Lateral file cabinets need to be emptied as do desks and credenzas.
Do not pack any flammable materials or aerosol
products, including hair spray, shaving cream, deodorant, insecticides, cleaning products,
spray paint, nail polish remover, bleach, lighter fluid, and motor oil. The temperature
inside a closed
moving van can reach 150 degrees, and these
combustible items can trigger an explosion.
If you are moving your belongings into a
storage unit, get a unit larger than you require. This way boxes can be stacked against
each wall to leave an aisle down the middle for easier access to stored items.
