Hannah is a freelance relocation writer from NYC that has become an expert on packing and unpacking.
How to Pack Books When Moving
Are you planning a relocation to a new home soon, but have no idea what to do with your sizeable home library? Then you should probably take the time to learn some tips on how to pack books for moving or storage. Doing so improperly could easily result in your beloved belongings getting damaged. But there’s no need to worry! To help you avoid that, we’ve put together this handy guide with tips for handling print publications for a relocation. Simply follow these steps and you won’t have to worry about a thing.
There are more than a few ways to protect books for relocation
Now that you’re left with a pile of items you’re definitely taking to your new home or to the storage, it’s time to get them organized. Divide them into meaningful categories to make packing easier. Here are a few tips you could use:
Sort by cover type. Dividing all your book collection into hardcover and paperback is a great first step to organizing them for packing.
Sort by size. Additionally, you may want to sort them by their dimensions, as this will make it easier to fit them into appropriate size boxes.
Sort by shelf. While this method might not be that handy for packing, it will certainly make unpacking easier. Simply group together those titles that you keep on the same shelf and pack them as such. If you didn’t manage to find a job before moving to another state, or you’re still on a house-hunting mission, avoiding relocation depression will be much easier when you can easily find your favorite author and relax while reading.
Always use the smallest boxes possible to pack your titles. These will be more likely to sustain the weight they carry, as larger boxes could give in at the bottom. Alternatively, you might want to use a suitcase for heavier and larger volumes, as they will almost certainly carry the weight of their contents easily.
Use a Lot of Protective Materials
Before you start filling the box, cover its bottom and all its sides with at least two layers of protective paper. If you’re packing more expensive or rare volumes, you might even consider using bubble wrap or cardboard. Additionally, add protective layers between every two items for extra padding, especially if they are going to storage first.
Alternate Between Bound Edges
When stacking your book collection, either vertically or horizontally, don’t forget to alternate between bound edges. This will help protect the contents from moving around or stacking unevenly. However, when it comes to paperback issues, you should avoid stacking them bound edge up, as their covers aren’t sturdy enough to keep them in that position for too long, especially when they’re on the moving truck.
Carefully stack each volume
Tips on How to Pack Books for Moving – And How Not To
Now that you know what the most important things you should do when packing publications are, it is time to move onto things you should absolutely avoid doing. Without further ado, here are the most common moving mistakes people make when packing books for a relocation to a new home. Keep these tips in mind to make sure your belongings stay intact.
Not Preparing Books for Storage During Relocation
If you’re planning on storing your belongings in a storage unit for some time while you’re moving, there are certain things you should do to ensure your print survives this. Namely, you should use acid-free materials and waterproof protection. Of course, always make sure that the storage unit you’re renting is dry and cool, and don’t hesitate to ask movers for additional packing tips and tricks.
Packing Every Single Book
Are there any titles you might need during the moving period? For example, you could need some textbooks for school or you might simply want to have a book or two to read as you unpack. Perhaps your favorite one could help you cope with stress when moving? Whatever the case is, don’t box those issues that you’ll most likely need.
Being too Quick to Pack
Even if you’re working on a short deadline to move into your new home, you should take the time to carefully pack your belongings. Rushing through this task could easily result in unfixable damage to your items. So one of the most important moving day tips we have is to get organized early on and take your time to carefully handle your belongings.
Using Improper Supplies
Not using the right materials and supplies is a recipe for disaster when it comes to handling your book collection. For example, if you use large boxes, you run the risk of the box breaking and all of its contents falling out. If you use newspapers instead of clear paper for protection, the ink from the print might end up rubbing off on your items. So don’t hesitate to invest a little more in proper supplies.
Don’t use newspapers for protection
Leaving Empty Space in a Box
One of the most important things you should do before sealing the package is to fill the empty space. You can use packing paper, foam peanuts, or even pieces of cloth to do this. The important thing is to make sure the contents of the box don’t fly around and get damaged.
Being Lazy with Labeling
We all know how important it is to label your boxes. Writing down the contents of each box will help you unpack in a much more organized manner later on. However, it probably won’t be enough to simply write “books” on a box. You should at least at the category as well, such as “textbooks”, “dictionaries”, or “living room shelf”. And if you really have some time on your hands, you might even write down every single title.
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