Packing clothes is a specific and unique moving issue because every piece requires its own method. If you want to know how to pack clothes for moving, the main question is how to avoid wrinkling and dusting during the relocation. Here are some tips and tricks that will make this process easier for you by saving a lot of time, energy, and money.
Boxing up the clothes can be a fun experience
Organize and Declutter Your Clothes
When you figure all the reasons to move and decide where to move, you should start thinking about the relocation itself and all that comes with it. To facilitate the entire process, you need to decide which items are worth transporting and which ones you don’t want any longer. Sell or donate unwanted items or things you don’t wear anymore, especially if you’re moving into a smaller home because you’ll need every inch of free space.
If you are relocating for a relationship, you have to think about their stuff as well when moving in together. This will be beneficial if you are looking for a way to reduce moving expenses. Also, having insight into all your apparel, whether on hangers or in drawers, you should organize clothing by season and family members that they belong to. Sort similar pieces into piles and find an appropriately labeled box for each pile. Be sure to wash all clothing before packing to avoid any possible mixing of dirty pieces with clean parts of clothing, since that’s one of the common moving mistakes.
Organization will make everything easier.
Pack Off-Season Clothing Earlier
Have you picked the best time of the year to move? Are you moving during the holidays or perhaps relocating in the summer? The truth is that off-season outfits won’t be used for a few months after the relocation, so the best method is to put them away beforehand. Be sure to label the items properly since there won’t be a need to unpack them right after the trip. It is also important to listen to some wise long-distance relocating tips on how to protect your outfits from moisture and unwanted odors.
Your first logical step would be to just get out the path the items that you don’t use at the moment.
Pack Your Lighter Stuff Without Emptying the Dresser
Leaving a dresser full of stuff can be an excellent solution since it can save you a lot of loading areas in the truck. This option can have benefits when it comes to unpacking – it will be much easier after you move into a new home. If you plan to hire top-rated professional cross country movers based on recommendations from trusted sources, remember to ask whether or not they are willing to move your dresser with the garments inside.
But if you’re relocating on your own, then take the drawers out and free them of heavier contents. Dressers are usually very heavy and carrying them separately can make everything a lot easier. In case your drawers will stay inside, you should cover them in plastic wrap or blankets to avoid any potential damage, and stuff them with bubble wrap or packing paper so that there’s no shifting inside.
Items of clothing you won't use soon should be packed first.
Eliminate Wardrobe Items You Don’t Wear Anymore
If you decided to relocate to another country with enormous heat or low temperatures, then you should avoid carrying unnecessary clothes with you. Speaking the truth, your closet has so many different out-of-fashion pieces or some you will never wear again. To avoid transporting more than necessary, you need to decide what to keep, donate, or sell. Relieve yourself of the unwanted burden, make someone happy, or get extra money, and reduce the costs of moving. It will come in handy for your moving budget, even if you opt for the cheapest way to move out of state.
Although this tip is something you should do long before moving, it is not a bad idea to adopt this habit. Put all your clothes on hangers and point hangers in one direction. When you take and wear an item of clothing turn the hanger in the opposite direction and at the end of the year, the ones that are left in the primary position should be considered as an excess. This is the easiest way to keep track of what you haven’t worn for a long time. When the moving day approaches you’ll have a chance to donate your excess clothing or sell it if you didn’t do it before. Consider it a part of the move-out cleaning.
Simple organization will make the whole relocation much easier.
Put Valuable Pieces in Garment Bags
For things that are expensive and delicate (tuxedos, suits, wedding dresses), garment bags are the best option to avoid additional moving stress. These soft-sided suitcases reduce the chance of expensive things getting dirty or wet during your trip. The best garment bags will keep your wardrobe safe, secure, and wrinkle-free.
This is one of the most important tips to help you move your garments: pay extra attention to your valuable garments, some may not be possible to repair from wrinkling or getting wet.
Pack Shoes Separately
During the packing process, your shoes should be separated from the apparel to prevent soiling. Using shoeboxes is handy, but if you do not have any, you can use a plastic bag or a shower cap. After all, it’s not like you’re packing knives so you have to protect the sharp edge or pointy tip. Keep in mind that you should consider stuffing your shoes with socks or packing paper to avoid footwear deforming. Putting small features, like underwear or socks in shoes or sneakers, is a great trick to really utilize the capacity of the suitcase because it frees up other parts and pockets.
Shoes should go in their own boxes.
Best Tips and Methods on How to Pack Clothes for Moving
Packing shouldn’t be a stressful and demanding process if you know a few packing tips and tricks that will help you to do it smoothly. You just have to decide which of these techniques will work. If you have more versatile pieces of clothing, then you can combine different methods with different packing materials.
Tips for Using Wardrobe Boxes
Wardrobe boxes are a perfect choice for the garment on hangers that tends to wrinkle easily. Did you manage to find a job before moving to another state? Excellent, this will keep your shirt and suits tidy and wrinkle-free for the first day of work. Each box can hold about a half of a standard-sized closet. They contain a metal hanger that can be easily moved from the closet right to the box. The precious addition is the compartment for wrapped shoes at the bottom of the wardrobe box.
Duffel Bags
Is there anyone who doesn’t possess a duffel bag in his closet? These small and practical bags are suitable for folded stuff and shoes when you are moving. Depending on how spacious they are, the best way to fill them is by rolling the clothes. At the bottom, you can place the things that are least used, while putting the important ones put on the top so you can take them out easily when you need them.
To get the most out of the space in your duffel, try to wrap your clothes in a bundle roll. This approach will secure that everything fits perfectly when you place it inside and it will wrinkle less. There are many techniques to roll your clothing, even multiple pieces in one roll and optimize the duffel most efficiently.
One of the tips to help you save money and time: Many things can replace boxes, think about what you can use as free packaging.
Vacuum Sealing Bags
Also known as compression bags, they look like large ziplock pouch but with one addition – a tiny one-wave valve at the bottom that allows you to squeeze the air out using a vacuum cleaner. These practical bags can save you plenty of space, especially if you need to load bulky things, like sweaters, jackets, or pants. They protect against odors and are water-resistant.
It is important to know that you shouldn’t pack your sensitive clothes like this. Since you are going to compress them and keep them like that for a while, they might wrinkle and some items can break their lines like expensive coats or suits. The only procedure to get them into their previous shape, if possible at all is to get them to a professional laundry for a steam press and cleaning. This can help you save a lot of space and time when you are relocating. Maybe you should know that they can be quite heavy when you fill them up, so just require some assistance when lifting them.
Create Clothing Bundles
If you want to organize larger items to facilitate the subsequent unpacking process, the bundle stuffing method is probably just the right choice for you. The point is to fold several layers of large pieces of attire over each other. The largest jacket should be at the bottom, and once the jacket is full, wrap it around the other stuff to create a bundle. Put it with other bundles inside a cardboard box with the heaviest one at the bottom.
Pack Things in Small Boxes
We recommend that you use smaller packages or totes. Especially if you try to fold as many pieces as possible in one box. Maybe you intend to minimize the number of transporting boxes, but the truth is that overloaded and big boxes can be crushed and damaged more easily.
Moving Wardrobe Using Suitcases, You Don’t Need to Buy Boxes
Using a suitcase is always a good option because it saves you from purchasing extra cardboard packs for moving. Transporting with suitcases makes the process easier since you have to move your solid bags anyway. They can serve as an excellent storage place for everything you need during the relocation.
Packing Clothes Wrapped in Plastic Garbage Bags
Your hanging items can be moved with hangers and without wrinkles. All you need are plastic garbage bags or sheets as practical protection from dust and dirt. This is another great way to replace boxes. Plastic bags are a better option if you need:
- Non-slip bag
- A bag that suits the exact length of your hanging clothes
- Protection for apparel in drawers
- Tight holder for a certain number of pieces
Pack Essentials For the First Few Days
Try to create a list of your essential clothes for the first few days when you arrive at your home. Imagine that you are going on a weekend somewhere, and prepare like that, only instead of some night-out pieces put aside some comfy work attire that will be appropriate for heavy lifting. Place some pajamas, some warm items like a sweater, extra warm socks and blouses, or a few extra shirts if it’s warm and sunny in your suitcase or backpack. Since unpacking your dresser probably won’t be your priority, you should have something to wear when you start unpacking and something to sleep in.
Utilize all the tips and the clothes won't get damaged and dirty during the move.
Get Packing Services to Make Your Relocation Stress-Free
Moving shouldn’t make you feel anxious, even if you’re moving alone to another state, but sometimes it can cause relocation depression. House-hunting and preparing for it several weeks or months in advance is quite enough to make you tired and exhausted when the big day comes. That’s why choosing a reliable and reputable company is a prerequisite for everything to run smoothly. If you don’t want to rely on yourself when it comes to packing glassware, electronics, furniture, and other sensitive stuff, it’s important to choose a company whose services include packing, moving, and professional storage.
Professional movers will also come fully equipped with packing materials for moving. In case you want to transport your car across the country, you can also get auto shipping. With the right cross country moving company to take care of your belongings during the move, your life would be much easier and happier, while you will have more time for preparing and checking the safety of your future neighborhood.
