What Packing Materials Do You Need for Moving and Self-Storage?
When you are moving house or keeping items in storage, it is essential to pack them carefully to ensure they stay in excellent condition until it is time to unpack them. Packing materials can help protect furniture and other items against damage during transit. Similarly, when you are putting away goods in storage, they need to be packed appropriately to ensure they do not develop mould and mildew. Hence it is important to follow these simple steps.
4 Steps to consider while packing your goods for storage or relocation
- First make a list of everything that needs packing.
- Next, weigh them to get packaging material that is strong enough to hold the goods.
- Procure packing material suitable to the size, weight, and nature of the goods. Do not skimp on quality. Improper packing can lead to damage to your goods, incurring a heavy loss.
- Find a self-storage facility that gives you adequate space for goods that need to go into storage. Ensure the facility is easily accessible and gives your possessions absolute protection.
Moving house is an exciting time, but it can also be stressful if you have not planned. Do not leave everything to the movers and packers. We have put together a guide to help you plan your move and get everything packed efficiently and safely.
4 Essential Packing Cases and Boxes for Moving House or Self Storage
When choosing packing cases or boxes you need to make sure that they fit the size of the objects inside them. Purchase boxes that are strong and sturdy – a flimsy box from a supermarket will split easily. A professional company that specializes in storage or removals will supply a range of differently shaped corrugated cardboard boxes specifically designed to be strong enough to hold heavy loads. Place large or heavier items at the base of boxes and pack small, light, or more flexible items on the top or in the gaps in the boxes to keep the base strong.
These boxes are available in a variety of materials like cardboard, paperboard, plastic, and wood. You can choose the material depending on your needs. For example, if you need to ship an item quickly, then you could opt for a cheaper option like cardboard. If you need to protect your item from damage during shipping, then you should go for a stronger material like wood.
There are various kinds of packing boxes that will help you when packing up your products for shipping or storage.
- Small Cardboard Boxes / Medium Cardboard Boxes
Cardboard boxes are a key player in transporting your belongings around the world. Not only that but they can also be flattened down to a compact size on arrival at your destination and then reused repeatedly.
Small cardboard boxes are perfect for CDs, small decorative ornaments, stationery, and other small random objects lying around the house. You can also put away your essentials like phone chargers, keys, and anything else you might need when moving in a small box to keep with you. The smallest boxes are best for small items like jewellery, personal care products, stationery, and other small items.
A medium box is best suited for storing larger items like photo albums, books, kitchen utensils, small appliances, computers, and footwear. Keep in the mind the capacity of the box and refrain from overloading it. Cramming boxes beyond the recommended capacity makes it difficult to move them around. They could also split open during transit.
- Large Cardboard and Plastic Boxes
Large Boxes are great for storing various things. You can store all sorts of items in them, including clothing, bedding, lamps, kitchenware, toys, and other small items. Do not fill them too full because you will struggle with lifting them and/ or moving them around.
Choose the largest size of cardboard container for those light, yet bulky items that take up a lot of space. These include curtains, tapestry, linen, bedding, and pillows, among others. They can hold sizeable items like mattresses, couches, tables, chairs, and even full-size beds. Premium boxes sometimes have wheels to help you move bulky and heavy items around easily.
- Specialty Boxes
For items like mirrors, wardrobes and pictures, a standard cardboard box will not cut it. These items require specialized packaging, which is why you should opt for custom-made boxes. You must also purchase packing materials, such as bubble wrap and corrugated board, to ensure the safety of your item through transit and while in storage.
You should pack your structured clothing carefully when moving house. If you put your expensive clothes like tuxedos, special gowns, sherwanis, and lehengas in a regular cardboard box, they may get crushed during transit. Make sure you buy specially design wardrobe boxes, to hold such clothes while transporting them. These boxes are also useful if you have seasonal clothing that needs to be stored during off-season. You can keep your winter gear in the box during the summer months and vice versa. Wardrobe boxes come in many sizes and styles – choose them according to your requirement.
- Document Boxes
Be sure to buy a suitable number of document boxes to carefully put away important files and documents. Label and seal the boxes yourself, rather than leaving them to the movers and packers. If these boxes are going into a self-storage unit, make a handy list of what each box contains for future reference. Avoid putting legal documents and bank documents in a storage unit.
11 Wrapping and Packing Materials for Storage and Moving
If you just pack everything up and send it off to storage, you may end up with broken items when you unpack them. You need to protect your possessions properly before sending them off. Wrapping and packing supplies are available at any local store. Here are 11 examples of the various kinds of wrapping and packing material you can choose from:
- Bubble Wrap
Bubble wrap is great for protecting fragile items like jewellery, electronics, and other small items. It is also useful for keeping bulky items together while shipping them. Bubble wrap is made from polystyrene foam, which is very lightweight and easy to pack.
- Strong Tape
Everyday Sellotape is not suitable for sealing boxes at the time of packing and moving. You need to invest in stronger, wider tape for packing which will help keep your goods safe and secure. You should also buy high-quality tape because it will last longer and ensure that your items stay protected.
- Permanent Markers and Labels
When moving, it is important to remember that boxes often get mixed together during transport. If you are sure what room each box should go in, mark them clearly with a permanent marker so they will not rub off. You can also label each box with its contents if you know what those are. Labels are another option, but they need to be secured properly to ensure they do not fall off or get torn during transportation.
- Packing Paper
Line the cardboard boxes with packing paper to create soft cushioning for your books, magazines, and other items. You could wrap packing paper around breakable items or cover the contents of a box. This just adds another layer of protection, which helps prevent damage to your items. Packing paper will not leave any marks on your belongings and protects them from knocks and bumps.
- Cling Film
Cling Film is a great tool for protecting your clothes from getting dirty or wrinkled. It is also useful when you need to cover something that needs to stay dry, like a piece of art or an expensive item. You can even use it to protect delicate items like jewellery or electronics.
- Speciality Plastic Covers
Go with specialty plastic covers for a waterproof covering for your large furniture items and appliances. Not only does this covering keep water out, but it will also protect your furniture from dust, chemicals, and other debris. These covers are usually transparent, making it easy to see what the package contains.
There is a large assortment of plastic bags available for storing items. They are specifically made for storing chairs, couches, or beds. These bags are exceptionally durable and will last longer than regular plastic bags. Go for specialized mattress covers to protect your mattress when stored or transported.
- Speciality Moving Blankets
If you need to pack light, consider using blankets instead of plastic covers, but remember regular blankets are not waterproof. You can buy moving blankets made specifically for packing, or you can use ones you already own. A moving blanket is an item that you can put your furniture inside when you move house. Moving blankets come in assorted sizes, shapes, and materials. They are made from cotton, polyester, or nylon. You can choose a moving blanket that is suitable for your needs, whether you are moving across town or the country. These blankets should be washed and dried like any other blanket before use.
- Stretch Wrap
If you are looking to store your furniture for a bit, stretch wrap is an effortless way to keep it protected. Stretch wrap is a flexible plastic sheet that comes in varied sizes and shapes. It can be used to cover items like couches, chairs, tables, beds, and even walls. You can also use it to protect other materials like wood, metal, glass, and paper.
- Tarp
You can use tarps to protect an item that does not fit into a box. Tarps are made of durable polyester material and come in a wide variety of sizes.
- Straps
Straps made of polyester or nylon are often used to secure boxes. The main advantage of straps is that in addition to tying down the boxes, they are extremely useful when you must move the boxes by providing good grip. Good grip can help ensure that the boxes do not move around haphazardly or fall.
- Poly Rope
Poly rope is durable and resistant to moisture, sunlight, heat, and other damaging forces. It is also great for tying objects down to a vehicle or truck during a moving day. Poly rope comes in a variety of assorted sizes and colours, making it easy to choose the right size for any job.
When moving, you should start packing early. You need to get everything ready before you move. If you wait until the last minute, you might end up forgetting something or losing track of what still needs to be packed. Relocation is always a suitable time to declutter. Assess your possessions. Decide what you need to take with you and what goes into storage. Make sure you have enough time to pack all your items properly and securely. Do not forget to label each box with its contents and keep track of everything.
