Moving is a stressful event in anyone’s life. Anything you can do to make it easier is a good thing. That includes packing, which takes time and energy and can be physically exhausting. One of the best things you can do is prepare your packing supplies and materials ahead of time. The question is, what are the best packing supplies to help you move? The in-depth information below on packing will help you answer that question thoroughly. Read on to discover the best packing supplies that will cut your moving stress down to size.
Estimated reading time: 5 minutes
Best Packing Supplies to Have on Hand for a Move
Packing supplies consist of essential supplies like boxes and packing paper. It also includes tools that make the packing process easier, like tape guns. Below is an exhaustive list of all the items that you should gather and have on hand before you get started.
Moving Boxes
Most folks think any old box will do, but the truth is that cardboard boxes made for moving are always best. They come in sizes that allow you to stack them easily, making loading your moving truck easier. Some boxes are also made for very specific items. Here’s a list of the best boxes to help you move. You can purchase many other sizes, but the list below should be enough for almost any move.
- Book boxes / 1.5 cubic feet
- Medium boxes / 3 cubic feet
- Large boxes / 4.5 cubic feet
- Extra-large boxes / 6 cubic feet
- Dish Pack boxes
- Wardrobe boxes
- Mirror boxes
- Mattress boxes
Packing Supplies
The following supplies are essential when packing and will make it easier, faster, and safer for your things.
- Packing tape
- Packing paper
- Bubble wrap
- Paper pads
- Styrofoam “peanuts”
- Box dividers
- Ziploc bags (assorted sizes)
- Large plastic garbage bags
- Stretch wrap
Packing Tools
The tools on the following list will make packing easier and help you get it done faster.
- Tape gun
- Razor knife
- Magic markers
- A label maker
Where is the Best Place to get Packing Supplies?
You can purchase new, clean moving boxes and packing supplies in several places. You can also get moving boxes for free if you have the time and energy to search for them online. Here’s a list of the best places to find everything.
- Southern Self Storage– Most of our self-storage facilities sell a wide range of boxes and packing supplies.
- Walmart. Wally world sells a decent selection of boxes and most of the supplies you’ll need.
- Home improvement stores like Home Depot and Lowes.
- Craigslist. Under “free stuff,” you will often find folks who’ve just moved giving away their moving boxes for free. You’ll need one of the choices above for the rest of your supplies, however.
- Amazon. (Beware of high shipping costs.)
Packing Best Practices
The following best practices are essential to ensure your things don’t get damaged or broken while moving.
- Only use bubble wrap on the most fragile items. It’s not necessary for most items. Also, it takes up too much space and costs too much money to waste.
- Pack books in 1.5 cubic foot book boxes only. Filling any other size box with books will make them much too heavy to carry.
- Wrap fragile dishes in stacks of 3 or 4 dishes and pack them on their edge in a dish pack box.
- When storing clothes and packing shoes, put them in a large plastic bag first. Then put the filled plastic bags into a box. This will better protect your shoes and clothes from moisture, insects, and pests.
- When packing fragile items, fill the box with crumpled packing paper first. A layer of paper 2 inches thick is recommended.
- Use extra packing tape on the bottom when packing book boxes and other heavy boxes. That way, the box won’t open when being carried.
- Always pack heavier items on the bottom of a box and lighter items on top.
- Fill every box as best as you can. You risk the box being crushed during the move if you don’t.
- Purchase the highest quality, heavy-duty packing tape you can find. It might cost a little extra, but it will save you a lot of headaches when moving. (Headaches caused by boxes opening and your things falling out and breaking.)
- Write down everything that you put inside each box on the box with your magic marker. This will make it much easier to find something if you put your things in storage for a while. It will also make unpacking easier.
- If you can’t find mattress boxes, mattress bags will do in a pinch.
- You can pack many tall items in a wardrobe box. Baseball bats, umbrellas, canes, curtain rods, etc. Putting these tall items in a wardrobe box will make moving day much easier.
Get Ready for your Move with Southern Self Storage
Having all of your packing materials and supplies ready and on hand will make packing much easier. If you want to make your move much easier, go with Southern Self Storage. At Southern Self Storage, we offer clean, safe, and affordable self storage all over the southeast and Puerto Rico.
If you’re moving in the summer, Southern can be a big help. The average moving company is very busy during the summer months. A storage unit is perfect if you have to store your things between your old home and your new home. We offer several sizes, starting with 5×5, 5×10, and 10×10 storage units. (We also have even larger storage units if needed.)
If you have questions or need to find storage, call Southern Self Storage today. You can also drop by the nearest Southern location and speak with the onsite manager. They will gladly show you around and help you get the process started!