Packing Tips - Packing Boxes
When packing moving boxes, it helps to be aware of a few tips that will make your packing chores easier and protect you belongings, whether you're about to put some items into storage or if you're using a moving company in New Jersey and doing some or all of the packing yourself, or if you're about to move overseas with an international moving company.
Our tips for packing moving boxes are based on actual first-hand experience over generations of moving. Good packing results in less damage, which results in less stress and out of pocket expense for repairing or replacing your household goods.
Packing Yourself
Many people who are moving would like to keep their moving costs down. Doing your own packing can save you money, but remember that the moving valuation protection offered by moving companies doesn't cover damage to items Packed By Owner (PBO) unless the outside of the box is also damaged.
Constructing Moving Boxes
Always use good quality moving boxes and good quality moving supplies. When assembling your moving boxes, reinforce the bottom of all boxes with 2" packing/sealing tape.
- Fold the bottom tabs of the box and then tape the seam where the two outer flaps meet, overlapping each side of the seam by about 4 inches with the tape.
- Add two more strips of tape in the same direction on each side of your first strip of tape, halfway between the center seam and the edge of the box.
- For additional reinforcement for boxes that will contain heavy items, add two more strips of tape perpendicular to the seam spaced evenly apart.
- Use bubble wrap for fragile items. For extra cushioning line your box with bubble wrap before placing items in it.
- Once your items are in the box, be certain that the tops and sides won't bulge or sag before you tape the top. This keeps the boxes stable when stacking and prevents boxes from bursting.
- It's a good idea to leave your boxes open until all boxes are packed within a room. That way if you need to shift items from one box to another to better balance them it's very easy to do so.
Packing Boxes Efficiently
Pack one room at a time. Mark each box with the name of the room where the box will be placed and write the box's important contents - but don't advertise valuables - on the outside. Pick a room or an area in each room where packed moving boxes can be stored until moving day. Try to keep boxes close to the door of the room.
Put heaviest items, like books, in small boxes and lightweight items in bigger boxes. Wrap the heaviest items first and place them in the bottom of the box, then wrap lighter weight items and place them in the box on top of the heavier items with a layer of bubble in between. While it's not necessary to mark which end goes up on each box, it doesn't hurt to do so where it's very important that the box not be upside down. Mark the box with large arrows pointing up on at least two sides.
Double box fragile items and fill cavities with packing paper or bubble wrap to prevent shifting inside the moving boxes. Ask your New Jersey moving company if your clothes may stay in your dresser, but don't leave breakables there. Contents of dressers often shift during transit.
Mark heavier boxes so whoever's lifting the box knows in advance what to expect. Remember that heavier boxes are more likely to burst during moving, so don't over pack them.
Wrap breakable parts separately. For example, wrap both a ceramic jar and its lid separately and then place both in the same box together.
Take smaller boxes with you that contain the things you'll need right away, like soap, cleaning supplies, toilet paper, coffee pot, filters and coffee, and a few tools like a flashlight, plain and Phillips screwdrivers, a hammer and an adjustable wrench.
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