Moving house is often an exciting milestone, but the thought of packing up your entire home can feel overwhelming. With the UK stamp duty holiday in full swing, many households are on the move, and the process can quickly become stressful without the right approach.
That’s why we’re here to help. Our expert packing tips are designed to take the headache out of moving day, ensuring it goes as smoothly as possible. Whether it’s organising your belongings or making sure fragile items are safe, we’ve got the advice you need to make your move easier and less stressful. Continue reading to learn how to maintain control and simplify your moving day!
Start with the Non-Essentials
Packing for a move can feel overwhelming, but tackling it in the right order can make a huge difference. A key tip? Begin with the non-essentials.
Living out of boxes for a few weeks isn’t ideal, so start by packing the items and rooms you use the least. Think seasonal clothing, extra linens, books, or decorative pieces. These are the things you won’t need immediate access to during the moving process.
Prioritising this way means your most frequently used items—like daily toiletries, kitchen essentials, and work equipment—stay accessible until the very last minute. It keeps your living environment functional right up until moving day, while still working through the packing process efficiently.
Don’t Empty the Drawers!
When it comes to packing up for a move, saving time and space is key. One common mistake many people make is emptying out their drawers. This can waste valuable packing space and add unnecessary steps to your process.
Instead of removing all your drawer contents, simply take the drawers out of the furniture and wrap them securely. Plastic wrap, cling film, or even a sturdy bin bag works perfectly to keep everything in place. Not only does this method protect your belongings during transit, but it also means there’s no need to unpack and reorganise at your new location. You can slide the drawers straight back into the furniture and voilà—instant organisation.
This strategy not only saves you time and effort but also helps protect delicate items within the drawers by keeping them snug and secure. Just make sure the drawers aren’t too heavy to handle when packed—they should still be manageable enough to lift.
Leave Clothes on the Hangers
Packing up your wardrobe can quickly become one of the most tedious parts of moving. Taking clothes off hangers, folding them into boxes, and then having to hang them all back up at your new home—it’s a time-consuming process that many dread. But there’s a simple solution to save you both time and effort.
Instead of removing your clothes from hangers, leave them as they are. Simply group a handful together, cover them with a bin bag for protection, and secure it around the hanger hooks. Then, when you arrive at your new home, all you need to do is transfer them directly into your new wardrobe. No folding, no creases, no hassle.
This method is not only straightforward but also keeps things organised during the move. You can keep your clothes in the same order, ensuring that unpacking is just as easy as packing. It’s little tips like these that can turn a chaotic moving day into a smooth and stress-free experience.
Make Use of Suitcases
When it comes to moving, practicality is key. One of the most overlooked packing tools that you already own is your suitcase. Why not take advantage of its design and functionality to make the process easier?
Suitcases are not just for clothes. If you have suitcases with wheels, use them for heavier items such as toiletries, medicines, or even books. Unlike a traditional box, a suitcase with wheels allows you to transport these heavy items effortlessly. Instead of lifting and carrying a weighty box, you can simply wheel your suitcase directly onto the van.
Label Your Boxes
One of the simplest yet most effective ways to make your move less stressful is to label all your boxes. By clearly marking each box with the name of the room it belongs to, you’ll be saving yourself and the movers a lot of time and effort.
For example, instead of rummaging through a pile of generic boxes after arriving at your new home, you can take each box directly to its designated room as soon as it’s unloaded from the vehicle. This means less confusion, faster unpacking, and a more organised move overall.
Whether you’re managing the process yourself or working with professional movers, a good labelling system ensures everything ends up exactly where it needs to be. It’s a small step that makes a big difference!
Use Towels When Packing
When it comes to packing for a move, strategy is key to saving both space and ensuring your belongings arrive safely. One simple tip is to make use of your towels. Rather than taking up valuable box space by folding and packing them separately, towels can double as protective padding for fragile items.
Wrap delicate items like glassware, ceramics, or picture frames in your softest towels for extra cushioning. Not only does this keep your breakables snug, but it also reduces the need for additional packing materials like bubble wrap. Similarly, use towels to line the base of boxes or to fill in gaps, preventing items from shifting during transit.
Take a photo of the TV
When it comes to packing for a move, one of the most commonly overlooked steps is keeping track of how to reconnect your electronics. And we get it—TVs have a baffling number of cables and ports.
Before you unplug your television, take a clear photo of the back panel showing where each cable is connected. Why? Because when it’s time to set up your new home, instead of guessing which wire goes where, you’ll have a simple visual guide to help you reconnect everything correctly. This small step can save you hours of frustration and ensure your devices are up and running seamlessly in no time.
Label the Cables
Packing can feel like a chaotic process, especially when dealing with the tangled mess of wires we all seem to accumulate over time. But with a little organisation, you can save yourself a world of frustration when it’s time to unpack.
One of our top tips is to wrap up your wires neatly and label them. Knowing exactly which wire belongs to which device can make setting up in your new home so much quicker and stress-free.
Here’s a simple trick that works wonders—place each wire inside an empty toilet roll tube and label the tube with a marker. Not only does this keep the wires securely in place, but it also means you won’t have to untangle and guess which wire goes where later on. It’s a low-cost, space-efficient solution that keeps everything tidy during the move.
Use Spare Pots
Thinking creatively about the items you already have at home is beneficial when packing for a move. One clever tip? Use your pots as makeshift packing containers.
Pots are ideal for stowing away small items like spice jars, loose utensils, or kitchen gadgets. Simply fill the pot with your chosen items, and then wrap the entire thing in cling film or paper. This not only secures the contents but also saves space and reduces the number of boxes you’ll need. It’s a brilliant “two-for-one” strategy—packing your belongings while ensuring your pots are efficiently transported.
Plan Your Meals
One or two weeks before moving day, take stock of what’s in your fridge, freezer, and pantry. Make a list of items that need to be used up, particularly those that are perishable or already open. From there, start planning your meals around these ingredients. For example, if you’ve got frozen vegetables, a half-full box of pasta, and some jarred sauce, you’ve got dinner sorted.
This strategy not only helps you reduce waste but also means there’s less to carry when moving day comes. Plus, it can be a creative (and even fun) way to mix and match ingredients you already have. Think of it as your own version of “ready, steady, cook”!
Pack a Two-Day Bag
Why two days? Moving can be more exhausting and time-consuming than anticipated, and it’s not uncommon for people to delay unpacking until the day after they’ve moved. A two-day bag ensures you’ll have everything you need without having to dig through packed boxes.
Here’s what to include in your two-day bag:
- Clothes: Pack a couple of changes of comfortable clothes, plus pyjamas.
- Toiletries: Include essentials like a toothbrush, toothpaste, shampoo, and any medications you need.
- Snacks and Water: Keep yourself energised with snacks and bottled water.
- Phone Charger: You’ll need it handy for coordinating the move or just relaxing with some downtime.
- Important Documents: Have items like IDs, house paperwork, and keys easily accessible.
- Basic Essentials: Things like a first aid kit, a pair of scissors for opening boxes, and some basic cleaning supplies can be lifesavers.
Think of this bag as your safety net. While unpacking an entire household might take a few days, your two-day bag will help you through the busiest moments of the move, hassle-free.
Are you looking for a domestic packing company Why not give Steeles Removals a call on 01229 820777? Contact us today for a quick chat!