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Moving tips
by Kyle Thomas Haley
You've chosen a new home, selected a mover, and now comes the
task of packing for the move. There are 3 important things you
should remember that will save you a lot of time and frustration
later:
* Collect all the materials (boxes, tape, paper) you'll need
to pack.
* Don't put packing off until the last minute.
* Stay organized!
Here's A List Of The Materials You'll Need To Pack Efficiently:
* Paper for wrapping your items:
Many people collect old newspapers and use them. Just remember
that the news ink never dries and will come off on your
belongings. If you want to avoid the need to wash everything when
you arrive, you can purchase packing paper from your mover.
* Boxes:
You can collect boxes from your local supermarket and other
businesses. Select strong boxes in good condition and make sure
they have covers. Divided boxes like liquor boxes are great for
glasses and stemware.
Your mover can also provide you with boxes especially made for
moving. However, these boxes are expensive and you may want to
purchase only those which are usually necessary like wardrobes
for hanging clothes, mattress cartons, and cartons for large
pictures, mirrors and table lamps.
* Sealing Tape - Use plastic tape that's 1½-2" wide
* Magic Marker – to mark boxes for contents and special
instructions like "fragile", "this side up", etc.
Now that you have all your materials, you're ready to start
packing! Start as far ahead of time as you can. Waiting until the
last minute will create a nightmare you don't want to experience!
If you begin early you can pack a few boxes a day and have
everything completed without stressing yourself unnecessarily.
It's really important that you keep your packing organized; it
will save a lot of confusion later. It's best to pack a room at a
time so that you can keep everything thing together that belongs
together.
Start in areas containing articles that aren't used frequently
such as your attic, basement, garage, etc. You can leave an extra
box to hold items that can't be packed early.
Packing Up the Kitchen
The hardest room to pack is probably the kitchen so let's discuss
that in detail.
Remember when you're packing fragile items to pad the bottom of
the box with several sheets of paper. Place the heaviest items on
the bottom of the box and the more delicate things on top.
When you pack flatware like plates, saucers, etc., wrap each item
separately and then combine in groups of three. Rewrap that group
in more paper and seal with the plastic tape. Each group will
then be better protected. Stand them on end in the box.
You can nest glasses and cups 3 or 4 together and separate with
small sheets of paper. It's best to pack them in divided
containers if you have them. If the box isn't full to the top,
stuff with additional paper. If you don't have divided
containers, you can place them in other boxes where you have
empty space; just be sure to fit them in toward the top of the
box so they aren't crushed.
Don't nest Goblets and stemware, wrap them individually.
Try to keep small kitchen appliances like the toaster, crock pot,
etc., all together rather than mixing them with other items. Wrap
them individually with 2 or 3 sheets of paper and wad up paper to
fill any empty space. However, if you have a lot of extra room
you can add some pots and pans.
You can nest pots, pans and large bowls in groups of 3 with a
couple sheets of paper between each of them.
When you pack boxed foods such as cereal and rice, be sure to
seal the tops with plastic tape. (Remember to do this for salt
and pepper shakers also!) If your things are going be stored for
very long, you may want to discard these items to avoid rodents
or insects.
You can pack filled canisters as long as they are individually
wrapped and the tops are sealed with plastic tape.
Finally, here are some miscellaneous tips to remember:
* Don't pack anything that's flammable, combustive or explosive.
This includes items like aerosol spray cans, gasoline, and
paint thinners.
* Empty all drawers.
* Pack heavy items like books and canned goods in smaller boxes.
* Pack bulky and lightweight items like toys, blankets, and
pillows in large boxes.
* You don't need to wrap toys, books and shoes individually.
* Stand books and records on end.
It isn't as hard as it sounds, but it you don't want to deal with
packing, your moving company will be happy to pack for you ~ of
course, that service comes with a very hefty price tag!
Happy Moving!
Kyle Thomas Haley has been helping people relocate on the
Internet since 1999 with Apartment and Relocation Websites: An Apartment Directory
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