Packing your clothes for a move can be daunting, especially if you have a closet filled with different types of apparel. But it doesn’t have to be, with the right mix of knowledge on how to pack clothes for moving and action, you can get your clothes organized and completely ready for a move without unwanted side effects like stains and wrinkles.
In this article, we’ll explore some tips on the best ways to move clothes that will make packing your clothes less of a challenge. Do you know that vacuum and compression bags are some of the best ways to move clothes to save space? This and many other tips await you.
Keep reading, by the time you’re done you’ll have actionable information on how to pack clothes for moving.
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Methods to Pack Clothes
1. Organize And Declutter Your Closet
The first thing you need to do when getting ready for a move is to assess your closet. The best way to do this is to have all your clothes, shoes, bags, hats, and other accessories in front of you. Then you consider which items are worth packing, which items are going to be useful where you’re going and which ones will not. You want to split your clothes into three categories: keep, donate, and sell.
To decide what to keep and what not to keep, you can ask yourself the following questions:
- Have I worn this item in the last year?
- Is this cloth still in style?
- Does it fit my properly?
- Is it still in good condition?
If the answer to any of these questions is no, the item goes to the sell or donation pile. You have to be very strict with this process; you shouldn’t be sentimental about it. The more you get rid of, the less you’ll have to find space in your new house. You don’t want to fill up your new closet with items you don’t really need.
Another important aspect of organizing your closet is washing or dry cleaning. It is highly recommended that you wash all your clothes thoroughly so they’re clean and smell nice. All your clothes will be stinky if you pack new clothes with old clothes. You don’t want to start out with stinky clothes in your new space.
2. Sort Your Items
After deciding what you’re keeping and what you’re not, the next is sorting through the things you’re keeping. You want to pack in a way that will make packing and setting up in your new house easy and efficient.
- Sort by season – One of the best ways to stay organized and prevent clutter is sorting your cloths by season. For example, if you move in winter, you’ll only need to unpack cold weather items. Clothing for other seasons can remain packed inside boxes or stored in a storage unit.
- Sort by material – You can divide your clothes into different material categories so you can pack clothes made of the same material together. Categories include silk, cotton, linen, denim, wool, cashmere, etc. Sorting your clothes by material will make doing laundry in your new home easier.
- Sort by Pieces – You can sort your clothes by pieces. This means packing the same clothing pieces in the same box, pants with pants, shirts with shirts, underwear with underwear, etc. Sorting by pieces will make it easier to find specific clothing pieces and also make unpacking more efficient.
- Keep each person’s closet items separate – This is very helpful if you’re moving with a family. Keeping everyone’s items separate will make packing and unpacking very easy for everyone. Each family member should have their own labeled boxes where all their personal clothing items and accessories will be kept. This way, the chances of things getting mixed up will be greatly reduced.
3. Put Aside Clothes For The Moving Week
Unpacking after a long move could take weeks or even months. You can make the process of settling down easier by packing clothing you can wear during the first week of your move. This ensures that you have clothes to wear while sorting through your things and setting up your new space.
Do not forget to include essentials like socks, underwear, pajamas, and any other clothing item that you use on a daily basis.
4. Choose A Packing Method That Suits Your Needs
After you’ve organized your closet, sort your clothing items, and decided on what to keep and what not to keep, the next step is planning to move your closet items. The clothes packing technique you’ll choose should be informed by the distance you have to cover and the amount of clothing involved.
If you’ve to move a small distance, like from one neighborhood to another, you can be more relaxed with the method. But if you’re moving a long distance, maybe across the country, you need to keep your clothing sealed and protected and find the best way to pack clothes for moving.
Depending on your need, listed below are the main items you can use when packing clothes for a move:
- Cardboard boxes – Cardboard boxes can be found everywhere (from online stores and marketplaces to big box stores and recycling centers), and they are great for packing folded clothing.
- Wardrobe boxes – Wardrobe boxes are designed for the transportation and protection of wardrobe items. They are great for items that wrinkle easily and clothes on hangers.
- Suitcases – Suitcases are highly recommended for moving clothing items, especially clothes that can easily be folded and shoes.
- Duffel bags – Duffel bags are another way to pack folded clothes and shoes. A good tip is rolling your clothes when using duffel bags to move.
- Vacuum or compression bags – These are great for maximizing space and one of the best way to move clothes, they allow you to fit as many boxes as possible in the moving truck. They are multifunctional and reusable; they save space and protect your clothing items and accessories from moisture and dirt.
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5. Label Everything Clearly
This last tip on how to pack clothes for moving will make unpacking very easy for you when you get to your new home. Labeling all your boxes clearly and clearly indicating what’s inside them and where they belong will make unpacking very easy for you.
In addition to these five methods and tips on how to pack clothes for moving, listed below are other tips that can make moving and packing your clothes stress-free:
- Calculate the number of boxes you’ll need before buying them – This will prevent must smells from taking over your future closet.
- Securely tie trash bag drawstrings – This is to prevent clothes from falling out and causing a mess.
- Clean clothes before and after moving – Packing clean clothes with dirty clothes will leave all your clothes smelling dirty. It’s a good idea to do laundry before packing and moving.
- Don’t try to move more than you can handle – Don’t put too much stress on your body by trying to move heavy items by yourself.
- Don’t overstuff your boxes – Overstuffing boxes will damage them and make them harder to carry.
- Use packing tape to secure each box and label clearly – Labeling your boxes will make finding your clothes easy when you’re done with your move.
- Carry valuable items with you – Keeping your valuable with you will ensure that nothing happens to them. You don’t want to leave the safety of your valuables to chance.
How to Pack Clothes for Moving FAQS
Is it worth paying for packing when moving?
This depends on how much time you have and the money you have to spare. If you’re very busy and won’t be able to do the packing yourself, it’s a great idea to have the packing done for you. Self-packing helps you save cost but the risk of damage to your items is higher because you’ll lack the professionalism and experience of a professional packing company.
Will movers move dressers with clothes in them?
This depends on a lot of factors: the weight of the drawer, how old or fragile it is if the drawers can be secured shut or not, etc. If you’re in doubt you can ask the moving company you plan on using whether to leave clothes in dressers or empty them.
Conclusion
Getting ready for a move can be very stressful, but with the right information and planning, it can turn out to be an enjoyable and efficient process. We hope with all the tips and methods on how to pack clothes for moving shared in this article you are now well equipped and ready for a stress-free move.
Planning an International Moving. Best of luck and happy moving!
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