Moving is a major undertaking, so you understandably want to get the job done as soon as possible. You may even be pressed to move quickly to meet a deadline, such as starting a new job in another city soon. Regardless of your reasons for wanting to speed up the packing process, there are a few steps to take to make packing faster and easier.
1- Declutter First
If you have time to do so, declutter first. Go through your belongings, and toss, donate, or sell what you do not need or want. If you do not have time to do this before packing, you can do it as you go. By doing so, you will have less to pack, haul, and unpack in your new home.
2- Gather the Right Supplies
Before you start packing, you need the right supplies. Keep in mind that large boxes can get heavy very quickly, and their size and weight can make moving difficult. However, smaller boxes may not hold your larger items. Before ordering supplies, walk through each room to assess your need for different sizes of boxes. Remember to order tape, a permanent marker, and packing paper or bubble wrap.
3- Tape the Drawers Shut
You can save a lot of time by keeping some of your belongings right where they are. You do not need to empty the drawers to your dressers, bureaus, and nightstands. Instead, simply tape them shut, and your movers can move everything together. Ensure that you use tape that will not damage the furniture. You should remove items that may be broken or wrap them in bubble wrap before taping the drawers.
4- Keep Like-Items Together
You can save time by packing nearby items together. For example, toss all of your dried pantry foods in one box. Put all of your drinking glasses in another box. This also makes unpacking easier once you get to your new home.
5- Toss Light Items on the Top
While it is best to keep like items together, you do not want to make the boxes too heavy. One way to get around this is to put light items at the top of the boxes to fill the space. In the kitchen, this may include pot holders and dish rags. In the living room, it may be a throw blanket.
6- Tape Hardware on the Furniture
In many cases, furniture needs to be at least partially disassembled when moving. Have a small sandwich bag and packing tape nearby. Simply toss the screws and bolts into the sandwich bag as you work, and tape the bag to the furniture. Use a separate bag for each piece of furniture.
7- Bag the Hanging Clothes
Closets can seem like a nightmare to pack, but you can make light work of it by using plastic trash bags. Kitchen trash bags tear easily, so consider using heavy-duty lawn and garden bags. Simply cut a hole at the top of a bag, and slide the top of about 10 hangers into it. Pull the plastic bag over the clothing.
While packing your home may take the better part of a day or two, depending on how large your space is, you do not have to spend more time than necessary on the project. Each of these tips can help you save time with packing as well as unpacking.