Moving can be a very stressful experience overall, but packing your clothing is easily one of the most daunting tasks you’ll be faced with. How is it possible to safely get everything in your closet and drawers to your next house without getting them wrinkled and dirty, while also keeping them organized?
Learning how to pack for a move is an important skill you’ll want to master. Not only is it a time-saver and can help you avoid headaches in the new house, but the organizational skills you’ll pick up are also easily transferable in everyday life.
Metropolitan Movers has nine easy packing tips for moving your clothes that will help you keep your stress levels down while moving your items to their new space.
Purge What You Don’t Need
Chances are, it’s been a while since you’ve gone through your clothing. That means you probably have clothes in your closet you don’t really need. They might be the wrong size, worn out, or not fit your current style.
If you don’t wear it now, you’re not going to wear it in the new place. The steps to mastering how to pack clothes for a move starts with going through each clothing item a few months before moving day. When you’re packing, ask yourself the following questions:
- Does it fit?
- Do you like it?
- When was the last time you wore it?
- Are you likely to wear it again?
- Would someone else like this more?
Take the time to go over each article of clothing and every accessory. This is a helpful step to take if you’re entirely unsure how to pack for a move. By reflecting on each piece, you can decide if that dress is worth keeping around or if you can sell or donate that purse you haven’t used this year.
Once you have a clearer picture of what your closet and drawers look like, you can figure out the most efficient way to pack them.
Group Your Clothes
When it comes to packing tips for moving clothes, one of our critical pieces of advice is keeping them organized during the moving process. Trust us, this will save you a lot of grief later on.
When you’re settling into a new home, the last thing you want to do is worry that you’ve misplaced your clothing or packed them in the wrong box. Grouping your clothes into clear categories is a task that requires more organization upfront but will save you lots of time in the long-run. It will also help you pack in a way to reduce wrinkles. Sort your clothes by these categories:
Material
Certain clothing fabrics, like cotton, can easily wrinkle. Try hanging them on a hanger and covering them with a clothing bag on top. Clothes made with wool take up more space and you might need extra boxes for them, so make sure you have enough packing materials. Polyester and synthetic clothes don’t crease easily, so you can fold them and toss them into any of your moving boxes.
Season
Packing by season will help you find the clothing you need to unpack right after your move. It will also help you figure out which boxes should go right in the closet and which ones should go into storage.
Size
Smaller items (socks, underwear, shorts, etc.) can go into a single box. More oversized clothes are best to be packed together as well. That said, if you are mixing clothes, it’s good to label the boxes to know what’s inside.
Need
What kind of clothes will you need right away? If you need something comfortable right away, you might want to consider packing them separately from your formal wear. This way, you can find them quicker when you need them.
Don’t Unpack Your Dresser
If your dresser drawers have lighter clothes in them (socks, underwear, etc.), you can keep them in there. Chances are, your moving company will be fine moving your dresser with lightweight clothes inside.
If your dresser allows it, you can remove the drawers with heavier clothes in them. This will make the dresser easier to move, and you don’t have to worry about packing the clothes separately. Also, when you get to your new place, it’ll be easy to put those clothes right back where they go.
Use Wardrobe Boxes
Wardrobe boxes are tall and include a hanging rack on the top. This makes packing your already hung items quick and efficient.
When you’re deciding how to pack clothes, especially moving cross-country, these handy boxes will keep your clothes clean. On top of their organizational excellence, you won’t have to worry about wrinkles. You’re essentially packing your clothing in their own mini closet.
Pack Your Suitcases
There’s no reason to pack your suitcases empty. Suitcases are great packing tools for your more expensive and delicate item as they provide extra protection cardboard boxes just don’t offer. Taking advantage of the luggage you already have can easily help you pack clothes for a move.
The only drawback is that you may want to use your suitcase to roll heavier items, like books. You may want to consider which items would be best for your luggage.
Use Garbage Bags
If you don’t have garment bags, garbage bags are a great cheap alternative. Simply create a hole at the top by punching the top of a hanger through and you can cover several hanging items. Tie a knot at the bottom, and your clothes will be protected from dirt and wrinkles during the move.
This alternative could help anyone struggling to pack clothes for a cross country move. Once you’ve unpacked, you can toss the garbage bags out, and you’ve saved room inside your new home.
Use Vacuum Sealed Bags
One of the most significant benefits of vacuum-sealed bags is that they are very efficient. They can hold more clothes than boxes and luggage, and when the air is sucked out, they take up far less space in a moving truck. So you can pack more of your belongings without taking up excess space.
Separate Your Shoes
The best way to keep your clothes clean during a move is by keeping your shoes away from them. If you still have shoeboxes, use them. Just be sure that they are clean before you pack them..
Don’t forget to pack them in pairs. You might want to also pack paper in and around them to keep their shape and safe from scuffing.
Choose What You Will Wear During the Move
Be sure to choose what you will wear the day of before moving day. In the midst of packing, have those clothes on hand as well as a “moving day kit.” This should include the following:
- Moving day clothes
- Towels
- Underwear
- Pajamas
You might need a little time to unpack everything, so it’ll be good to have these things on hand for your first night.
Bonus Tips on How to Pack Clothes for Moving
- Don’t pack your jewelry with clothing. They could snag, tear your clothes, or break the jewelry.
- Clean and dry your clothes before packing them.
- Separate delicate clothes with cloths or paper towels.
- Stack lighter items on heavier items during packing.
Conclusion:
Packing your clothing for a move doesn’t have to be a stressful experience. By following these nine practical tips, you can ensure your clothes remain organized, clean, and wrinkle-free. Remember to purge unnecessary items, group your clothes by category, and use the right packing materials like wardrobe boxes, suitcases, and vacuum-sealed bags. Additionally, separating your shoes and preparing a moving day kit will help streamline the process. With these strategies in place, you’ll be well-prepared for a smooth and efficient move.
Tip | Description |
---|---|
Purge What You Don’t Need | Go through your clothing and remove items that no longer fit, are worn out, or don’t suit your style. |
Group Your Clothes | Sort your clothes by material, season, size, and need to keep them organized and reduce wrinkles. |
Don’t Unpack Your Dresser | Keep lighter clothes in the dresser drawers and remove heavier items to make the dresser easier to move. |
Use Wardrobe Boxes | Utilize wardrobe boxes with hanging racks to keep your clothes wrinkle-free and organized. |
Pack Your Suitcases | Use suitcases for more expensive and delicate items, providing extra protection. |
Use Garbage Bags | Cover hanging clothes with garbage bags to protect them from dirt and wrinkles during the move. |
Use Vacuum Sealed Bags | Pack more clothes in less space using vacuum-sealed bags. |
Separate Your Shoes | Keep your shoes away from clothes, pack them in pairs, and use shoeboxes if available. |
Choose What You Will Wear Moving Day | Prepare a moving day kit with essential items like moving day clothes, towels, underwear, and pajamas for your first night in your new home. |
By incorporating these packing tips into your moving plan, you’ll make the process of packing your clothing much more manageable and efficient.