A Guide to Packing Boxes
Posted on 18/06/2014
When it comes to packing up your home this can be a daunting and tedious task. Here are some handy hints and tips to help you to pack your belongings into boxes in the easiest, most convenient and safest ways.
To begin with you will need to decide what you are taking with you and what you are discarding, this will help you to decide how many boxes and how much packaging material you will need. Once you have sorted your belongings, you will need to buy your packaging supplies. There are a number of places you can buy these supplies from, most popular are stationary shops and companies offering packing services, however, bear in mind that some packaging suppliers may deal with large companies and you may not be able to purchase small quantities.
Here is a thorough list of packing supplies that will come in handy throughout the course of your packing:
• Large and strong cardboard boxes: these can be bought from a number of places, compare prices on the internet. Alternatively, to save some money ask at a local supermarket, just be advised these boxes may not protect your belongings as much.
• Cardboard boxes for special items (for example mirrors): If you need boxes of an odd shape or size then you will need to start shopping for them ASAP as they may either be difficult to come across or highly priced leading you to shop around.
• Strong plastic bags: to carry things such as linen and towels.
• Foam peanuts or inflatable bags as packing material: use this when packing fragile items to help reduce damage.
• Tissue or craft paper: wrapping your belongings in paper will prevent them from rubbing against each other and will offer a small amount of protection.
• Corrugated paper or bubble wrap: to wrap ornaments and fragile items in for additional protection.
• Brown, packaging tape.
• Marker pens: label your boxes so you know where to put each box when you arrive in your new home.
• Fragile/ this way up stickers: Mark up the boxes that you need extra care to be taken with.
• Scissors and/or sharp knife.
• You may also want to consider covers for furniture such as sofa’s or mattresses, to protect them from dust or damage.
Here are some handy hints for packing boxes:
• Don’t make boxes to heavy, spread the load and put heavier items at the bottom of the box.
• Make sure you can close and seal the box.
• Label Boxes.
• Pack small items into small boxes, pack these then into bigger boxes.
• Pack room by room, keep belongings from each room together to make it quicker to unpack.
• Using linen (such as pillowcases) or clothing (such as socks) to fill empty space in a box will help to reduce the amount your belongings move about and therefore the likelihood of them getting damaged.
Remember to pack yourself an essentials box. This should be kept with you at all times and should include:
• All important documents, such as: passports, driving licence, marriage and birth certificates, insurance/pension policy information and wills.
• Things you may need on moving day or the first night in your new home:
o A change of clothing, towels for everyone, soap, toothbrush and paste, shampoo and conditioner and shower gel.
o A cup, plate and set of cutlery for everyone.
o One or two easy meals and snacks (remember to pack any saucepans or utensils you may need to cook with). A can opener is always a good thing to pack.
o Kettle, tea/coffee, sugar, milk, juice.
o Cleaning products (a multipurpose wipe should suffice)
o Dishcloth and/or kitchen roll.
o Toilet Roll
o Torch/Candles/Matches
o Entertainment (maybe a radio or an iPad) and charger or batteries.
o Pet food and bowl.