Moving Hacks

MOVING… whether you are headed to Henry County, Fayette County, or any county, just the sound of that word strikes fear and dread and anxiety into the hearts of many. Gathering all the junk…I mean items…that you have collected over the years you have been in your living arrangement, putting them neatly and carefully in boxes, labeling boxes, hauling the boxes to a moving truck, loading the truck, unpacking – I don’t think anyone looks forward to the process. However, we have arranged a list of excellent moving hacks, tips, and tricks to make the whole process a little easier and hopefully less stressful!

1. Worried about your nice glasses breaking? Just put those drinking glasses inside of clean socks.
2. Put paper/foam plates in between glass plates when moving to prevent them from breaking. Think of all the time and hassle you could save by not having to wrap them all individually in bubble wrap or paper. Also, stack them vertically in the boxes to decrease the chances of breaking.
3. Take good pictures of the back of your TVs and computers before you unplug all the wires so you can easily see where to plug each wire back in later.
4. Worried about your bottles spilling out during the move? Unscrew the lid, put a piece of plastic wrap over the opening, twist the lid back on, and if you want you can pull the overhanging plastic wrap together over the lid and tie it in a knot.
5. Store all of your cords for iphone, computers etc. in individual toilet paper rolls and put them all snugly (with the holes facing up) in a moving box. No tangles for you when you start to unpack!
6. Remember to label your boxes on the side instead of the top so the labels can be more easily seen later. You could also consider color coating your boxes by room.
7. If you are having trouble finding the end of your tape to tape up the boxes, stick it in the microwaves for a few seconds. You should be able to pull it apart and locate the end.
8. Don’t you dare pull down all the clothes in your closet from the hangers and fold up them up. Leave them on the hangers, squish them together and put garbage bags around them. Think of all the time this will save you!
9. Put all of your personal essentials in a bag that you don’t put in the back of the moving truck. That way you don’t have to dig through everything later.
10. In the same style, pack one box with all the items you might need at the end of the day or the next morning, from the coffee pot, mugs, cereal boxes, and bowls to the toilet paper, towels, shampoo, and face wash.
11. Pack up your kitchen FIRST because really it is the most complicated, and unpack that room FIRST when you get to your new home. This will rid you of a mountain of boxes!
12. Use plastic wrap or cling wrap to wrap around your dressers, nightstands, and any other furniture with drawers as this will keep them from sliding open, and it will also prevent you from having to transfer everything in the drawers to a moving box.
13. Consider donating items you really don’t need. Contact a local charity and see if they will come to pick up things you don’t want or offer them to the friends that are helping you move.
14. If you have valuable items you don’t need but would like to sell, try Ebay or Craigslist several weeks before the move so that part of the work is already done.
15. Take all of the small parts from disassembling items in the move and put them in plastic bags with labels on them indicating what piece of furniture or item they belong with.
16. If you don’t want to deal with water everywhere, be sure to defrost your refrigerator at least one full day before moving day. This will save you some headache!
17. If you really want to keep your mattress clean, you can wrap a fitted sheet on both sides to keep it completely covered.
18. You can use a potholder to put any sharp kitchen items in during the move so you don’t have to worry about them injuring anyone.
19. After you put those cords and wires in the toilet paper rolls make sure you label each roll clearly so you aren’t confused later.
20. If you have tile or hardwood floors and are moving big items like appliances, you can spray some window cleaner on the floor in front of the heavy item as you move it to help it slide across the floor easily.
21. You can also put pickle jar lids or something similar under the four corners of heavy items to make moving them faster and easier on your back.
22. If you don’t want your table to get scratched you can cover the chairs with pillow cases and wrap a fitted sheet around the top of the table to keep it in great condition.
23. If you have luggage with wheels, consider putting heavy items in the suitcase for the move. It will make getting it moving it around so much easier!
24. Hopefully you or your spouse are handy with a toolbox. Make sure you keep a toolbox out until everything is packed because you never know what you will need it for. Then make sure your toolbox is one of the first things off the moving truck at your new home.
25. Worried about things getting scratched or broken in the moving truck? Take some of your pillows and blankets, put them in a garbage bag, and use them as padding in the open spaces in the truck to prevent items from moving or rolling around.
26. If you want to keep your fridge smelling fresh after you defrost it, you can put some coffee grounds or baking soda in a clean sock and leave it in the refrigerator until you turn it on again at the new house.
27. When it comes to packing boxes, apparently the trick is to put bigger, heavier items in smaller boxes and smaller, lighter items in bigger boxes. This makes the boxes easier to lift, and it also prevents heavy items from tearing through a bigger box packed with too many other things.
28. Want to be able to get a good grip on those heavy boxes? Cut slits or handles in the sides of the boxes to use as handles.
29. Decluttering and getting rid of items you no longer use before the move is an excellent idea; however, we would not recommend getting rid of any of your children’s well-used toys during this time. Moving can be hard for kids, and it may take a few weeks for them to get adjusted. You don’t want them crying for a toy you threw out at the same time.
30. If you are moving a mirror, you could try placing masking tape on it in the form of an X. This is said to help absorb shock if the mirror is jostled around in the move.
31. If you have jewelry that needs to be packed, you can use a toilet paper roll for your necklackes. String the necklaces through the roll and connect the clasp. This will keep them from getting tangled up.
32. For the rest of your small jewelry, you can put it in an egg carton. Make sure you close the lid and wrap it in some cling wrap to keep anything from falling out.
33. Do you have some items that you are worried may get broken in the move? Try double boxing those valuables to keep them from getting broken.