Household Fixes

Whether you are moving just a few items or moving all of your belongings, using the right boxes is an essential part of a successful move. Many people believe that any type of box will be sufficient for packing all of their items, but this is not always the case. Before you begin packing, it is important to consider the following tips to ensure your items are packed in safe and strong boxes:

Quality of Boxes: Every year thousands of shipping boxes end up in landfills. One of the best ways to be mindful of the environment when moving is to acquire used boxes. When you pack your items in used boxes, you are reducing your carbon footprint, reducing the number of boxes going into landfills, and saving trees. Used and recycled boxes are strong, reliable, and durable. Boxes that were constructed for household moving are used by professional moving companies. You will feel better knowing that you are helping to protect the environment.

Small Boxes: These boxes are about 1.5 cubic feet and can hold heavy items such as books, tools, fragile items, and kitchen utensils. They are also great for loose items that are just lying around the home.

Medium Boxes: About the size of a drawer, these boxes are about 3.0 cubic feet and are a good multi-use box. They are great for holding such items as toys, pots and pans, medium size kitchen items, boots and shoes, clothing…etc.

Large Boxes: People tend to use this size for most of their packing needs because they can hold a lot of items. The size of a large box is about 4.5 cubic feet. You should pack large, but light weight items so you can carry the boxes. Such items can include: sheets, blankets, pillows, lamps…etc. The large boxes are great for breakable items. You can use them for metal items, tools and other garage items. It is important to wrap them in padding such as bubble wrap or newspaper.

Extra-Large Boxes: These boxes are normally used for very large but light weight items. You can pack such items as pillows, coats, cushions…etc.

Jumbo Boxes: These boxes are heavy-duty and have a double wall construction for extra safety and durability. These boxes are suitable for large items such as lamps.

Document Boxes: These are the “banker” boxes. They have a cover that fits securely over the box. They are useful for packing important documents. They are easy to carry because they have built in handles.

When packing your moving boxes, it is recommended that you keep the weight at fewer than 50 1bs. Boxes that are made from corrugated cardboard are stronger than regular boxes. They are also better for heavier and fragile items. Moving boxes are tested for durability and strength by a test known as Edge Crush Test (ECT) The ECT is printed on the side of the box flap. Check your boxes for the label. Professional movers use boxes tested for ECT. Long distance moving requires professional moving boxes tested for strength and durability.

Using the right type of boxes and not making them too heavy will ensure that your items will not get crushed or the bottom falls out during the move. Moving boxes come in many sizes, shapes, and weight. Pick the boxes according to your item needs. You can find box companies that will ship directly to your home. If you use a moving company, they usually supply free used boxes. Moving does not have to be a stressful time. A little planning and using the right boxes will make the job much easier.

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Boxes and bags are moving staples-whether you’re using plastic tubs and under-bed storage containers, cardboard boxes, suitcases, garment bags, or even trash bags, you’ll need to consider which is best suited for your items and how many you’ll need; always allow for a few extra. You’ll also need newspapers, packing foam or bubble wrap, tape, and a permanent marker to label your containers. Clear bags won’t need labeling, because you can see their contents; use name tag stickers to label darker bags.

Boxes are the backbone of most moves; they hold a lot of weight for their size, and can be stored flat when not in use. They fit neatly into moving vans, allowing you to make the most of the space you have to work with.

Boxes can be purchased or gotten for free. Most boxes that you can find behind supermarkets or other stores are sturdy enough for regular packing needs; just be sure to ask the store owner or manager if it’s all right to take some first. If you have particularly heavy or delicate items to pack, you might want to invest in specialty boxes made of extra-thick cardboard, or with built-in storage pockets.

When choosing bags, remember that cheap bags are no good if you need to use two of them, or if they fall apart when you pick them up. Cheap bags are also more likely to end up with holes in them if you use them to hold objects with sharp edges.

Consider bags that can be collapsed with a vacuum cleaner. These are great for packing clothing and bedding, and, once collapsed, take up far less space than traditional bags designed for the same purpose.

Look around your house for things you already own that you can use as containers, such as suitcases and garment bags. Don’t spend time or money acquiring new containers before you use up what you already have.

Carefully choosing and filling the proper containers for your belongings can allow you to use fewer containers, which in turn will allow you to rent a smaller van, saving you money on both the rental fee and gasoline.

Tags: advice, moving, organization, real estate, relocation, remodel
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