There are a number of mistakes that people make when they’re moving homes, and one of the crucial ones is to leave the packing to the last day or even the last week before the move. Ideally, you should stock up on packing supplies well in advance. Go through our packing supplies’ checklist below to ensure you have everything you need to begin the packing process as early as you can.
The Ultimate Packing Supplies’ Checklist
The packing supplies needed for a move do not just encompass boxes, tape, and scissors. There are a total of ten packing materials that should be stocked at home prior to a move. They include:
- Cardboard Boxes
- Brown Paper
- Bubble Wrap
- Plastic Cling Wrap
- Packing Tape
- Scissors
- Paper Tape
- Permanent Markers
- Small Ziploc Bags
- Large Trash Bags
Let’s discuss each of these packing materials in our packing supplies’ checklist below, with regards to their purpose during the packing process.
1. Cardboard Boxes
Most kitchen appliances, home electronics, children’s toys, crockery, and other bulky items are delivered or brought to your home in sturdy cardboard boxes. If you’ve been smart enough to fold away and store these cartons, they’ll be a saviour during the move. If not, you can get used cardboard boxes for moving homes from local sellers discarding them when they are no longer useful. Your next alternative is to look for new boxes at a stationery or hardware store and buy them.
It can take around 20 to 30 boxes to pack up an entire room, so calculate an estimate based on how many rooms you have in your current residence. It’s a lot of boxes! Fortunately, moving trucks in Pakistan will generally not require you to empty out the entire cabinet. As long as all your breakables are packed securely in boxes, and the cupboards are light enough for two people to carry between them, you’ll be able to get away with leaving soft items like clothes inside the cupboard. While this reduces the number of boxes you’ll need, it still means stocking on a range of large to medium-sized boxes, with the heavier items in the smaller boxes and the lightweight objects in the larger boxes to make them easier to carry.
You also need to keep in mind that used boxes might not be able to hold the weight without reinforcement, meaning that you will have to tape up the bottom, and maybe even the sides to make them sturdy enough for the weight.
2. Brown Paper
One of the essentials on our packing supplies’ checklist is brown paper, which is ideal for wrapping the fragile dinnerware before you place it into boxes. It can also be crumpled up or shredded to use as stuffing inside a box that has space left after placing your breakables, to cushion the impact, as the items bump into one another during the move.
You can replace brown paper with old papers or newspapers or any kind, but we advise that you avoid packing the dinnerware directly into a newspaper as the ink used in newspapers nowadays has a tendency to run and stain when it becomes wet, and that may ruin your clean plates, cups, and other dinnerware. However, after an initial layer of brown paper, you can cover the items with additional layers using any available paper. The same goes for the stuffing as well.
3. Bubble Wrap
While you might wrap the regular dinnerware in packing paper, the crystal bowls, delicate china, and expensive decorative pieces will benefit from a few layers of bubble wrap that will prevent them from getting chipped or cracked. Wrap all fragile belongings in a layer or two of bubble wrap before placing them in a box with packing paper to fill in the empty spaces. Bubble wrap is also ideal to use as padding for the bottom of the moving boxes before you fill it up with breakable belongings.
You’ll be able to find rolls or sheets of bubble wrap easily at stationery stores around you. The wrap can be cut as per your need with a pair of scissors. While you may be tempted to pop the bubbles as soon as you get your hands on the sheet, hold on just a little bit longer and pop all the bubbles you want once you unpack after the move with these simple tips.
4. Plastic Cling Wrap
Plastic cling films are ideal for storing food in your kitchen or fridge as they prevent air from entering the dish and keeping the food fresh. But the cling wrap we’re mentioning is a bit different. Working on a similar principle of sticking tight over the surface and protecting your items from scratches, dents, and other mishaps, plastic sheets used in moving are gigantic. They are large enough to cover sofas and other furnishings as you shift them to the moving truck.
An alternative is to use large sheets of cloth for the same purpose. Even old bedsheets can work well. The point is to simply cover the furniture before moving so that it does not get damaged while you’re carrying it out of the old house and into the new one.
5. Packing Tape
While packing tape is commonly available, most of us know it by its distinct brown colour rather than its name. A tape that is more flimsy than scotch tape but has better adhesive properties for all types of surfaces, packing tape is the best way to seal off the bottom and sides of your moving boxes and make them sturdier. You should use the same tape to seal the top of the box as well once you have filled it up. It is recommended that you do not fill the box to the brim to make it easier to close and seal for the move.
6. Scissors
Of course, the packing supplies needed for a move also include a pair of sharp and comfortable scissors, since you’ll be cutting a lot of tape strips to seal off your boxes. Some people also recommend keeping a paper cutter handy once you begin unpacking room by room. However, if your scissors are sharp enough, open them and put one of the blades, facing downwards against the tape and run it along the length of the tape, which should make quick work of tearing through the seals.
7. Paper Tape
If you are packing for a move for the first time, you’re bound to miss out on this packaging material. While paper tape is not sturdy enough to help you during the packing process, it is the best way to label each box with its contents. Labelling boxes is important so that you don’t have to sift through dozens of boxes after the relocation to find the right items for your use.
You should always label your boxes as per the rooms they belong in your new home once they are packed. This is one of the many small tricks for a stress-free move. You can jot down the contents in detail in a notebook for each box as required. However, do not forget to pack a box of essentials and to label it correctly for use on the day of the move.
8. Permanent Markers
Another essential in your packing supplies’ checklist should be a range of thick, permanent markers that will not fade or blur once dry. Use these in combination with the paper tape to label each box as you go. Tear a short strip of paper tape to paste on the outside of each box before writing down its label in big, bold letters that are readable from a distance so that you’re not left searching for the right box and can identify each amidst the chaos that will reign in the new place for a few days.
9. Small Ziploc Bags
As you follow the correct packing order for the move, you’ll come across several items, like furniture that you’ve taken apart and electronics, which will have several wires, plugs, screws, bolts, and other tiny parts that accompany it. The best way to ensure that all the relevant items stay together? Place them all in small Ziploc bags and stick them on the inside of the boxes with packing tape. For appliances like food processors, blenders, or microwave ovens, you can tuck the bags into the appliance itself. This will ensure that the smaller bit and pieces do not get misplaced during the move.
10. Large Trash Bags
Well, you might laugh at this one now, but it’s only when you begin packing that you’ll discover the amount of stuff you need to actually throw away during and after the move. Thus, large trash bags will come in handy. What’s more, you don’t just need these bags for trash!
If you have large stuffed toys, clothes, bed sheets, linens, and a range of other soft objects that don’t require a hard box to be packed in tightly, large plastic bags are the next best thing to transport these items from one location to the next. This will reduce the number of boxes you’ll need for the move as well. Make sure to keep your trash bags separate from the bags containing your belongings so that you don’t throw out the wrong one by mistake.
Now you can pack up the house properly using this packing supplies’ checklist as your guide. Here are some other things to keep in mind during your move. Also, don’t forget to clean your new house before you begin unpacking.
Stay tuned to Zameen Blog for more moving tips and tricks. Drop us an email on blog@zameen.com if you want to share your comments or feedback with us.
