Useful Tips on How to Pack Clothes for Moving

Packing can be very frustrating, more so if done wrong. Yes, indeed, there is a correct way to pack that can save you the stress of the ordeal. Since moving is something that we all have to do at some point in our lives, it’s better to know how best to tackle it well and add to the fun and excitement of moving. These tips are simply to help you avoid the common pitfalls of the exercise, learning from the experiences of those that have had good and bad experiences when getting ready to shift homes.

How to pack for a move

Do it early!

Your worst enemy when moving is doing things last minute. That is definitely the best recipe for disaster and the fastest way to stress yourself out! Give yourself at least two weeks in advance to start packing your clothes and the rest of your wardrobe. This way, you have ample time to source what you need for the job, such as containers and wrapping or protective material.

If the move comes as a sudden surprise, you need to source out some help for the job. The best would be friends and family that you can boss around and put them to work for free but, if they aren’t available (most of them will probably come up with lame excuses), you can also hire some help for packing from the convenient chore apps or the moving company.

Prepare the Clothes

So here’s the thing, many people simply grab a suitcase and start stuffing every piece of clothing they can grab close by. That is an absolute no-no! You need to first prepare your clothes by properly organizing them before you can even start looking for your suitcase. Having agreed that the packing must be done early to avoid a rushed job, you will firstly need to separate a few clothes items that you still need to wear before the moving day, these will be packed in a separate suitcase or container on the day of moving.

Moving also offers a great opportunity to get rid of all those old clothes you no longer wear, the small ones that don’t fit, the ruined ones, etc. Use this opportunity to the fullest by sorting starting a ‘get-rid-of’ pile. You can either donate these or sell what you can in a quick garage sale (donate whatever doesn’t sell!). Whatever you decide, this will help you to reduce the burden of packing and give you a fresh new start in your new home with the clothes that you actually like and use.

Finally, as part of your preparation, wash everything! The last thing you need is to mix clean and dirty clothes in a single container. You also don’t want to have a different sorting system for dirty and clean clothes, it will only complicate the packing process further and stress you outright.

Sort the Clothes

Having decided what to keep, sell, or donate, the next step is to sort the clothes by either material or category. Most people prefer category-sorting i.e. t-shirts, pants, jackets, etc. This, however, applies to the common clothes material such as cotton and nylon.

Watch out for the special material when sorting and try to separate those clothes items from the rest. These include wool and cashmere, which can easily be ruined by contact with other items. Find a separate container for them or isolate them in a bag before packing in a container with other materials. Now, this is why other people often decide to pack clothes by material from the onset.

Avoid Creases

There are bound to be some items that you prefer to keep smooth during the move, such as that special wedding dress or tux, or perhaps a favorite shirt. Even if the clothes aren’t your favorite, creases are just a bad idea and can ruin your clothes in so many ways. Here are the most effective ways of avoiding creases during the move;

• Neat Folds

Now, this isn’t the best way to avoid creases completely, but it does the job perfectly well. Simply fold your clothes properly, preferably once horizontally and once vertically. Clothes folded in this manner will only have two straight crease lines, which can be removed easily with an iron or even ignored since they are barely noticeable when you wear the garment.

• Neat Roll

Another rudimentary way of packing but very effective in preventing creases. how to roll clothes for packing? Dresses, t-shirts, and pants can be rolled to avoid excessive creasing. Rolled clothes are also easy and convenient to pack if done neatly and properly. Once again, you’ll need a quick iron do-over before you can wear the clothes, but the technique will avoid the worst creases.

• Wardrobe Boxes

These are essentially mobile wardrobes that enable you to move your clothes in the normal hanging position of clothes in a wardrobe. They can be a bit cumbersome, but most moving companies have them readily available. They, however, often come at an extra cost, which can be significant if you’re operating on a budget.

• Clothes Bags

These are sometimes referred to as garment bags. They enable you to store our clothes in the normal wardrobe position to avoid creases. They are great for saving space since they can be neatly laid on top of other stuff, such as boxes in the moving vehicle. Once again, the formal garment bags can be pricey, but clean, unused, and large trash bags can do the job perfectly well.

• Portable Hanging Clothes-racks

Lastly, you can use the portable hanging racks to simply transfer your clothes from the wardrobe straight to the moving vehicle. They do require a bit of special fitting which your moving company will be happy to do, at an extra cost of course! If you do opt for these, be sure to cover your clothes to protect them from dust or contact with other items in the truck.

How to pack shoes

Shoes are also part of the package when packing lathes. Luckily, shoes are generally tough and don’t require much special attention. Just stuff each one with paper to avoid deformation during the move and pack them in a box and a single file, side by side. If you have to stack them, be sure to put the heavier ones at the bottom and the lightest at the top. If the shoes have a delicate outer finish such as suede, simply wrap it up in paper to avoid friction damage in transit.

As we wind up, make sure the movers don’t stack heavy items on top of the containers with the shoes, otherwise, all your efforts will be in vain. If you’re using an open vehicle, be sure to have a protective plastic cover to avoid ruining your whole wardrobe in rain. Good luck!