The relocation process requires lots of time and hard work, not to mention strong nerves and willpower. This is why the Fantastic Services team has made this packing list with tips for every specific item you might need to move.
Are you moving to a new home and wondering what you should pack first;
Want to learn how to pack for moving house;
Need packing tips when moving;
Want to limit the time needed to pack during the house move;
Then keep reading! This article is for you.
Packing materials for moving house
Packing tape. Another much-needed supply item. The packing tape is your most valuable helper, so get as much as you can.
Fillings. The boxes will have gaps of air that would increase the possibility of damage. To fill the gaps, you need bubble wrap, old newspapers, packing paper, packaging peanuts, old rags, or even items of clothing you have no place for.
Stretch wrap. For carefully wrapping your furniture to protect it from scratching during the move.
Marker or labels. This is convenient for the unpacking phase at the new property. You can do this with specific colour-coded labels, or by simply writing on the boxes with a permanent marker.
List. After the boxes are packed, closed and labelled, it’s a good idea to make a list of all the boxes to make sure none of them gets lost.
Tools you must have when moving house
Box cutter. Something with which you can cut the tape; you can also use a safety knife.
Hand tools. It will be best to have an electric screwdriver to help you disassemble furniture. Make sure you have both “X” and “-” bits.
We can provide you with all the packing materials you may need for a safe move! Learn how to get reliable packing materials!
Once it’s time to pack, start with the place with the most space, the one you won’t mind having boxes lying around. This is usually the living room.
Flat-screen TV. Unplug the TV and place all detachable cords, wires and remotes in a single plastic bag. Use the cardboard box your TV came in, along with the protective foam. If you don’t have it anymore, find a different box and line it with a soft blanket, making sure there are no gaps. Place the plastic bag with all the cords inside and secure it tightly with packing tape.
Couch and armrest. Before you even start packing, check if your couch or sofa can fit through the door. Use stretch wrap along the entire frame to protect the surface from scratches. You can also wrap the couch in soft blankets and secure it with packing tape for extra protection.
Framed pictures. Take each picture frame and wrap it three times in the shape of a six-pointed star. Place a soft cloth on the bottom of the box and place the frames vertically in the box.
Rugs. Roll each rug, until it takes up the least amount of space and secure it with packing tape or a piece of rope. You can also wrap with a blanket or stretch wrap to prevent it from getting dirty.
Potted Plants. If you have a couple of small potted plants, you can arrange them in a sturdy cardboard box together. If you find a plastic tray to insert on the bottom, it will be ideal. Make sure you prune and water your plants before the move. You can re-pot bigger plants into plastic pots, so they will be easier to transport.
Books and bookcases. Choose a container for books. Line the bottom with wrapping paper. Pack the books flat. Don’t overfill the book boxes, leave a gap of about two centimetres between the books and the top. Fill the gaps with newspapers. If you have a large collection, you can also read our complete guide on how to pack different types of books.
Mementoes and knick-knacks. Most of the time, the living room is the place where people like to keep all the small things that have any meaning to them. Souvenirs from different vacations, small pictures, and all sorts of gifts from colleagues and friends. The best way to pack those souvenirs is to roll each one in bubble wrap and pack them all together in a single box.
Living room packing checklist
Start with the smallest belongings.
Gather the boxes that you already packed near the exit.
You can pack furniture a couple of days before the move.
The bedroom has a few tricky items that should be packed with care, but the rest of it shouldn’t pose any difficulty.
Mattress. Take out the mattress and make sure it is 100% dry. Place it in a thick polyethene mattress storage bag. You can purchase one from a specialised furniture store. Tape the plastic protector’s ends shut with packing tape. Consider having the mattress cleaned before installing it at your new place, here is how much it will approximately cost you.
Bed frame. Once the mattress is gone, it’s time to disassemble the bed frame. Tape all the parts together. Place the bolts in a small plastic bag and tape that bag to the bed frame parts. You can also take photos or a video of the way you disassembled the bed frame in order to see how to put it back together again.
Clothes. Take out all the clothes along with the hangers and place them in a wardrobe box. Wardrobe boxes are the best way to pack clothes and keep them wrinkle-free during the move. If you can’t get wardrobe boxes, you can always roll up your clothes and place them in a suitcase, backpack, or cardboard box. Rolled up clothes take less space. The wardrobe itself should be disassembled, much like the bed frame. You can take a video of the process, so you can easily put it back together later on.
Shoes. We can’t mention clothes without stepping it up to shoes right after (pun intended). It is best if you keep the original box alongside the wrapping paper and stuffings. If that is the case, it is pretty self-explanatory. Just return them to their original boxes and carry one. If you threw the boxes away, you can stuff the insides with packing paper, clean the soles, and place them on top of boxes with clothes or beddings. For boots, especially high boots, make sure you place some inserts so they stay nice and straight. This will keep the leather in good condition, without cracks and wrinkles.
Linen, bedding and curtains. Use three big cardboard boxes for each. Line the boxes with packing paper. Put linen, bedding and curtains each in a separate plastic bag. Shut the bags tightly and place each in the dedicated cardboard boxes. If you are transitioning between seasons, here is how to store your winter beddings.
Lamps. Reinforce the bottom of the box with packing tape. Place a soft cloth or old t-shirts on the bottom of the box. Disassemble the lamp, wrap the base with bubble wrap and secure with tape. Place the lamp in the box base down and fill the gaps. As for lamp shades, each one should be packed separately. Fill a box with balls of crumpled paper, place a single lampshade inside, and secure it in place with more balls of paper.
How to pack a kids’ room for moving
Most of the items in a child’s room will be the same as in any bedroom. The main difference is the number of toys you have to pack here.
Toys. Stuffed animals can easily be placed in a vacuum bag to save some space. For all the rest, you can place them inside a container with some packing peanuts and hope they all make the trip in one piece.
Children’s room packing checklist
Leave a set of bedding in your overnight bag.
Your kid’s favourite toy should always be packed in their overnight bag.
Start with your clothes and other belongings.
You can pack the frame and sleep on the mattress the last night if time is of the essence.
Packing is too overwhelming? We can do a full house packing, take care of only one room or just pack your fragile possessions. Learn about the different packing options you can take advantage of!
Since most things you find in the bathroom aren’t likely to be removed, there isn’t much you can do here. The most obvious are:
Toiletries. The worst part of packing toiletries is the fear of them spilling into the box. This is why toiletries are best packed in plastic boxes. Additionally, you can avoid spillage by using a small piece of stretch wrap when closing the lids of each bottle.
Bathroom mirror. If you have a cupboard mirror in the bathroom, the best way to pack it is by finding a small cardboard box of approximately the same size. Line up the box with a soft cloth and place the mirror inside. Cover the upside with another cloth and close the box. Label the box “FRAGILE”.
Detachables. If you have a detachable showerhead, you can easily remove it from the shower and wrap it in stretch wrap, or a soft cloth. Place it in a box labelled “BATHROOM”. The same goes for any other element you can safely dismount from the bathroom walls, like soap dispensers, brushes, toilet paper holders, and others. Most often those pieces are either plastic or metal with a chrome finish. The chrome ones, especially if they are nice and heavy, are the best and come at a good price as well. If you bought a set for yourself and you want to keep it, you should take it with you. Carefully wrap every element separately in packing paper or towels so you can avoid scratches on the chrome finish. The dowels and screws used for mounting should be placed in plastic bags and taped to each element. If you don’t have a suitable bag at hand, you can line them on a stretch of tape and lay another one on top; this will keep them together.
Bathroom packing checklist
Start with the toiletries / Leave the ones that you will take in your overnight bag.
Continue with the detachable bathroom items.
Leave the mirror for last.
How to pack a kitchen when moving
The kitchen will be the most difficult because its time consuming to pack utensils and heavy appliances. Start small.
Kitchen dishes. Use packing paper between each plate and stack them on top of each other by placing a plate over a sheet of paper. Wrap the loose ends and place them in the box vertically. Fill the gaps in the box and label it “FRAGILE”.
Glasses, cups, bowls. Put a soft cloth on the bottom of the box and separate the tableware by shape and size. Like with the plates, place one over the other, and wrap in packing paper. Stack from the edges to the middle of the box, lips down. Fill in the gaps. For more details on how to pack fragile crockery read this complete guide.
Pots and pans. Tape the bottom of a large box, making it as sturdy as you can. Place a soft cloth on the bottom. Choose a few pots or pans that can be nested inside each other, while separating them with packing paper or old newspapers. Wrap the entire bundle with a large piece of newsprint and seal with packing tape. Put in the box as many of these as you can and fill in the gaps.
Utensils. Separate the utensils and wrap them with a soft cloth. Secure with packing tape and put inside the box. If possible, use the bundle of utensils to fill in the gaps of another box with kitchen items.
Fridge. Leave the packing of the fridge for the second last day before the move. Eat or dispose of all the food inside, and make sure to defrost the appliance the night before the move. After that is done, clean the inside well and close the doors securely with packing tape. You can wrap the fridge with stretch wrap if you’re worried about scratches.
Washing machine. Make sure the machine is completely dry -do not use it for at least 24 hours. Next, shut off the water supply and unplug the washing machine. Disconnect and drain the hoses to make sure there is no residual water inside. Remove the water hoses from the washing machine. Secure the lid and attach the cords to the back of the machine with stretch wrap or packing tape. Wrap the entire washing machine with blankets to avoid scratches.
Although this might be the room with the least amount of items in it, it should not be skipped on our room-by-room packing list.
Table. If you can disassemble the table in any way, do it. This will ensure easier transportation. Wrap all of the elements in stretch foil to protect them from scratches.
Chairs. Each chair should be wrapped in stretch foil.
Kitchen packing checklist
Pack the appliances first.
Next, pack the table and chairs from the dining room.
Now let’s talk about an area that might be outside your living space but is still important! Some people use their garages or sheds as storage areas and others as workshops. Whatever the case may be, you have some extra packing to do. Follow these packing tips to prevent damage to your tools and limit the risk of injuries while loading!
Hand tools. All of your hand tools must be placed in toolboxes and wrapped in stretch foil to keep them shut. You can add some sort of filling to keep the tools from jumping inside the boxes.
Liquids. Any old paint, solvents, fuel, etc., can’t be loaded on a removals van anyway, so it’s best to dispose of them accordingly.
Nuts and bolts. Take some jars with screw-on caps and collect all of the fasteners you can find, like bolts, screws, and nails. Place each type in a separate jar, if possible.
Saws and other blades. You should wrap all the blades you need to pack in old rags and secure them with packing tape. You can also wrap them in a single layer of bubble wrap for additional protection.
Electric power tools. Make sure you remove all of the batteries! Pack them separately in a bag filled with bubble wrap alongside the charging docks.
Garden tools. Make sure you securely wrap the blades and edges of gardening tools. Stack them together for easier transportation. Load the gardening tools in a wardrobe box or a bin so they stay put during the move.
The box of essentials or “Overnight bag” is the first thing you will open in the new place. The box or bag that has all the important things you’ll need right after moving into your new place. All the toiletries you might need, a spare set of clothes, snacks and many other items should be present. Read our full guide on packing your overnight bag with a free downloadable checklist included.
Bonus packing tips for moving house
Last but not least, here are a few more tips regarding packing, specifically for those odd belongings that need extra care.
Piano. Pianos don’t need much packing, the best you can do is wrap in stretch wrap to avoid accidental scratches. Or you can resort to blankets fastened with packing tape. And have at least three strong helpers with you, because it’s a heavy item.
Aquarium. First, take the fish out, empty the water and remove all of the decorations. Find a cardboard box that is relatively the same size as the aquarium. Line the bottom and the walls of the box with a soft cloth and place the aquarium inside. Secure with packing tape and label the box “FRAGILE”. You can read our extensive guide on how to move with fish for more tips.
Irregularly shaped sculptures. Use bubble wrap to cover every part of your sculpture at least twice. Secure with packing tape. Place the sculpture on a piece of cardboard, and bend as much as you can to cover all of your sculpture, wrapping it tightly in packing tape. Label the new irregularly shaped box “FRAGILE”.
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