Packing tips

So I've moved quite a bit in the last 5 years. If fact this will be the 5th time. Needless to say I'm really good at packing. Like I can pack all of our stuff in 2-3 days. So I thought I'd share some of my packing tips in no particular order.

Not a packing tip but a really good moving tip: start going through all of your stuff immediately upon deciding to move. Going through all of your stuff is really what makes packing seem hard but if you do that ahead of time you know exactly what you are going to take and what needs to go to a thrift store. Also you now have a rough inventory of all of things you need to pack. So pretty much it's the most important thing. Seriously, if you haven't used it in 2 years it probably needs to go.


1. When packing don't necessarily go cupboard by cupboard. Weight is pretty much the most important factor. If you're like me all of your glassware is in the same place but trying to pack all of that in the same box will make it REALLY heavy. Instead put two or three heavy glass things in then some lighter plastic stuff.

2. Place a dish towel between small stacks of glass plates then tightly plastic wrap it all together. Plastic wrap is one of my favorite packing tools. If I had thought about it I would have taken a picture but I didn't so no picture for you.

3. Nest everything! If you can fit your glass cups wrapped in packing paper inside your pots and pans do it. Make sure it's tightly wedged in there. No movement = less chance of breaking. That goes for you boxes too. Fill it up as tightly as possible.

4. Pack boxes all the way to the top. This is one I learned in the last move when I noticed a lot of my boxes were slightly crushed on the top corners. So to prevent box crushing pack all the way to the top. I used upside down bowls a few times since that give a flat place push against. Cutting boards are also awesome to place on the top of you box.

5. Use towels and blankets to pack fragile stuff.

6. Use kind of mashed up plastic bags as protection between picture frames for extra padding.

7. Save all of the air-packet things when you get something from Amazon. I only semi-intentionally did this but I got high quality packing materials with no additional cost.

8. Get mostly medium and small boxes. I like to be able to move all of the boxes on my own which makes it difficult to fill a large box to the top at a weight I can still lift. Besides when the movers come they can usually carry two of my boxes at once so doesn't even mean more trips. If you're not paying for movers and are having friends help it makes it easier to everyone to help instead of just your really strong peeps.

So there are 8 packing tips. Also be prepared upon moving to a smaller place to get rid of even more stuff. Anyone want some stuff? It's on craig'slist :)