A crucial stage of the moving process is packing all your belongings into cardboard moving boxes, which will go onto a moving truck and eventually to your new home. However, packing these boxes isn’t simply a matter of placing items inside them and taping them shut. Knowing how to properly pack cardboard boxes can make a huge difference in organising all your belongings during the move and ensuring they remain in good condition. Here are some helpful tips to follow when packing your moving boxes.
1. Group Items
It’s beneficial to place certain types of items in particular boxes. If possible, avoid packing belongings from different rooms into the same box. Ideally, you should place items from your kitchen into one box, items from your bedroom into another box, and so on. You should also ensure that any items you pack in cardboard boxes are of a similar size and weight. Avoid overpacking boxes to the point where they’re too heavy to lift or could possibly break open, causing damage to your belongings during transit.
2. Wrap Items
Every item you plan to put into a moving box should have at least two layers of protective material covering it, such as bubble wrap or packing paper, which should then be secured with tape. Heavier items should be individually wrapped first and placed at the bottom of the box, with a layer of protective material in between them to prevent damage. Lighter items should also be wrapped and placed on top of the heavier items, with protective material underneath to separate them from the heavier items.
3. Use Void Fill Material
All the empty space inside cardboard boxes should be filled with either packing peanuts or crumpled packing paper to prevent the items inside the box from moving around and potentially getting damaged. Pack a layer of void fill material onto the bottom of the box, and put at least two inches of void fill material on all sides before placing any items at the bottom of the box. You should then add another layer of void fill material on top and press down to ensure all empty spaces are filled.
4. Tape the Box
Sealing cardboard boxes properly is crucial to ensure that items are safely secured during the move. After closing the flaps of the box, use specially made box tape to seal it shut. It’s important to use high-quality tape to prevent the box from opening during transit.
To start, tape the centre opening of the box, leaving approximately 2-3 inches of overhang on both sides of the box. This will provide extra strength and stability to the box’s opening. Make sure the tape is firmly applied and that there are no gaps. Next, tape the side openings of the box. Use overhanging tape on both the top and side of the box to provide additional strength and ensure that the sides of the box are securely sealed. When you’re done, it’s important to double-check that the box is properly sealed before moving it. If the box feels loose or unstable, add additional tape to reinforce the seal.
