Moving to a new place? The following guides may be helpful.
* Start with out-of-season items. Next, pack things used rarely. Leave until the last minute things you’ll need until moving day.
*Empty drawers of breakables, spillables, non-transportable items and anything that would puncture or damage other items.
*Pack similar items and keep all parts or pairs of things together. For example, curtain rod hangers, mirror bolts and other small hardware items should be placed in plastic bags and secured to the article to which they belong.
*Wind electrical cords, fastening them so they do not dangle.
*Wrap items individually in clean paper; use tissue paper, paper towels or even facial tissue for delicate items. Colored wrapping paper draws attention to very small things that might otherwise get lost in a box. Use a double layer of newsprint for a good outer wrapping.
*Use newspapers for cushioning only. The ink can rub off and embed itself onto your belongings.
*Place around a 10 centimeter layer of crushed paper in the bottom of boxes for cushioning.
*Place the heaviest things on the bottom, medium weight next and lightest on top.
*Cushion well with crushed paper; towels and lightweight blankets may also be used for padding and cushioning. The more fragile the item, the more cushioning needed. Be sure no sharp points, edges or rims are left uncovered.
*Pack small, fragile, individually wrapped items separately or a few together in small boxes, cushioning with crushed or shredded paper. Place small boxes in a single large box, filling in spaces with crushed paper.
*Limit box weight to about 20 kilograms. Avoid overloading boxes but strive for a firm pack that will prevent items from shifting; the cover should close easily without force, but should not bend inward.
*As you finish with each box, seal tightly with tape and list the contents on the side of the box (for easy viewing while stacked) and in a notebook. You might wish to number and/or code the boxes too.
*Indicate your name and the room to which each box should be delivered at destination. Tape a sign on the door of each room at destination corresponding to the box labels so movers can get the boxes into the proper rooms quickly.
*Put a special mark (the number 1, or the letter A) on boxes you want to unpack first at destination.