Introduction
We all know moving can be an overwhelming process. After all, it takes a lot of your physical and mental strength to pack years of memories into multiple boxes for a fresh start. And moving clothes is no different. Clothing can be bulky when they are packed together and require smart, efficient solutions to make your moving process easy and stress-free. Here is a complete guide to show you how to pack clothes for moving.
Factors To Consider Before Before Packing
Moving requires careful planning that goes beyond simply putting your clothes in a box. Finding a cost-effective, experienced mover can save you tons of time and money, keeping your overall move a hassle-free experience. Here are some factors to consider before packing clothes for a move.
Donate Your Clothes You Never Wear
Moving is a convenient time to donate gently used and old clothing. There is no point in holding on to clothes that you never wear. Doing this keeps your closet practical and clutter-free. At SFL Worldwide, we leverage our shipping business to donate to charity whenever we can. Read about it here.
Sell Your Clothes
Gift Clothes That Does Not Fit
There is nothing wrong with gifting gently used or new clothing that does not fit. In fact, it is a sustainable solution to combat the issues of fast fashion sweeping the world today. Moving is a great time to gift new or gently used clothes to a dear friend or someone in need.
Wash or dry-clean clothing
Moving is a long and daunting process. The last thing you want to deal with is washing dirty clothes with the amount of unpacking to do in your new home. Use this opportunity to wash or dry-clean your clothes and have them ready to wear when you unpack them in your new place.
Folding Ways To Try
One of the factors that influence your shipping costs is the dimensional weight. This means you want to find the best way to pack clothes for moving and use methods that pack your clothes as efficiently as possible to keep your costs reasonably low. We highly recommend using folding methods that pack your clothes in a space-saving manner inside your package.
Flat Fold Method
Flat fold method is done by placing your clothing on a flat surface and using horizontal and vertical folds. Smoothen out creases in between folds until the clothes are folded to the desired shape.
Bulky clothing such as sweaters, jeans, and jackets is better folded flat. Materials made of cotton and linen are generally best folded using the flat fold method.
Rolling Method
Rolling method or army/ranger method was made popular by cleaning and organization expert Marie Kondo’s book “The Life-Changing Magic of Tidying Up.” This involves rolling up smaller garments like underwear, small towels, and ties, into a tight roll to use the space efficiently.
How to Pack Clothes For Moving
Packing accomplishes a great deal of your overall moving process. Follow this step-by-step guide to pack your clothes quickly and effectively to keep your move hassle-free.
Sort your clothes
Before you learn how to pack clothes for a move, the first and foremost step is to get your clothes sorted into Keep, Sell, Trash, and Donate piles. This needs to be done before one learns how to pack clothes when moving.
Remove unnecessary items
Sort your gently used and unwanted clothes into their respective piles. List items for sale on online marketplaces. Donate or gift clothing to those in need. And remove tattered clothes into the bin.
Keep immediate wear clothes separate
Pack an entire week, if not a month’s supply of clothes, in a separate suitcase. This is done, so you have something to wear in your new home while you take your time to unpack or in the event of a delay in delivery.
Use cardboard boxes for packing clothes
Cardboard boxes are an environmentally friendly way to pack your clothes. They keep the use of plastic to a minimum and are highly durable to withstand the weight of all your clothing.
Use wardrobe boxes for packing specialty clothes
Some special clothing items such as wedding dresses or formal suits cannot be folded. For these, you can use wardrobe boxes that allow you to attach a hanger rod to hang all your clothes to be transported safely without creasing to their new home.
Use suitcases for packing clothes
Reusing suitcases that you already own is a smart way to reduce the amount of packing supply trash you accumulate at the end of your move. Fold your clothes neatly and pack them in suitcases for your move.
Use duffel bags for packing clothes
Use every type of bag you may own already to pack your clothes for a move. This reduces the use of additional packing materials and minimizes your trash accumulation.
Use a vacuum for packing clothes
Pack clothes in a garbage bag. Gather the opening leaving enough room for your vacuum hose to go in. Turn on the vacuum to suck up any air and keep your clothes packed tight inside the bag. Use the hoops on your garbage bag to tie a knot. That’s it!
Packing Non-Hanging Clothes
The best way to pack non-hanging clothes is to either use the flat-fold method or the rolling method. Hang only the clothes that you don’t want to crease.
Packing Hanging Clothes
You want to organize your clothes into those that need extra care and attention and those that are ok with a little folding. Use wardrobe boxes, trash bags, and specialty garment bags to keep your clothes crease-free.
Label Your Clothing Boxes
We have all experienced this before. Moving into a new home and forgetting what was kept where. Label your clothing boxes to make them easy to retrieve when you move to your new place.
Pack Your Shoes Separately From Clothes
Shoes are different from clothes in the way they are shaped to the level of care they require. Pack your shoes in a separate box from your clothes to avoid your clothes from getting stained or soiled by the shoes brushing against them in transit.
Pack your delicate clothing separately
Pack your delicate clothing, such as undergarments and intricate material, separately to prevent it from getting damaged in transit. Delicate clothing can tear easily by the sharp edges of objects in other boxes.
Useful Tips to Pack Clothes for Moving
Despite all the careful step-by-step execution in your packing process, there are times when simple mistakes lead to a messy process. Here are some useful tips to help you pack clothes for a move.
- Line boxes with packing paper to prevent soils and stains.
- Reuse existing bags and boxes to limit the purchase of additional material.
- Wash your clothes to present musty smells on unpacking.
- Keep your heavy clothing at the bottom and the lighter ones on top to prevent the lighter ones from getting smushed in transit.
- Do not overpack your bags as it can compromise the shelf life of your box.
- Use wardrobe boxes, where necessary, to prevent valuable clothing from creasing in transit.
- Keep valuable clothing on you at all times.
- Finally, remember to pack a suitcase of your essential clothes to use during the first few days after your move.
Conclusion
Remember to take your time to complete your packing process as it can get long and complicated. Use this simple hack – sort, organize, and pack – to plan your packing effectively.
At SFL Worldwide, we have a team of experienced packing experts who can accommodate your moving needs and complete your packing in half the time. Contact our support team to enquire about our moving services. Or call us on 1-800-691-2335 for more information.
I’m Tammy Waller, a supply chain and logistics specialist with over 10 years of expertise. I’ve been an author and SFL employee for over 10 years.
As an author, I’ve been able to teach others. I love guiding users through supply chain and logistics operations.
I have substantial experience managing logistics operations, supply chain management, transportation, inventory management, and warehousing in shipping-moving and logistic services. I’ve worked on many worldwide logistics and supply chain projects, honing my abilities in negotiating rates, scheduling shipments, and managing vendors.
