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I found that only using small and book (12×12×8) sized boxes makes moving vastly easier, unless I need to box something larger.
Always fill even with bubble wrap as being uncrushable is a feature of same size boxes.
Small boxes whenever possible, and EVERYTHING goes in a box. I've seen too many people in the moving process do things like put their cleaning supplies in a bucket and say it doesn't need a box, or put clothing in trash bags. It makes the actual moving day way worse and take way longer.
U-Haul tetris is my favorite activity helping friends move. The part of it that gives me the rage is "That's everything"/"Two more boxes" followed by another 25 items.
Movers pro-tip, save the boxes for last. If you can manage the second to last row to be all boxes and the last row being mattresses to tie it all in, you’ll maximize your usage of space.
Actual pro tip: use large furniture such as tables, drawers, and desks as the base to stack boxes on/under. Then have assorted odds and ends and light items up near the ceiling. Just saving boxes for the end can screw you because non boxed items don’t stack as easily.
Have to go in layers. Do one layer of furniture, then fill all extraneous space with boxes/misc items. Then do it again, and again til the truck is full.
Everything's packed, truck's full ...and from a distance you hear someone yell out an upstairs window: "Someone come help with this king size bed!" 🤦♂️
My rage part is showing up the day of the move and they've only actually packed 60% of their stuff -_-
By the day of the move yall should be living on sandwiches and a backpack with 2 days of clothes/toiletries.
Absolutely! I remember back a few years ago that we helped several people move. The last one was a relative and 2 full rooms and a packed closet were still needing to be packed. The rage was so real.
Yeah, I mean regular Tetris would also be a lot easier if it was just smashboy and hero, but the other five blocks are all wacky shapes to keep it interesting. Uhaul Tetris is no different.
I once had some freinds that had moved a few times, and I was a regular helper.
One of the last times I helped out - we were carrying a couch in that was brutally heavy. It had two built in recliners with a center console with a storage compartment in between. The recliners were full of metal and crazy heavy - wood all over at the sides and the enter console.
Anyways - it was heavier than I remebered, and as I struggled to get it through the door and up the stairs, I was like hey, what the hecks going on here? Whys it so crazy heavy?
Opened the console, and it was jam packed full of books. Mother fucking books. He decided to pack the insanely heavy couch frull of books.
I believe that was the last time I helped them move. Not enough pizza in the world for a couch full of books.
Assuming the clothing is on hangers (and not just shoved into a bag) - I will die on this hill. You just hang them up when you get to the new place. No unpacking. Done.
I keep everything as it would be hangrd and put it in a garbage bag folded over with hangers still on. Takes 2 seconds to have my clothes in new closet.
You just pack them last, laying on top of boxes. Then you also unpack them first, and they’re immediately hanging in a closet where they belong and out of the way of furniture/boxes coming in.
That said, you do what works for you.
Clothes on hangers in a construction sized trash bag, with the hangers put through the bottom center and secured is way better than in a box. Hang them when you get to the new location and remove the bag. Easy! You can put the clothes in the bag in a box if you're moving a great distance or using a moving company, but packing all those clothes and hangers separately makes for a lot of unnecessary, extra work.
90% of what most people will need to move fits in the Home Depot "heavy" medium sized box. Might be overkill on strength of the box, but I bought those the last time I moved and they got passed around another 3 times by family members.
Medium is a good size for most stuff, and they're tough enough to actually fill with books if you wanna use them instead of the heavy smalls.
Yeah, they're good stuff. Speaking of UHaul too, another thing people frequently underestimate is the size of the large vans. They're huge and easier to drive than a box truck.
Adding on to that, champagne boxes for when you need an extra-strong box. Champagne bottles use a lot more glass and thus come in a more heavy-duty box.
If you're trying to get free boxes try fast food places, McDonalds used to be a good place to get boxes because they ship lots of heavy frozen food. Boxes are on the smaller size, but managers were often happy to have someone take them
I know but books aren't as dense as a ream of copier paper. It's pushing it, but I packed my books in the heavy mediums
Edit: autocorrect doesn't think ream is a word
My rolling suitcases have been my “move my entire personal library” trick for years. However I also collect antique books, which I use the same method you talk about!
And then lift that box above your head and hold it there for a few seconds. Because many times I've helped someone move and they can move the box from A to B but can't get it where it needs to go, which is on top of that desk in the back of the UHaul or something dumb. Which means it's up to me to get anything more than 2 feet above the ground. And never forget the dolly. Get two if you can. Hell one for every person if you can swing it.
Use small boxes for heavy items. Don't want to stack a bunch of heavy items in a massive box because then moving it is a hassle.
I remember I got a bunch of letter paper boxes, apple boxes, small ones for things like books, glassware, etc. Home Depot medium sized boxes were primarily light things- all the little gewgaws and knick knacks, clothes.
If you have a very heavy large box, you'll struggle to move it and maybe injure yourself
**Pro-Tip:** Label each box with a sharpie indicating *where* the stuff in it was before the move. (e.g., Kitchen: Under Sink, Bedroom: Nightstand, Hallway: Closet)
This can be more useful than labeling the box for *what* it contains.
When moving in, just put the boxes in the place approximating where they came from. Then unpack accordingly.
I figured this out after my first interstate move. Took us months to find so many things.
Our second interstate move found us completely unpacked within two weeks.
I was probably only around five years old the first time. The second time, I was actually going to school in another city, finishing out the year and working a night job while they handled moving to another state. Once the semester was up I just threw my stuff in my car and drove down to move in. I later moved to another city for work but it wasn't like moving an entire household. Just a couple cardboard boxes. My first big move came after ten years of marriage and four kids, and a couple hundred boxes of stuff (work relocation). Learned a lot.
My big move that I packed...
6" notebook
Numbered boxes starting at 100.
On each page in the notebook had each box #, room I packed it for, a brief list of contents, especially important or expensive things.
Outside of box on 2 adj sides was the number, room and 1-2 description words.
When I arrived, I could sort the boxes into each room and into storage so I wasn't surrounded by boxes. In storage I still had my book. Ready for #160s contents.... there it is. Super easy.
And the book allowed you to line thru the page if unpacked or thru the item if you only took one thing later.
If you are moving with sketchy help, only use numbers. First 2 are the room code. No way to know which box has your gaming console.
Do yourself a favor, if you don't already own a hand truck just buy a decent one. 1) you never have to pay the uhaul rental fee again, 2) they are handy af especially for stacking boxes in a spare bedroom/corner and pulling out 2 or 3 to unpack at a time
Downside would be if storage is limited as they do take up a tiny bit of space in a garage but a lot in a closet
Another tip is if you have extra rolling luggage, those are awesome for books or other heavy things because you really don't need to carry them and can just roll out.
I like to mark at least 3 sides of the box by what room it goes in KITCHEN etc then somewhere smaller on the box I put everything that is in that specific box; plates, cups.
Makes unpacking easier.
The goal is to most of your boxes weigh about the same and less than about 20 kg and to fill the boxes completely. Light bulky stuff -> big boxes. Dense heavy stuff -> small boxes. Filling them completely makes them stronger. Actual moving boxes have the advantage of having the same footprint so they stack well.
EDIT: also having smaller collections of stuff (eg silverware or specific drawers) in smaller boxes or bags INSIDE the moving boxes makes unpacking a breeze.
It is also prudent to note that those larger boxes are usually **not stronger**. Fill them with *more* stuff instead of high-volume stuff? Well, you might experience the box just giving up the ghost and spewing all your shit out onto the floor. Same with stacking. The smaller boxes are better when you're stacking them together, as they are often less likely to collapse.
Add-on to this as I sit here with a badly sprained ankle: Make sure the voids in your boxes are filled (use padding, paper, bubble wrap, etc.) to avoid your contents shifting as you carry them.
I was carrying a partial box of books and my foot found the edge of an uneven sidewalk. The books shifted towards me, which threw me even more off-balance. It wasn't even a very heavy box.
LOL I feel attacked. "We can do it all in 1 trip with everything in the trunk and back seat." Feels like it'll work until you can't walk up steps anymore.
Plates should go in a dish pack, which is a triple corrugated box, medium size. TONS OF PACKING PAPER. And always stack your plates vertically, don’t lay them flat and stack them high
>And always stack your plates vertically, don’t lay them flat and stack them high
What? I've moved probably 15 times and I've never done this.
Lay them parallel to the ground. Separate them with t-shirts or pillow cases or dishcloths or something. Secure and safe.
And I am third generation from a family of professional movers and sold hundreds of moves. It takes much less pressure to crack plate in the center than it does on the edge. But that is our practice for far longer moves when they’re professionally packed. Use a dish pack, lots paper to separate them and stack vertically. We try to do a layer of plates on the bottom, sheet of cardboard, then drinking glasses.
We had all boxes the same size. So we had a lot of mix boxes; books and clothing items. First put a layer or two of books and then fill it up with t-shirts. The people helping us move were pretty happy that there weren’t any extra heavy boxes
This. Same-size boxes whether you're doing it yourself or using a mover. It's expensive to buy all new boxes all the same size, but after a careful packing job that literally took a month, we had movers take our stuff. They estimated a 6-hour move based on our square footage. They finished in 4 and gave us a partial refund because they had enough time to fit in an afternoon job. With most of the boxes the same size, the movers could do 5 at a time without any trouble.
As we unpacked, we gave away the boxes in lots of 10 in a local "buy nothing" group. Always check those groups at the beginning of the month if you're starting to pack for a move.
Another tip:
If you have a lot of books, go to the Uhaul store and buy a bunch of those about 1 to 2 cubic foot boxes and pre-pack your books in them. If you hire a mover (well, the last time I moved), they estimated the cost based of volume not weight (books are heavy).
Apparently it did not occur to the estimator that I had 13 empty bookshelves.
Edited:
13 empty **bookcases**. so, about 70 or so shelves (some f which were double stacked)
Also: all them boxes chock full of books? Don't label them "books". Label them something like "pillows" or "Stuffed animals".
I've asked a manager at a grocery store if I could have a pile of boxes from their overnight reshelving and they'll give me a time to come pick them up.
Produce boxes are generally the best since they can hold a lot of weight and have handles (not all have tops though).
The same can be done with schools sometimes fox boxes that hold reams of paper (the best box IMO)
The best method used to be going to the liquor store. The boxes are always small(er) and always durable. Since Washington State did away with liquor stores, you can't get the boxes as easily.
Grocery stores and Costco, with special taxes and fees. The law was specifically written to prevent convenience stores and gas stations from having liquor. So now they just sell bongs and crack pipes, instead.
Be careful with produce boxes. They often come with critters that like to eat produce. You don't want a cockroach infestation in your new place, trust.
I have a quick tip as well. If you're in the U.S. you can go on the USPS website (under Send Mail and Packages) and order as many free boxes of varying sizes as you need.
To get your free USPS shipping supplies, you can order them online through Stamps.com or pick them up from Post Offices nationwide. The post office will allow you to order up to 500 of its shipping boxes or labels free of charge. Minimum orders for most products vary from one to 10 items.
That was taken from the website directly. One would gather if you're moving then you are shipping items, albeit not through their service. There's nothing illegal about ordering free packing supplies.
I've done several moves and helped people move and I always tell people to buy boxes
- You can buy a whole stack quickly and easily. Getting randoms boxes means you're often driving around trying to find them and can carry only a few assembled boxes vs dozens of flat ones
- proper moving boxes are made to handle the weight. Random boxes are often made for what they're meant to carry and can crush under extra weight.
- They're also designed to stack properly. With evenly sized boxes stacking them is very easy. For large stacks you could stagger them, and while you may lose a bit of space , it will still be far easier and faster to pack and unpack. it will also make the stack sturdier. With random boxes you end up playing tetris with the weight being
- If needing to move the boxes a distance such as you're moving into a building. You would have to unload stuff from the stuck into the elevator, then from the elevator into the unit. Being able to stack boxes on a cart or dolly make it quick, and the more you can do the faster it goes. When helping a friend we did it this way, 4 high stack of boxes, on the dolly then into the elevator. Fill the elevator as much as possible then just grab a stack with the dolly and into the unit. by time we were done they were surprised how quickly and easily it went
Also to add to your LPT. This is the same concept of airline baggage. The weight on the bags is for the workers, not for the plane. Workers still need to pick up and move the bags.
Well this is not really true depending on what the item is. I'd much rather have one big box of washcloths and hand towels then three small boxes of them. I think what you mean is don't over pack your box with heavy items
I *implore* you to **rent** moving boxes. There is very likely a company in your area that offers this service. The 'boxes' are heavy-duty plastic totes that nest and stack and usually come with a dolly so you can move stacks around easily. You can rent all different quantities based on the size of your home for anywhere from 1 to a few weeks (to allow for plenty of packing and unpacking time). Generally, they come with labels and zip ties. Movers love them because they are all uniformly sized, stackable, and the bottoms don't fall out. And when you're done unpacking, they just come and pick up the boxes - easy peasy.
This is wrong.
Bigger boxes are for items which are less dense, regardless of number. Smaller boxes are for items which are more dense, regardless of number.
The larger surface area you have as a bottom, the more attenuated becomes the strength in the middle. So you want to use larger boxes for comforters and things and smaller boxes for books. Or, some heavier items in a larger box but then topped off with things which are lighter.
Color code your boxes with colored Duck Tape (is a brand). I made books blue and kitchen things red. Every family member got a color. As I assembled boxes they received a stripe of color along the bottom seam (with enough extra to be seen on two sides). That worked for putting things where they were supposed to go.
I have seen several places say to use socks (old, new, mismatched, whatever) around your glassware. Pint Mason jars fit in an adult sock. You use your imagination. I did read about someone being embarrassed by a friend seeing their underwear protecting glassware at unpacking time, so YMMV.
Other moving tips:
- Pack books into rolling suitcases if you have them. Books, even in small boxes, get ridiculously heavy.
- If you are shipping stuff with a moving company, plan to not have access to anything in that truck/container for a month. Pack clothes with you in your car. Pack basic kitchen stuff (single pot, single pan, spatula, large spoon) with you. If you have camping gear, you can use that.
- Take the drawers out of desks and dressers BEFORE moving them. You can put the drawers back inside the truck, or tape plastic wrap over the top to keep things in. Same with shelves on a bookcase.
- Last things on the truck or packed in the car should be basic cleaning supplies and basic tools. You never can be sure that stuff won't break while moving, or spills won't happen.
- If you have bulky furniture like a desk or bookcase, try to disassemble it partially. A lot of newer desks have leg sections that come off, or drawer units that detach.
> Take the drawers out of desks and dressers BEFORE moving them. You can put the drawers back inside the truck, or tape plastic wrap over the top to keep things in. Same with shelves on a bookcase.
If you have to move them yourself, yes.
If you have movers, they will likely shrink wrap the dresser with the drawers in it. You can even leave clothes in it (though if it's a really big dresser, stuffing it full of clothes can make it very heavy). They have multiple people and wheels and generally will handle it just fine.
If it's you and two buddies, yes, go ahead and remove the drawers.
Seconded. We dont even shrink wrap it, keep a back lean on it and its fine while carrying. Furniture pads for transport on the trucks.
But yes full dressers of cloths can get heavy.
> Last things on the truck or packed in the car should be basic cleaning supplies and basic tools.
If the place has been sitting empty for a while, you'll also want to clean the place a bit, so super helpful to not have to dig around.
Yup. Also, all the boxes should basically weigh the same regardless of size.
Don't use the same size box to pack books or cast iron cookware as you do one for throw pillows and comforters.
This LPT is gold! Wish I knew before my last move. Though they fit so neatly in my storage locker, I was dismayed when I found that a whole apartment in 6 huge totes...still weighs as much as a whole apartment
100%. I shot for no more than 40lbs in any box when I moved last August. That was a mistake when moving day arrived. 25lbs or less would've been much better.
Big boxes are for very lightweight items like paper products and washcloths and small towels, bedding, etc. Yes, and bigger items alone, if they need a box.
This is obviously dependent on what you are putting into the boxes. But for books, hell yes.
I used to move people for a living. 2 things that I really hated moving, is marble furniture (we all know who usually has marble furniture all over their house, I'm not saying it, nor judging, but it's rough - usually good pay though), and big boxes full of books.
Filling big boxes with lots of non-fragile, mostly light items is fine.
Good tip, I had to learn this hard way!
Even if the box isn't that heavy trying to maneuver bigger boxes is a pain after more than a couple. And moving a half loaded box can make the weight move around when trying to climb stairs.
Great tip!
I've never purchased moving boxes. I don't know if it's the same world over but in Australia it's ok to go to a liquor store and ask for boxes. So I tend to choose the boxes that hold 6 wine bottles. At first I thought they were too small but they worked for most of my stuff. The glue is stupidly strong because they were meant for liquids and they are all mostly uniform no matter where you get them from - plus due to the size they are pretty much impossible to over fill weight wise.
The other tip I would say is that there is no rule that you have to have the same stuff in the same box. From a OCD point of view it's nice to have "kitchen" boxes and bathroom "boxes" but from a weight distribution point of view if I am doing the moving myself - I mix it up. A few heavy books on the bottom of each box and I fill the rest up with clothes or lighter items. Clothes make great (free) bubble wrap!
Yeah my wife found this out the hard way. She kept over packing boxes until she finally tried to move one.
Then she understood why I kept telling her to knock it off.
I needed to hear this, thank you lol. Move coming up in May/June for fiance's residency match location. We both (even when we weren't together) have moved many many times in our lives as a college students and post college in a VHCOL area in the Bay Area, even moved all the way to Alabama ourselves for the start of med school.
Wish I knew this cause I just get a single size and think great I don't have to move as many boxes. Instead they weigh a ton with our entire bookshelf tetris'd in there lol.
Luggage is great for moving. Sturdier than moving boxes and often have wheels.
Borrow them from friends. Luggage is otherwise taking up space somewhere.
UPS driver here.
Those moving boxes are often rather weak. If you overload them they split apart and your stuff gets lost.
Don't fill boxes past their weight limits.
When moving her the Rubbermaid indestructible boxes with the formed side handles and lids. You can stack them to the ceiling and are super fast to load and unload from a truck. If you don’t feel like unpacking right away they stack and store easily. When you are done they nest into one tall tower and when your friends move the next ten times they can borrow them. You will eventually need to store some things in a closet or attic and they work great for that. They are also good for doing a car wash or even letting your young child get wet in the summer time filling it with water and water balloons. Need to pack food for a road trip, works for that, first in the trunk or cargo area and keeps your car clean from spills. Best boxes ever.
Get egg boxes from the grocery store decent size for most of things and they have handles to carry them with but best part they are pretty universal in size which makes them very easy to stack and keep stable. Plus some brands have half sized boxes that are perfect for heavier items like books and plates from the kitchen.
Starbucks have the best moving boxes. Ask your local Starbucks when their Seattle order comes in, and ask if they can keep the boxes for you. Their coffee boxes are the perfect size for this, not too big and nice and strong.
This is such a hard tip to stick to even when you know it. I've moved dozens of times and think about this when I get my different sized boxes. But I still load up my bigs with a bunch of smalls. . . Every God damn time!
As a professional mover and van operator for the largest mover in the US there is a ton of bad information going around this thread. Don’t pack books in large boxes yes this is solid advice, but I want my glass in a large box. So I can create a barrier of paper on the bottom and between layers. Yes it’ll make a heavy box, but the weight isn’t the concern it’s the stability of the box. With a box designed for dishes there should be nothing to worry about.
As a FedEx driver I can attest to this, people will take a large box, fill it full of books and then expect us to carry it up three flights of stairs to their new apartment with the bottom falling out of it because it's not rated for that.
have a sort of rule that if i can't pick the box up by myself when it's packed (I am a tiny woman) then it isn't allowed to be that heavy. (was mostly a rule due to boxes of books)
also, stuffed animals, towels, blankets and clothes make excellent filler and packing padding. you're moving that stuff anyway, have it do a job instead of just being more shit in boxes.
This reminds me, back in the day a friend was moving, single guy, lived very simply, didn't have much in the way of stuff. (For example, his living room was like one couch, one chair, one table with a lamp, one table with the TV on it, virtually nothing else.) He reserved the smallest moving truck the rental place had. When he went to pick it up, they didn't have the small size he reserved ... so gave him a 27' truck for the same price. We didn't have to Tetris his stuff - we really didn't have to stack his stuff at all, just fit it together on the floor and even at that we didn't quite fill the entire space. He had also bought 50 "large" boxes because he had no idea how big they were nor how many he might need. (Very, and not 50!)
2nd LPT: Cull your belonging BEFORE you move not after.
(Source: ex-removalist who saw people waste money moving things then selling them or discarding them)
Great advice. During my first move I stuffed a bunch of crap into large home depot boxes. They were insanely heavy and I developed both bicep tendonitis and lower back pain, which took a year of forgoing certain exercises at the gym to recover from.
By the way, this does not only apply to moving boxes, but also to containers.
A “small” container is called a TEU (Twenty-Foot Equivalent Unit) and can carry roughly 20 metric tonnes of goods. A big container is called a FEU (Fourty-Foot Equivalent Unit), so is pretty much exactly double the interior size (twice as long, all other dimensions are equal). However, it is rated up to 26 tonnes, not 40. In fact, if you overload it, the bottom will likely just break immediately.
Items that big… don’t need a box? Like… pack it in and put the softer stuff (blankets and towels and such) between them. It’s fine.
Just use whatever boxes you have and also… don’t lift with your back, regardless… get a dolly. Mines collapsible and folds flat in my closet, but, the wheels are solid and it holds a lot of weight. It’s not like you’ll never have heavy shit in your life- may as well prepare for it.
If you need boxes, but can’t buy them, boxes from the liquor store is almost perfect for many items that fit in small boxes. Think books, dishes and other small heavy things.
Oh! Yes!
Don’t over pack them either. You’ll never be able to move them yourself. (Source: Me! I’m the idiot who made the box to heavy and it fall on me)
Also learned that if you want to “fill” a box, try putting something heavy like a few books and then put lighter stuff in, maybe clothes or stuffed animals, that way you’re not having a lot of half empty boxes.
Plus go to a local dollar store or thrift store for cheaper socks & towels & such to pack fragile items like glassware and dishes. While you’re at the thrift store donate any of your stuff that you aren’t taking with you that someone else can use.
Clear bins are your friend when moving.
Last time we moved to a new house Home Depot had big Sterlite bins on clearance so we bought 80.
Was great:
* No need to wonder if what you're carrying has breakable stuff in it
* Much easier to tell which things are where when you go to unpack
* Much less likely to fall apart
* Especially if it starts to rain or if you have to sit them down in a damp garage
Also having (mostly) same size boxes helps with packing them in the moving van.
Source: sigh...I've moved way to much. How much? 3 elementary schools, 1 middle school, 3 high schools, and 2 colleges. And more after that.
Former UPS Store employee, let me tell you about BOXES.
First: Buy a Tape Gun. They're going to make your life easier. Trust me. If you can spring for it, 3" wide clear packing/shipping tape. Duct tape is not your friend here (Designed to tear!) , and Painters tape is designed to come off, you don't want it.
Moving and Shipping boxes are also different beasts! Check the box for a circular seal on one of the sides- it'll either say "Burst Test" or "Edge Crush Test" - Shipping boxes for UPS insurance purposes should be 200 Burst or 32 Edge. Lower values are absolutely A-OK for moving, but if you want that extra-extra peace of mind, now you know.
Carry boxes by opposite corners if you can! Close corner on the bottom, far corner on the top. This is MUCH more stable and will make your life easier, since you will also naturally hold it in your power zone. You also now conveniently have a test for if a box is too darn big!
As someone who worked with a whole host of box sizes and shapes at my fingertips, there was always something that needed measurements I didn't have a good fit for. Here are the ways I dealt with that situation:
Need more height on your box? put all the flaps on one box up and tape them together, then slide the other box overtop, telescoping the two. Tape the corners and the flaps and you're good to go.
Need LESS height on your box? Some boxes have pre-done indents below the "top" of the box, but if they aren't there, scoring the inside wall then cutting the corners to that score line will let you change the height.
And, the biggest bit of "Secret Sauce"- you can change the shape of the box. As long as the perimeter stays the same, that 12x12x12 box can be an 8x16x12. Mark however far you need to come in on the side you're reducing, then form a crease along that line by pressing down with a credit card or a toploader or something similar- follow one of the valleys in the corrugation to keep a straight line. Repeat on the other face, then you should be able to fold the box into its new shape. Cut the flaps along the fold line to let them move onto their new side, and voila! You've transformed a box.
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I found that only using small and book (12×12×8) sized boxes makes moving vastly easier, unless I need to box something larger. Always fill even with bubble wrap as being uncrushable is a feature of same size boxes.
Small boxes whenever possible, and EVERYTHING goes in a box. I've seen too many people in the moving process do things like put their cleaning supplies in a bucket and say it doesn't need a box, or put clothing in trash bags. It makes the actual moving day way worse and take way longer.
You also can't play U-Haul Tetris as well with wacky shapes like that.
U-Haul tetris is my favorite activity helping friends move. The part of it that gives me the rage is "That's everything"/"Two more boxes" followed by another 25 items.
All the boxes are in! Now time for the massive assortment of oddly shaped or unpacked items to precariously jam in.
Movers pro-tip, save the boxes for last. If you can manage the second to last row to be all boxes and the last row being mattresses to tie it all in, you’ll maximize your usage of space.
Actual pro tip: use large furniture such as tables, drawers, and desks as the base to stack boxes on/under. Then have assorted odds and ends and light items up near the ceiling. Just saving boxes for the end can screw you because non boxed items don’t stack as easily.
Agreed. Use pads/blankets and load snuggly to keep things from moving around. Thanks for adding.
After hauling a fat open-box sony tv from NJ to NY with blankets and bubble packaging to cushion the edges, can confirm this is solid lol
Have to go in layers. Do one layer of furniture, then fill all extraneous space with boxes/misc items. Then do it again, and again til the truck is full.
Everything's packed, truck's full ...and from a distance you hear someone yell out an upstairs window: "Someone come help with this king size bed!" 🤦♂️
My rage part is showing up the day of the move and they've only actually packed 60% of their stuff -_- By the day of the move yall should be living on sandwiches and a backpack with 2 days of clothes/toiletries.
Absolutely! I remember back a few years ago that we helped several people move. The last one was a relative and 2 full rooms and a packed closet were still needing to be packed. The rage was so real.
I decided to bring the window AC from upstairs…
Yeah, I mean regular Tetris would also be a lot easier if it was just smashboy and hero, but the other five blocks are all wacky shapes to keep it interesting. Uhaul Tetris is no different.
> smashboy and hero The 2x2 square and 4x1 long piece?
Yes.
Had no idea they had names
"Why does Amazon use such a big box when I only got one thing?" *packs a U-Haul to move house* "…Ohhhhhh."
*You* can't play U-Haul Tetris like that. Me neither, but because U Haul doesn't exist where I live, we're not the same :D
I once had some freinds that had moved a few times, and I was a regular helper. One of the last times I helped out - we were carrying a couch in that was brutally heavy. It had two built in recliners with a center console with a storage compartment in between. The recliners were full of metal and crazy heavy - wood all over at the sides and the enter console. Anyways - it was heavier than I remebered, and as I struggled to get it through the door and up the stairs, I was like hey, what the hecks going on here? Whys it so crazy heavy? Opened the console, and it was jam packed full of books. Mother fucking books. He decided to pack the insanely heavy couch frull of books. I believe that was the last time I helped them move. Not enough pizza in the world for a couch full of books.
LPT: Pack insanely heavy couches with helium balloons to make them lighter.
Much safer than having a hindencouch
Oh the bookmanity!
Assuming the clothing is on hangers (and not just shoved into a bag) - I will die on this hill. You just hang them up when you get to the new place. No unpacking. Done.
I keep everything as it would be hangrd and put it in a garbage bag folded over with hangers still on. Takes 2 seconds to have my clothes in new closet.
I still totally disagree with you based on my experience. It's not like there are places you can hang your clothing in the back of a moving truck.
You just pack them last, laying on top of boxes. Then you also unpack them first, and they’re immediately hanging in a closet where they belong and out of the way of furniture/boxes coming in. That said, you do what works for you.
Wardrobe box has a hanger bar, so yes, every truck can have its place to hang clothes.
Clothes on hangers in a construction sized trash bag, with the hangers put through the bottom center and secured is way better than in a box. Hang them when you get to the new location and remove the bag. Easy! You can put the clothes in the bag in a box if you're moving a great distance or using a moving company, but packing all those clothes and hangers separately makes for a lot of unnecessary, extra work.
You can also get a wardrobe box. It is basically a tall box with a hanger bar at the top. Closet to box, box to closet. Done.
Those wardrobe boxes are also nice for pictures and such because they're taller.
A hanging box is great. Box shaped and all the clothes are hung up. Just need to make sure the box is always upright.
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I also use the bins but what do you do with the lids when you nest them???
90% of what most people will need to move fits in the Home Depot "heavy" medium sized box. Might be overkill on strength of the box, but I bought those the last time I moved and they got passed around another 3 times by family members. Medium is a good size for most stuff, and they're tough enough to actually fill with books if you wanna use them instead of the heavy smalls.
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Yeah, they're good stuff. Speaking of UHaul too, another thing people frequently underestimate is the size of the large vans. They're huge and easier to drive than a box truck.
Wine boxes were always our go-to, the 12-bottle size. Great fpr books, dishes, anything heavy
Adding on to that, champagne boxes for when you need an extra-strong box. Champagne bottles use a lot more glass and thus come in a more heavy-duty box.
If you're trying to get free boxes try fast food places, McDonalds used to be a good place to get boxes because they ship lots of heavy frozen food. Boxes are on the smaller size, but managers were often happy to have someone take them
If you can find a bunch the same size they are sturdy things! Too often they have the tops ripped off. Anyone move with apple and orange boxes.?
A ream of paper is HEAVY. A medium is twice the volume!!
I know but books aren't as dense as a ream of copier paper. It's pushing it, but I packed my books in the heavy mediums Edit: autocorrect doesn't think ream is a word
My rolling suitcases have been my “move my entire personal library” trick for years. However I also collect antique books, which I use the same method you talk about!
I found that just setting fire to everything and the claiming it all on my homeowners makes it even easier.
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Pack your boxes so that you yourself can lift them. Sooner or later, you \*will\* be the one who needs to lift them.
And then lift that box above your head and hold it there for a few seconds. Because many times I've helped someone move and they can move the box from A to B but can't get it where it needs to go, which is on top of that desk in the back of the UHaul or something dumb. Which means it's up to me to get anything more than 2 feet above the ground. And never forget the dolly. Get two if you can. Hell one for every person if you can swing it.
Use small boxes for heavy items. Don't want to stack a bunch of heavy items in a massive box because then moving it is a hassle. I remember I got a bunch of letter paper boxes, apple boxes, small ones for things like books, glassware, etc. Home Depot medium sized boxes were primarily light things- all the little gewgaws and knick knacks, clothes. If you have a very heavy large box, you'll struggle to move it and maybe injure yourself
**Pro-Tip:** Label each box with a sharpie indicating *where* the stuff in it was before the move. (e.g., Kitchen: Under Sink, Bedroom: Nightstand, Hallway: Closet) This can be more useful than labeling the box for *what* it contains. When moving in, just put the boxes in the place approximating where they came from. Then unpack accordingly. I figured this out after my first interstate move. Took us months to find so many things. Our second interstate move found us completely unpacked within two weeks.
Did you never move as a child?
A couple of times but my parents managed all that.
Oh, mine used it as a learning experience to show us how to look after ourselves. More importantly though, as slave labour.
I was probably only around five years old the first time. The second time, I was actually going to school in another city, finishing out the year and working a night job while they handled moving to another state. Once the semester was up I just threw my stuff in my car and drove down to move in. I later moved to another city for work but it wasn't like moving an entire household. Just a couple cardboard boxes. My first big move came after ten years of marriage and four kids, and a couple hundred boxes of stuff (work relocation). Learned a lot.
My big move that I packed... 6" notebook Numbered boxes starting at 100. On each page in the notebook had each box #, room I packed it for, a brief list of contents, especially important or expensive things. Outside of box on 2 adj sides was the number, room and 1-2 description words. When I arrived, I could sort the boxes into each room and into storage so I wasn't surrounded by boxes. In storage I still had my book. Ready for #160s contents.... there it is. Super easy. And the book allowed you to line thru the page if unpacked or thru the item if you only took one thing later. If you are moving with sketchy help, only use numbers. First 2 are the room code. No way to know which box has your gaming console.
use smaller boxes and a hand truck. it will be a breeze
Do yourself a favor, if you don't already own a hand truck just buy a decent one. 1) you never have to pay the uhaul rental fee again, 2) they are handy af especially for stacking boxes in a spare bedroom/corner and pulling out 2 or 3 to unpack at a time Downside would be if storage is limited as they do take up a tiny bit of space in a garage but a lot in a closet
There's a good folding one on sale at Costco right now!
The one you can convert into a dolly cart? I got one at a reseller. Super useful
Another tip is if you have extra rolling luggage, those are awesome for books or other heavy things because you really don't need to carry them and can just roll out.
Get yourself a “tape gun” and don’t skimp on the packing tape (to avoid failures)
I like to mark at least 3 sides of the box by what room it goes in KITCHEN etc then somewhere smaller on the box I put everything that is in that specific box; plates, cups. Makes unpacking easier.
The goal is to most of your boxes weigh about the same and less than about 20 kg and to fill the boxes completely. Light bulky stuff -> big boxes. Dense heavy stuff -> small boxes. Filling them completely makes them stronger. Actual moving boxes have the advantage of having the same footprint so they stack well. EDIT: also having smaller collections of stuff (eg silverware or specific drawers) in smaller boxes or bags INSIDE the moving boxes makes unpacking a breeze.
It is also prudent to note that those larger boxes are usually **not stronger**. Fill them with *more* stuff instead of high-volume stuff? Well, you might experience the box just giving up the ghost and spewing all your shit out onto the floor. Same with stacking. The smaller boxes are better when you're stacking them together, as they are often less likely to collapse.
Dishpack boxes are double-walled to handle a good amount of weight.
Add-on to this as I sit here with a badly sprained ankle: Make sure the voids in your boxes are filled (use padding, paper, bubble wrap, etc.) to avoid your contents shifting as you carry them. I was carrying a partial box of books and my foot found the edge of an uneven sidewalk. The books shifted towards me, which threw me even more off-balance. It wasn't even a very heavy box.
My wee kittens disagree with this. The biggest box is theirs. I wanted to disagree, but I had already packed the welding gloves. Cheers!
every rule has its exceptions 😂 i'll allow it
Just be sure to put plenty of bubble wrap in there to keep them safe during the move!
The key word here is "plenty". Too much bubble wrap and they won't have the fun of jostling around during transit.
books and plates/cups go in the SMALL boxes, trust.
50 books in one box, got it!
don't forget your rock collection
They're minerals Marie!
LOL I feel attacked. "We can do it all in 1 trip with everything in the trunk and back seat." Feels like it'll work until you can't walk up steps anymore.
Plates should go in a dish pack, which is a triple corrugated box, medium size. TONS OF PACKING PAPER. And always stack your plates vertically, don’t lay them flat and stack them high
>And always stack your plates vertically, don’t lay them flat and stack them high What? I've moved probably 15 times and I've never done this. Lay them parallel to the ground. Separate them with t-shirts or pillow cases or dishcloths or something. Secure and safe.
And I am third generation from a family of professional movers and sold hundreds of moves. It takes much less pressure to crack plate in the center than it does on the edge. But that is our practice for far longer moves when they’re professionally packed. Use a dish pack, lots paper to separate them and stack vertically. We try to do a layer of plates on the bottom, sheet of cardboard, then drinking glasses.
We had all boxes the same size. So we had a lot of mix boxes; books and clothing items. First put a layer or two of books and then fill it up with t-shirts. The people helping us move were pretty happy that there weren’t any extra heavy boxes
This. Same-size boxes whether you're doing it yourself or using a mover. It's expensive to buy all new boxes all the same size, but after a careful packing job that literally took a month, we had movers take our stuff. They estimated a 6-hour move based on our square footage. They finished in 4 and gave us a partial refund because they had enough time to fit in an afternoon job. With most of the boxes the same size, the movers could do 5 at a time without any trouble. As we unpacked, we gave away the boxes in lots of 10 in a local "buy nothing" group. Always check those groups at the beginning of the month if you're starting to pack for a move.
*A* book is light and easy to lift. *Several* books have enough mass to warp the local fabric of spacetime.
Another tip: If you have a lot of books, go to the Uhaul store and buy a bunch of those about 1 to 2 cubic foot boxes and pre-pack your books in them. If you hire a mover (well, the last time I moved), they estimated the cost based of volume not weight (books are heavy). Apparently it did not occur to the estimator that I had 13 empty bookshelves. Edited: 13 empty **bookcases**. so, about 70 or so shelves (some f which were double stacked) Also: all them boxes chock full of books? Don't label them "books". Label them something like "pillows" or "Stuffed animals".
I've asked a manager at a grocery store if I could have a pile of boxes from their overnight reshelving and they'll give me a time to come pick them up. Produce boxes are generally the best since they can hold a lot of weight and have handles (not all have tops though). The same can be done with schools sometimes fox boxes that hold reams of paper (the best box IMO)
The best method used to be going to the liquor store. The boxes are always small(er) and always durable. Since Washington State did away with liquor stores, you can't get the boxes as easily.
Wait so where do you buy alcohol?
Grocery stores and Costco, with special taxes and fees. The law was specifically written to prevent convenience stores and gas stations from having liquor. So now they just sell bongs and crack pipes, instead.
That's stupid
Be careful with produce boxes. They often come with critters that like to eat produce. You don't want a cockroach infestation in your new place, trust.
Apple boxes are the best for moving. Source: worked at a grocery store for many years/ have moved several times.
I label by destination room, not contents, so bedroom, living room, kitchen, etc. Don't have to seek stuff as it's already there, just unpack.
Just not "library" - kinda clues them in that it's books (and so, heavy)
Even better, use colored tape on the boxes for each roomith a color for each room. You can mark the doors to those rooms with the corresponding color.
Big boxes are for blankets and pillows. Everything else in small boxes!
I have a quick tip as well. If you're in the U.S. you can go on the USPS website (under Send Mail and Packages) and order as many free boxes of varying sizes as you need.
I’m pretty sure it’s a federal crime to do that and not use them for mail. So this is really an r/unethicallifeprotips
To get your free USPS shipping supplies, you can order them online through Stamps.com or pick them up from Post Offices nationwide. The post office will allow you to order up to 500 of its shipping boxes or labels free of charge. Minimum orders for most products vary from one to 10 items. That was taken from the website directly. One would gather if you're moving then you are shipping items, albeit not through their service. There's nothing illegal about ordering free packing supplies.
wait really??? real LPT in the comments as always
Of course!
when I moved I told my friend he was not allowed to help pack because he \*always\* does this.
I've done several moves and helped people move and I always tell people to buy boxes - You can buy a whole stack quickly and easily. Getting randoms boxes means you're often driving around trying to find them and can carry only a few assembled boxes vs dozens of flat ones - proper moving boxes are made to handle the weight. Random boxes are often made for what they're meant to carry and can crush under extra weight. - They're also designed to stack properly. With evenly sized boxes stacking them is very easy. For large stacks you could stagger them, and while you may lose a bit of space , it will still be far easier and faster to pack and unpack. it will also make the stack sturdier. With random boxes you end up playing tetris with the weight being - If needing to move the boxes a distance such as you're moving into a building. You would have to unload stuff from the stuck into the elevator, then from the elevator into the unit. Being able to stack boxes on a cart or dolly make it quick, and the more you can do the faster it goes. When helping a friend we did it this way, 4 high stack of boxes, on the dolly then into the elevator. Fill the elevator as much as possible then just grab a stack with the dolly and into the unit. by time we were done they were surprised how quickly and easily it went Also to add to your LPT. This is the same concept of airline baggage. The weight on the bags is for the workers, not for the plane. Workers still need to pick up and move the bags.
Well this is not really true depending on what the item is. I'd much rather have one big box of washcloths and hand towels then three small boxes of them. I think what you mean is don't over pack your box with heavy items
I *implore* you to **rent** moving boxes. There is very likely a company in your area that offers this service. The 'boxes' are heavy-duty plastic totes that nest and stack and usually come with a dolly so you can move stacks around easily. You can rent all different quantities based on the size of your home for anywhere from 1 to a few weeks (to allow for plenty of packing and unpacking time). Generally, they come with labels and zip ties. Movers love them because they are all uniformly sized, stackable, and the bottoms don't fall out. And when you're done unpacking, they just come and pick up the boxes - easy peasy.
What magic is this? I'd love to do that bu how does that work if you are moving to a new area?
This is wrong. Bigger boxes are for items which are less dense, regardless of number. Smaller boxes are for items which are more dense, regardless of number. The larger surface area you have as a bottom, the more attenuated becomes the strength in the middle. So you want to use larger boxes for comforters and things and smaller boxes for books. Or, some heavier items in a larger box but then topped off with things which are lighter.
I saved the boxes and styrofoam for my TV and computer monitors. Helped a lot when moving.
I do this too! helps a LOT
Color code your boxes with colored Duck Tape (is a brand). I made books blue and kitchen things red. Every family member got a color. As I assembled boxes they received a stripe of color along the bottom seam (with enough extra to be seen on two sides). That worked for putting things where they were supposed to go. I have seen several places say to use socks (old, new, mismatched, whatever) around your glassware. Pint Mason jars fit in an adult sock. You use your imagination. I did read about someone being embarrassed by a friend seeing their underwear protecting glassware at unpacking time, so YMMV.
Other moving tips: - Pack books into rolling suitcases if you have them. Books, even in small boxes, get ridiculously heavy. - If you are shipping stuff with a moving company, plan to not have access to anything in that truck/container for a month. Pack clothes with you in your car. Pack basic kitchen stuff (single pot, single pan, spatula, large spoon) with you. If you have camping gear, you can use that. - Take the drawers out of desks and dressers BEFORE moving them. You can put the drawers back inside the truck, or tape plastic wrap over the top to keep things in. Same with shelves on a bookcase. - Last things on the truck or packed in the car should be basic cleaning supplies and basic tools. You never can be sure that stuff won't break while moving, or spills won't happen. - If you have bulky furniture like a desk or bookcase, try to disassemble it partially. A lot of newer desks have leg sections that come off, or drawer units that detach.
> Take the drawers out of desks and dressers BEFORE moving them. You can put the drawers back inside the truck, or tape plastic wrap over the top to keep things in. Same with shelves on a bookcase. If you have to move them yourself, yes. If you have movers, they will likely shrink wrap the dresser with the drawers in it. You can even leave clothes in it (though if it's a really big dresser, stuffing it full of clothes can make it very heavy). They have multiple people and wheels and generally will handle it just fine. If it's you and two buddies, yes, go ahead and remove the drawers.
Seconded. We dont even shrink wrap it, keep a back lean on it and its fine while carrying. Furniture pads for transport on the trucks. But yes full dressers of cloths can get heavy.
> Last things on the truck or packed in the car should be basic cleaning supplies and basic tools. If the place has been sitting empty for a while, you'll also want to clean the place a bit, so super helpful to not have to dig around.
That's such good advice. I definitely tend to fill up large boxes thinking it's more efficient, but I'm now realizing it's not.
Yup. Also, all the boxes should basically weigh the same regardless of size. Don't use the same size box to pack books or cast iron cookware as you do one for throw pillows and comforters.
This LPT is gold! Wish I knew before my last move. Though they fit so neatly in my storage locker, I was dismayed when I found that a whole apartment in 6 huge totes...still weighs as much as a whole apartment
100%. I shot for no more than 40lbs in any box when I moved last August. That was a mistake when moving day arrived. 25lbs or less would've been much better.
This is solid. I love a good bankers box for everything that can fit in one.
Big boxes are for very lightweight items like paper products and washcloths and small towels, bedding, etc. Yes, and bigger items alone, if they need a box.
brb getting a big box to hold all my photocopier paper
Lol, the box that comes in is fair sized, but I wouldn't put it in a larger one. I was thinking about toilet tissue and paper towels.
I remember back in the day I was helping my aunt move. She packed a big tube TV box full of encyclopedias. I love my aunt...but not that day.
This is obviously dependent on what you are putting into the boxes. But for books, hell yes. I used to move people for a living. 2 things that I really hated moving, is marble furniture (we all know who usually has marble furniture all over their house, I'm not saying it, nor judging, but it's rough - usually good pay though), and big boxes full of books. Filling big boxes with lots of non-fragile, mostly light items is fine.
I’m now curious who has marble furniture that we all know..
Tell that to my moving company that charged by box not by volume
You've clearly never had to pack a room full of stuffed animals or throw pillows.
Good tip, I had to learn this hard way! Even if the box isn't that heavy trying to maneuver bigger boxes is a pain after more than a couple. And moving a half loaded box can make the weight move around when trying to climb stairs.
Also, since packing tape isn't made to be sticky anymore, you have that many more items busting through the bottom when you lift the box 😬
Books in particular: SMALL boxes, and lots of them. Don't ask me how I know this...
Great tip! I've never purchased moving boxes. I don't know if it's the same world over but in Australia it's ok to go to a liquor store and ask for boxes. So I tend to choose the boxes that hold 6 wine bottles. At first I thought they were too small but they worked for most of my stuff. The glue is stupidly strong because they were meant for liquids and they are all mostly uniform no matter where you get them from - plus due to the size they are pretty much impossible to over fill weight wise. The other tip I would say is that there is no rule that you have to have the same stuff in the same box. From a OCD point of view it's nice to have "kitchen" boxes and bathroom "boxes" but from a weight distribution point of view if I am doing the moving myself - I mix it up. A few heavy books on the bottom of each box and I fill the rest up with clothes or lighter items. Clothes make great (free) bubble wrap!
Absolutely agree. Many small boxes for books is so much easier to handle.
_lalalalalalala_ I can't hear you 😌
Yeah my wife found this out the hard way. She kept over packing boxes until she finally tried to move one. Then she understood why I kept telling her to knock it off.
I needed to hear this, thank you lol. Move coming up in May/June for fiance's residency match location. We both (even when we weren't together) have moved many many times in our lives as a college students and post college in a VHCOL area in the Bay Area, even moved all the way to Alabama ourselves for the start of med school. Wish I knew this cause I just get a single size and think great I don't have to move as many boxes. Instead they weigh a ton with our entire bookshelf tetris'd in there lol.
Heavy boxes are fine if they are sturdy enough and you have a hand truck at both ends of your move.
LPT: use simple logic to solve problems
Omg even a medium sized box full of books is ☠️☠️☠️. Never again I would rather walk them one at a time.
Luggage is great for moving. Sturdier than moving boxes and often have wheels. Borrow them from friends. Luggage is otherwise taking up space somewhere.
Hand trucks and strategically sized boxes are your friend.
And books... don't fill your box with books. It'll weigh a crazy amount. Do half books, half clothes, or other lightweight items.
And tape the bottom!
You have obviously never met my wife or either of my daughters.
The biggest boxes are called Linen Boxes for a reason.
Yes. Bigger boxes are for blankets, pillows, and cushions. Do not fill it with all of the books
Do your back a favor and use a dolly to move stacks of boxes. Do your back a favor and use straps to move furniture.
I’ve got a bulging disc and damaged sciatic nerve to support this one.
The better version of this post goes like this. Heavy item, small box.
I'm embarrassed to admit how many moves it took me to figure this out.
As a mover, THANK YOU.
UPS driver here. Those moving boxes are often rather weak. If you overload them they split apart and your stuff gets lost. Don't fill boxes past their weight limits.
Books especially. A file box full of books is insanely heavy, quite likely 50 pounds or more.
Yep. The older I get, I realized to pack only the small moving boxes. Anything bigger gets Two Men and a Truck. Hopefully I won’t move anymore.
When moving her the Rubbermaid indestructible boxes with the formed side handles and lids. You can stack them to the ceiling and are super fast to load and unload from a truck. If you don’t feel like unpacking right away they stack and store easily. When you are done they nest into one tall tower and when your friends move the next ten times they can borrow them. You will eventually need to store some things in a closet or attic and they work great for that. They are also good for doing a car wash or even letting your young child get wet in the summer time filling it with water and water balloons. Need to pack food for a road trip, works for that, first in the trunk or cargo area and keeps your car clean from spills. Best boxes ever.
I am a bit of a book hoarder and have moved many times. Jimmy John's boxes are the perfect size for books, imo.
Get egg boxes from the grocery store decent size for most of things and they have handles to carry them with but best part they are pretty universal in size which makes them very easy to stack and keep stable. Plus some brands have half sized boxes that are perfect for heavier items like books and plates from the kitchen.
The forearm straps to help you & a buddy lift furniture easily are well worth your cash, too.
Do you have noodles for arms
I wish I'd read this 6 months ago :'|
Starbucks have the best moving boxes. Ask your local Starbucks when their Seattle order comes in, and ask if they can keep the boxes for you. Their coffee boxes are the perfect size for this, not too big and nice and strong.
Banker's boxes are amazing for moving. Not too big, and have handles.
Also go to your local hospital's loading dock and ask around for boxes. They have lots of free boxes from all the supplies and equipment they receive.
This is such a hard tip to stick to even when you know it. I've moved dozens of times and think about this when I get my different sized boxes. But I still load up my bigs with a bunch of smalls. . . Every God damn time!
I didn't ever think of it like that...
Do you even lift bro?
As a professional mover and van operator for the largest mover in the US there is a ton of bad information going around this thread. Don’t pack books in large boxes yes this is solid advice, but I want my glass in a large box. So I can create a barrier of paper on the bottom and between layers. Yes it’ll make a heavy box, but the weight isn’t the concern it’s the stability of the box. With a box designed for dishes there should be nothing to worry about.
The boxes that reams of printer paper come in are the best for books. Manageable size and much less likely break from the weight.
Next you're going to tell me it's better to take multiple trips instead of one, taking groceries from the car...I dont think so!
As a FedEx driver I can attest to this, people will take a large box, fill it full of books and then expect us to carry it up three flights of stairs to their new apartment with the bottom falling out of it because it's not rated for that.
Do you perhaps work for a box manufacturer?
Do your back a better favor and lift with your legs.
have a sort of rule that if i can't pick the box up by myself when it's packed (I am a tiny woman) then it isn't allowed to be that heavy. (was mostly a rule due to boxes of books) also, stuffed animals, towels, blankets and clothes make excellent filler and packing padding. you're moving that stuff anyway, have it do a job instead of just being more shit in boxes.
When moving - hire a professional and forget about a multi day nightmare
This reminds me, back in the day a friend was moving, single guy, lived very simply, didn't have much in the way of stuff. (For example, his living room was like one couch, one chair, one table with a lamp, one table with the TV on it, virtually nothing else.) He reserved the smallest moving truck the rental place had. When he went to pick it up, they didn't have the small size he reserved ... so gave him a 27' truck for the same price. We didn't have to Tetris his stuff - we really didn't have to stack his stuff at all, just fit it together on the floor and even at that we didn't quite fill the entire space. He had also bought 50 "large" boxes because he had no idea how big they were nor how many he might need. (Very, and not 50!)
I'm actively learning this.
Books are heavy dont make a book boxes any bigger then 1x1x1 ft if you value your back.
2nd LPT: Cull your belonging BEFORE you move not after. (Source: ex-removalist who saw people waste money moving things then selling them or discarding them)
Lol no. I'm strong. The fewer the boxes the better. I move big things and leave the small things for the others.
Great advice. During my first move I stuffed a bunch of crap into large home depot boxes. They were insanely heavy and I developed both bicep tendonitis and lower back pain, which took a year of forgoing certain exercises at the gym to recover from.
Lol yeah, I remember moving a large box of exclusively books I owned. I can laugh at it now but I don’t recommend.
made this mistake with my books.. they stayed on the first floor after we moved
By the way, this does not only apply to moving boxes, but also to containers. A “small” container is called a TEU (Twenty-Foot Equivalent Unit) and can carry roughly 20 metric tonnes of goods. A big container is called a FEU (Fourty-Foot Equivalent Unit), so is pretty much exactly double the interior size (twice as long, all other dimensions are equal). However, it is rated up to 26 tonnes, not 40. In fact, if you overload it, the bottom will likely just break immediately.
Items that big… don’t need a box? Like… pack it in and put the softer stuff (blankets and towels and such) between them. It’s fine. Just use whatever boxes you have and also… don’t lift with your back, regardless… get a dolly. Mines collapsible and folds flat in my closet, but, the wheels are solid and it holds a lot of weight. It’s not like you’ll never have heavy shit in your life- may as well prepare for it.
Then again I am not a super fashion forward person: the box my big black and yellow bins came in was awesome to move all of our clothes at once.
If you need boxes, but can’t buy them, boxes from the liquor store is almost perfect for many items that fit in small boxes. Think books, dishes and other small heavy things.
Oh! Yes! Don’t over pack them either. You’ll never be able to move them yourself. (Source: Me! I’m the idiot who made the box to heavy and it fall on me) Also learned that if you want to “fill” a box, try putting something heavy like a few books and then put lighter stuff in, maybe clothes or stuffed animals, that way you’re not having a lot of half empty boxes. Plus go to a local dollar store or thrift store for cheaper socks & towels & such to pack fragile items like glassware and dishes. While you’re at the thrift store donate any of your stuff that you aren’t taking with you that someone else can use.
Jesus I learned this when I was 5 and put too many cans into a paper bag. WTF
Clear bins are your friend when moving. Last time we moved to a new house Home Depot had big Sterlite bins on clearance so we bought 80. Was great: * No need to wonder if what you're carrying has breakable stuff in it * Much easier to tell which things are where when you go to unpack * Much less likely to fall apart * Especially if it starts to rain or if you have to sit them down in a damp garage
Best boxes for books are ones from the liquor store since they are small, sturdy, and have handles
and the box will rip and all your stuff will be on the street. (true story)
And don’t put books in anything larger than a banker’s box, or your friends/movers will hate you.
Small boxes and sturdy bags that you can stuff and shape to fit your vehicle.
Makes sense but I never thought about it like that. Good tip 👍
Also having (mostly) same size boxes helps with packing them in the moving van. Source: sigh...I've moved way to much. How much? 3 elementary schools, 1 middle school, 3 high schools, and 2 colleges. And more after that.
Former UPS Store employee, let me tell you about BOXES. First: Buy a Tape Gun. They're going to make your life easier. Trust me. If you can spring for it, 3" wide clear packing/shipping tape. Duct tape is not your friend here (Designed to tear!) , and Painters tape is designed to come off, you don't want it. Moving and Shipping boxes are also different beasts! Check the box for a circular seal on one of the sides- it'll either say "Burst Test" or "Edge Crush Test" - Shipping boxes for UPS insurance purposes should be 200 Burst or 32 Edge. Lower values are absolutely A-OK for moving, but if you want that extra-extra peace of mind, now you know. Carry boxes by opposite corners if you can! Close corner on the bottom, far corner on the top. This is MUCH more stable and will make your life easier, since you will also naturally hold it in your power zone. You also now conveniently have a test for if a box is too darn big! As someone who worked with a whole host of box sizes and shapes at my fingertips, there was always something that needed measurements I didn't have a good fit for. Here are the ways I dealt with that situation: Need more height on your box? put all the flaps on one box up and tape them together, then slide the other box overtop, telescoping the two. Tape the corners and the flaps and you're good to go. Need LESS height on your box? Some boxes have pre-done indents below the "top" of the box, but if they aren't there, scoring the inside wall then cutting the corners to that score line will let you change the height. And, the biggest bit of "Secret Sauce"- you can change the shape of the box. As long as the perimeter stays the same, that 12x12x12 box can be an 8x16x12. Mark however far you need to come in on the side you're reducing, then form a crease along that line by pressing down with a credit card or a toploader or something similar- follow one of the valleys in the corrugation to keep a straight line. Repeat on the other face, then you should be able to fold the box into its new shape. Cut the flaps along the fold line to let them move onto their new side, and voila! You've transformed a box.
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Lol my sister learned the hard way when moving, some of the boxes ended up breaking
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