Before you
move
· If
possible, clean the bathroom and kitchen in your new place before you move in.
· Designate a
donate pile for all clothing and items that you don't want to take with
you. That way, all you have to do is schedule a pickup with the Salvation
Army or ClothingDonations.org. Don't forget to ask for a receipt to
claim a tax deduction!
·
For the 2-3 weeks leading up to your move, plan your
meals around whatever frozen food, perishable items, or half open
containers that you have around the kitchen. You
can also donate your nonperishable items to a local food bank.
·
Update your address for all your accounts,
utilities, and subscriptions several weeks before moving day.
·
Shop around! The more estimates you have
for moving-related services, the more chances
you have to save some money.
· Instead of
throwing away old batteries and electronics, find an electronics recycling
center in your area.
·
Measure EVERYTHING. If a piece of furniture
can’t fit in your new home, get rid of it!
·
Schedule your move for the middle of the
month or the middle of the week to cut costs. It's cheaper to move then!
·
If you're renting, take photos of your old
place as you move out and photos of your new place as you move in.
RENTING?
Hacks for leaving your apartment or home deposit refund worthy.
·
Remove any dents in the carpet that
furniture left behind with ice cubes. Simply place the ice cubes on the dents,
let them melt, and use a spoon to lift the fibers.
·
Use white Ivory soap, toothpaste, and
other to fill nail holes in your walls.
·
Broken glass on the floor? Use a slice of
bread to pick up the pieces that your broom missed!
·
To make picture frames more stable and
protect your walls from scuffing, cut off pencil erasers and glue them to the
back of the frame before hanging it up.
·
Wrap a rubber band around a hammer to
prevent scuffing the wall when removing nails.
·
To get stains out of the carpet, use a
mixture of 1 part hydrogen peroxide and 2 parts water. Add some lemon essential
oil to the mixture, shake lightly, spray the area, and let set for a minute.
Scrub with a scrub brush, and voila — good as new!
·
If you have scuff marks on hardwood floors,
cut a hole in a tennis ball, stick the ball on the end of a broom, and rub the
scuff mark until it disappears.
Save time and money and
hassle in the packing phase.
· Ask local
retailers and businesses for their gently used boxes.
· Protect fragile items with
magazines and newspapers instead of packing peanuts. Beware of the ink!
· While your clothes are
still hanging in the closet, put them inside a trash bag to make unpacking
simpler.
·
Use laundry baskets, trash bins, and
suitcases as boxes.
·
In lieu of bubble wrap, protect your dishes
and fragile items with clothing and linens.
·
Put stemware and glasses inside clean socks
for extra padding.
·
As you dissemble furniture, keep all screws
and hardware in a plastic bag. Label the bag and tape it to the furniture
itself, or designate a separate box with hardware for all your furniture.
·
Use colored packing tape like Smart Move Tape to keep your boxes organized. Be sure to label which room
the box belongs to!
· Write the
contents of each box on the box, or on an inventory list. If you're feeling
tech savvy, create an Excel document that tracks the contents of each box.
Simply search for the item that you need in the document, and you'll know which
box to open!
· If you use
plastic wrap, you can leave your items in whichever container or storage bin
they're in. For example, simply wrap your utensils organizer with plastic wrap
instead of letting your forks and knives run loose in a box!
· Label the sides
of boxes so you can read the labels even when the boxes are stacked.
· Unpack your boxes
by room to prevent constant back and forth trips around the house, especially
if you have stairs!
· Invest in Space
Bags to maximize your storage space and minimize your boxes.
· Fill up pots and
pans with spices containers, dish towels, and other kitchen items to save
space.
· Avoid nasty
smells and leaks by defrosting your fridge completely the night before your
move.
· If you're moving
your refrigerator, wrap your refrigerator and freezer in plastic wrap to keep
the doors from opening during transit.
“Why didn’t I
think of that?!” — Or, genius packing hacks
· Snap a picture of
the back of your TV and other electronic devices. That way, you know exactly
which wires go where when you're setting up in the new place!
· Put knives inside
an old oven mitt to prevent injuries.
· String electronic
wires through paper towel rolls to avoid tangled messes.
· Use rubber bands
to prevent getting locked out. String a rubber band around one door knob, then
cross it over and wrap it around the door knob on the other side to keep the
door from locking.
· Put jewelry in
egg cartons to keep your necklaces from knotting and tangling.
· Place a cotton
ball in makeup compacts to keep them from breaking.
· Use rubber bands
to keep pots and lids together.
· Stack plates
vertically (like you would in a dish rack!) to prevent them from breaking. For
extra protection, put a Styrofoam plate between plates.
· To keep
toiletries from leaking during transit, put a piece of plastic wrap over the
opening, then screw on the cap.
· Use a box cutter
to create handles for your boxes.
Moving day must-do's
· Buy cereal, milk,
and other easy breakfast items so that there's food available the morning after
moving day.
· If you're moving
with kids, incorporate them into the moving process by giving them a special
box for all their favorite things. Let them decorate the box as wildly as they
like!
· Keep a snack bin
available during moving and unpacking. Load it up with water, protein bars,
chips, or whatever you need to stay fueled up during your move.
· If you're moving
with a dog, put their food and water bowl in the same room as where you put it
in the old place. The more consistent you are with your dog's routine, the less
likely they are to be anxious and destroy things.
· Keep all your
moving day essentials in an overnight bag. It'll prevent having to sift through
boxes to find your laptop, toiletries, clothes, and medications!
· Keep valuables
like your Social Security Card on your person during moving day.
· Pack the items
that you'll need most immediately in a clear plastic bin, or a designated
"open first" box. Think: bed sheets, hand soap, towels, etc.
· Take a breather!
Moving day is stressful, so allow yourself some "me time" when it's
over. Watch a movie, order some pizza, or do whatever you need to relax
after a long day of hard work.
There you have it folks! You've got 50 ways to help make
the moving process hassle free.