You may be moving into a new house and have decided to start packing. When one moves to a new place, boxes are always involved. And when you are moving, you should make sure to use strong, sturdy boxes. But how do you pack boxes for moving? Here's a guide on how to pack boxes for moving.

1. Preparing Your Boxes

Before you begin putting items inside your boxes, make sure to prepare them first. Clean your boxes and then build a strong foundation for your things. Tape the bottom of the box securely and then add padding inside. The bottom of the box will be dealing with a lot of pressure, so you should make sure to give it added strength.

Pad the bottom of your boxes with packing paper, bubble wrap, towels, or layers of clothing. This can also protect your things just in case the bottom of your box gets wet. Additionally, for added protection, double-tape the corners of your boxes.

2. Pack Room by Room: Allocate Boxes to Rooms

Packing can be overwhelming, but it doesn't have to be. To make things easier, start packing early and do it room by room. Allocate boxes to rooms and start packing items that you won't be using the weeks before your move.

The important thing is not to pack items randomly, but instead, room by room. This will make things easier for you when you begin unpacking and organizing your new home. Also, do not forget to label boxes so that you will know which rooms the boxes belong to.

Use Small Boxes for Heavy Items

When packing items, you should use the right box sizes. You should prepare small boxes, medium-sized boxes, and big boxes and make sure to use them correctly. When packing heavy items, such as books, make sure to use small boxes.

While it may be tempting to put all your books in one box, remember that the box will be carried from one place to another. Books themselves are already heavy, and having a big box filled with heavy books will make things difficult for you or your movers.

It is better to have numerous small boxes filled with heavy items, rather than putting a lot of heavy items all in one big box. This will also prevent things from breaking through your boxes and reduce the risk of damage.

Use Large Boxes for Light Items

For your lighter items, such as pillows, blankets, towels, bed sheets, comforters, and clothes, they can be stored in large boxes. Remember that the goal is not to have immovable, heavy, large boxes. So, use the large boxes for packing large but lightweight items such as the ones previously mentioned.

3. Put Heavier Items on the Bottom

If you are packing a box with items of different weights, always make sure that the heavier items are placed on the bottom. Pack heavy to light. Pack the heavier items first and make sure that the lighter items are on top.

This is to protect your items and prevent damage. Lighter items can break if they are placed on the bottom. Heavier items, on the other hand, won't. In fact, your heavy items can serve as a strong base for your lighter items.

Additionally, it is worth noting that the same rule can be applied when stacking boxes. You might be stacking boxes when moving, or you may be storing them in a storage unit while waiting for your new home to be ready. Label and take note of the heavy boxes and the light ones, and make sure that heavy boxes are on the bottom so that the lighter boxes won't get crushed.

4. Don't Overpack: Don't Make Boxes Too Heavy to Lift

Don't put a lot of pressure on your boxes by overloading them with too many things. While it may be tempting to see just how many items you can fit into one box, avoid overpacking. Your items can fall out if you overfill your boxes.

Your items can also get damaged if you try to squeeze in too many things inside. You should avoid doing this, especially when you are dealing with fragile items. Protect your items by filling your boxes with just the right number of items. Don't make your boxes too heavy to lift.

5. Fill Your Boxes to the Top

You shouldn't overload your boxes, but you shouldn't under-pack either. Make use of the space in your boxes and fill them to the top. Make sure that your boxes are not half-empty. Apart from the fact that you will be wasting space, remember that your boxes will be carried and moved around.

If only half of your box is filled, your belongings inside can move around. Additionally, you may encounter problems with stacking boxes if you have half-empty boxes. So, make sure not to leave an empty space inside your boxes.

6. Avoid Leaving Gaps in Your Boxes

While you shouldn't overfill your boxes, you also should make sure not to leave empty gaps in your boxes. If there are gaps in your boxes, your items can move around in transit, which would lead to damage.

So, fill in the gaps by using packing paper, bubble wrap, old newspapers, towels, or even old clothing. Extra padding can prevent your items from moving around. Arrange all your items in your boxes and make sure that there are no visible spaces to keep them safe in transit.

7. Protecting Fragile Items

You should use small boxes when packing fragile items and make sure to provide cushioning on the bottom of the box. Packing paper or bubble wrap can be used both as a cushion on the bottom and as a filler for gaps (as mentioned earlier).

Additionally, it's important to individually wrap your fragile items before you put them inside your boxes. Packing paper and bubble wrap can also be used for this. You can also place fragile items in the center of your boxes and surround them with cushioning materials.

8. Seal Your Boxes and Label Each Side

Once you are done filling your boxes, you should seal them properly and securely. Use high-quality packing tape to close your boxes. You can also consider taping around your boxes for extra protection and added strength.

Additionally, make sure to label each side of your boxes. Since you will likely be stacking boxes, you should label every side and not just the top. Write what's inside your boxes and what room they belong to. Do not forget to write "FRAGILE" if there are fragile items.

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