Moving can be overwhelming, follow these and helpful tips to make the process less stressful. Plan ahead and start packing up your stuff early so you don’t wind up jamming up boxes at the last moment.
WHAT TO KEEP & WHAT TO LET GO
Before boxing things up, take everything out of your closet and dresser drawers and start dividing things up. Make three piles: what you plan on keeping, donating or selling and what to toss out.
Only keep things that you wore within the past few years and what fits. If it’s not in good condition, throw it out. No one wants your raggedy old sweater. Donate or sell gently-used clothes that no longer fit or are out of style.
Pro Tip: Be sure to have your clothes washed and if necessary dry-cleaned before packing up. This will help preserve your items while in storage. If possible keep valuable clothing with you.
SORT CLOTHES BY SEASON & PURPOSE
Not all clothes serve the same purpose, sort things by material, season, and purpose. Delicate fabrics need to be packed so that the material is preserved and protected from being damaged. Seasonal items should be packed separately to make it easy to find what you need. It also helps to separate clothes by purpose. Business attire, casual wear, clothes for doing yard work and other tasks help you find what you want when you need it.
PROPER PACKING METHODS FOR CLOTHING
Use the proper boxes and be sure to label everything to make the unpack effortless. Utilize these packing methods depending on what type of clothes are being stowed:
Cardboard boxes: These are excellent for packing folded clothing. Suitcases and duffel bags are also an excellent way to pack up clothes.
Wardrobe boxes: Help preserve the shape and material of your clothes. Suits, fine shirts and pants need to be hung so that they don’t crease or wrinkle while in storage.
Vacuum bags: Bulky coats, jackets and sweaters can be compressed which shaves space and helps protect your clothes from moisture and insects when in storage.
ProTip: Layer dryer sheets between clothes to keep insects and spiders away. This will keep clothes from becoming wrinkled and keep everything smelling fresh!
FOLDING NON-HANGING CLOTHES
Properly folding clothes will save space and cut down on the number of containers you’ll need to pack and move. Here are the best methods for folding clothes:
- The flat fold method is best for bulky items like jeans and sweaters (best used to pack clothes in boxes or vacuum bags).
- The military roll method is best for small or delicate items like shirts and dresses (best used to pack clothes in suitcases or duffle bags).
- The “clown car” style helps with reducing wrinkles! Lay your shirts out flat with the arms out. Then lay your jeans atop the shirts. Finally fold the shirt arms and pant legs in so that you have a rectangular pile of clothes.
Pro Tip: Folded clothes can be left in the dresser drawers. Simply tape up the drawers as they well protect your clothing.
BEST WAY TO PACK HANGING CLOTHES
Wardrobe Box
Wardrobe boxes are specifically designed to transport hanging clothes. They come with a hanger bar that makes it easy to hang any type of clothing inside. Whenever possible hang your clothes to ensure items remain wrinkle-free.
Garment Bags
For delicate items, it’s best to use garment bags to protect them as they can get dirty or damaged during the move.
Pro Tip: Don’t use trash bags to move or clothes or shoes. Unlike wardrobe boxes or garment bags. Trash bags are not designed to protect your clothes. Plastic traps moisture, which can seriously damage your items.
PROPERLY PACK SHOES
Shoes can transfer dirt and odors into other items if they’re not packed properly. Before you start packing, set aside shoes you need during this transitionary period during the move.
- Begin by going through all of your shoes. Take any damaged shoes to be repaired or get rid of them. Donate or sell any shoes that no longer fit your shoe size or taste.
- Clean, dry and air the shoes out Use a damp cloth to wipe away any dirt from the exterior, and give them time to dry thoroughly. Then deodorize your shoes as bacteria can form if not properly sanitized.
- Protect and preserve your shoes by correctly packing them. Shoes can quickly lose their shape and get damaged during a move. Stuff each shoe with packing paper, socks, or washcloths so they keep their shape. Then, wrap them using packing paper to prevent scuffing and damage.
Pro Tip: Never use newsprint or colored tissue as these materials can transfer ink onto your shoes. - Line moving boxes with layers of paper to provide cushioning. If you have the original shoe boxes, place the shoes inside those and then stack everything inside a small or medium moving box.
DON’T OVERPACK MOVING BOXES
Heavy boxes will break and make moving difficult. Use small to medium sized boxes to prevent your belongings becoming damaged from the excessive weight of stacking boxes atop each other. Prevent your belongings from damage as well as yourself from over exerting yourself with heavy boxes.
Need More Space: Think Self Storage
Montgomery Self Storage is a family run business. They are on the premises where your valuables are stored. They routinely look after your valuables and monitor the storage units with 24/7 security cameras.
Get Started Today! Call our friendly and professional staff at Montgomery NY Self Storage at (845) 457-6229.
About Montgomery Self Storage
Montgomery Self Storage is your local neighborhood mom and pop self storage center. Making people’s lives easier for 15 years.
Montgomery Self Storage offers indoor and outdoor units. Book a unit online or give us a call. All Units are cleaned and ready for storage.
Montgomery Self Storage follows state and federal guidelines for social distancing and sanitation. The health and safety of our customers and employees is our highest priority.
Please stay safe during your move.
Montgomery Self Storage
9 Factory Street, Montgomery, NY 12549
Phone: (845) 457-6229
SelfStorageMontgomeryNY.com