Packing is the least enjoyable and most time consuming part of moving.

Here we show you how to save time and money when packing and even have an 8 minute video from moving professionals discussing general packing tips and how to properly pack in preparation for your move. We also have packing tips and videos specific to many of the harder to pack items.

Time to Clean House

If you haven't already, before you begin packing you should minimize the quantity of items to me moved. This will provide you with less work when packing, less clutter at your new home, and may actually save you some money on the move having less stuff to move.

• Anything you have borrowed and not yet returned (ie library books, tools, clothes etc.) should be returned.
• Any clothing you have that you aren't likely to use again because it no longer fits or no longer suits your style should be disposed of. If it's still in good condition consider having a yard sale, giving it to someone it does fit, or donating it to Salvation Army.
• Anything broken and not worth repairing should be disposed of.
• Anything of value that you aren't likely to be needing again should be sold (CraigsList or Newspaper) or given away.
• Any old TVs, electronics, or computer equipment can be disposed of for free at your local recycle center/bottle depot.
• Any expired food (canned goods, fruits, etc.) or medication should be disposed of.

When you are ready to start packing, the only items remaining in your home, yard, and garage should be items you will actually need.

Packing Supplies

While Urban Rush can supply you with whatever packing supplies you might need, we are a green moving company and encourage movers to scrounge up whatever they can from wherever they can before resorting to using new packing supplies. For some great ideas on where you can get free packing supplies see ⇒ Packing Supplies

Getting Down to Packing

• Decide who will do the packing – you, the kids, professional packers.
• Make an inventory of items in each room to determine the packing materials you will require.
• Pack one room at a time, this will make it easier when unpacking.
• Start well ahead of time packing a few boxes a day.
• Clearly mark each box with the room and box number. Keep an inventory list of what each box contains, number of boxes per room, total number of boxes.
• Make sure boxes bottoms are well secured so they will hold the weight of packing.
• Pack heavy items in he bottom, lighter ones on top, keeping individual box weights under 50 lbs. Remember, the heavier an item, the smaller the box.
• Have plenty of packing and stuffing material on hand.
• Use tissue of craft paper for packing dishes as newsprint will smudge the dishes.
• When disassembling furniture, put all the screws and bolts in a little bag and tape it to the furniture it belongs to.
• Tape and seal all cleaning fluids that are non-toxic, non-flammable in plastic bags.
• Drain your lawn mower, snow blower, power tools of all the oil and gasoline to ensure safe transportation.
• Put linens and pillows in dresser drawers to have handy for making up your beds the first night in your new home.
• Make a “Last-In First-Out” box to be last-on, first off the moving van (cleaning supplies, disposable plates and cups, light tools, snacks, bathroom items,trash bags, medications, and first aide kit).

Hard To Pack Items

For specific tips on hard to pack items see our section on ⇒ How-To-Pack