Pack Like a Pro: 10 Genius Hacks to Protect Your Gear and Save Space

Packing is more than just throwing items into boxes. It is an art form that, when done correctly, saves you hours of unpacking and prevents the heartbreak of broken valuables. If you want to arrive at your new home with everything intact and organized, you need to think like a professional mover.

By using a few clever shortcuts and the right materials, you can turn a stressful week of packing into a streamlined process. Here are several hacks to help you master the box.

Use your soft goods as padding

‍Bubble wrap is great, but you already have plenty of padding in your home. Use towels, thick socks, and even t-shirts to wrap fragile items like vases or small electronics. Not only does this save money on packing supplies, but it also means you are packing two things at once. It reduces the total number of boxes you need to transport.

Keep your clothes on their hangers

‍Do not waste time taking clothes off hangers, folding them, and putting them in suitcases. Instead, grab a large trash bag, cut a small hole in the bottom, and slip it over a group of hanging clothes. Tie the drawstrings at the bottom. When you get to your new home, simply hang them up and pull the bag off. This keeps your clothes clean and wrinkle free.

The kitchen plate trick

‍Most people pack plates flat, stacked on top of each other. This is actually the most common reason they break. Professional movers pack plates vertically, like records in a crate. They can withstand much more pressure from the side than from the top. Use foam plates or pieces of cardboard between each china plate for extra security.

Label the sides, not the tops

‍When boxes are stacked in a trailer or a room, you cannot see the tops. Always label the sides of the boxes with the room name and a brief list of contents. This makes it much easier to identify where each box goes as it comes off the truck. It also helps you prioritize which boxes to open first.

Take photos of electronic setups

‍Before you unplug your television, computer, or gaming system, take a quick photo of the back of the device. This ensures you know exactly where each wire goes when it is time to set everything back up. Store the cables in a labeled bag and tape it to the back of the device to keep everything together.

Keep hardware in plastic bags

‍When you disassemble furniture, put the screws, bolts, and Allen wrenches into a sandwich bag. Tape that bag directly to one of the furniture pieces. You will never have to hunt through a junk drawer for a specific screw again. This is especially helpful for bed frames and desks.

Small boxes for heavy items

‍It is tempting to put all your books in one giant box, but that is a recipe for a back injury or a broken box. Always put heavy items like books, canned goods, or tools in small boxes. Save the large boxes for light items like pillows, blankets, and lampshades.

Make your move easier

‍With Flex Moving and Storage, our trailers sit low to the ground. This makes it easy to load those perfectly packed boxes without a steep ramp, saving your back and your belongings.

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