10 Hacks to Make Moving Easier

Is it your first time moving, and you have no idea where to begin? Perhaps you are a seasoned mover, like many military families, and you are in search of some new hacks to make the process go a little bit smoother. Moving can be exciting and overwhelming at the same time! No matter how experienced you are, this list of moving hacks is sure to provide you with some great ideas. 

Declutter

Maybe it's not technically a lifehack, but it is one of the most important things you can do as you begin to pack up your belongings. Now is the perfect time to donate, sell, or throw away items you no longer need. This is especially important if you are downsizing your home. Keep a couple of bins handy while going through closets, cabinets, and drawers so you can easily sort items on their way out of your home.

Garbage Bags for Hanging Clothes

Skip folding and rehanging your clothes! While your clothes are still hanging, place them inside a garbage bag (bonus points if it is an extra flex style bag) and tie it off around the top of the hangers to secure them in place. When you get to your new home, just hang them back on the rod and remove the bag. Voila!

Pack Books in Suitcases

No need to break your back carrying heavy boxes! If you have lots of books, or other heavy items, pack them in suitcases. Just zip it up and roll it away to the moving truck. Save your duffel bags and backpacks for the clothes and items that need to travel with you to your next destination.

Secret Superhero: Saran Wrap

You can use regular saran (cling, stretch, or clear) wrap to keep the contents of drawer organizers and small bins in place. If you need something bigger or more sturdy, many home improvement stores sell moving stretch wrap.

Utilize Drawers

If you have large furniture with drawers, such as dressers or nightstands, you can save time by packing those as is. Simply remove the drawers, transfer the larger furniture piece to the shipping container or truck, and then place the drawers right back where they belong. Depending on how tightly you have packed your belongings, you may need to secure the drawers in place using wrap.

Color Code Boxes by Room

At the least, make things easier for yourself by labeling all of your boxes. But you can take it a step further by color coding your boxes. This is especially helpful if there will be movers unloading at your new destination. You can even color code all the rooms, making it very clear which boxes go where. Depending on your budget, use colored markers, sticky notes, tape, or special moving labels.

First Night Box

Nothing is worse than being exhausted after a long day of travel and heavy lifting, just to find out you don’t have a toothbrush. After all the hard work of finding a home, packing up your old one, and traveling, you owe it to yourself to have a good night’s rest in your new home! Make sure to toss in some cleaning supplies and any other items you might find helpful.

Protect Delicate Items with Fabric

Kitchen towels, curtains, and throw blankets are perfect for wrapping and padding delicate items like dishes, decor, and photos. You’ll save money on packing paper and bubble wrap and save time unpacking since each room’s items will be grouped together.

Future Storage: Plastic Totes

This hack can be quite an investment, but the payoff is significant. If you know there are certain items that will need to stay in storage at your next destination, large plastic totes are perfect for organizing and storing. Perhaps you are a military family and might need to move again within the next two to three years, you’ll be able to reuse these boxes again and again, rather than repurchasing and repacking cardboard boxes.

AirTags

You have certainly heard horror stories of items getting lost and shipments being delayed, or even worse, held hostage by rogue moving companies! AirTags and other small tracking devices are the perfect solution for peace of mind. Toss them into boxes with important and valuable items, and you can watch them make the journey to your new home.