Packing is one of the most essential yet time-consuming and burdensome parts of moving house. Sometimes, it’s not until you have to relocate that you realise how many possessions you own and how little you use most of them. Packing supplies are among the most important moving essentials to make sure your move starts off strong. With the right packing essentials for moving, you can take some of the stress out of what is, for most people, a tumultuous experience.
Taking some tips on board, like making a checklist and purging as you pack, can help you feel more organised and less anxious as moving day approaches. Yet a successful packing process starts with gathering the right materials and supplies. With so many house-moving essentials occupying your mind, it can be easy to forget certain crucial packing supplies. This is the Ready Movers guide to essential packing materials and why you need them for your move.
Why Are Packing Materials Important?
It can be tempting to cut corners and use the cheapest packing materials possible or whatever substitutes you can find lying around. However, this can lead to damaged possessions and a lot more potential stress and expenses than you planned for further down the line. Older, cheaper boxes often have more wear and tear and less structural integrity and are more likely to tear or break open while travelling. They can also lack proper cushioning, something that’s essential for protecting your most fragile and delicate items.
On the other hand, using high-quality materials makes for a better move for you and your possessions. Strong boxes made from better materials can withstand heavier weight. Bubble wrap and packing peanuts take the brunt of shocks and vibrations during transit, cushioning delicate belongings. Even the right markers and labels make it much easier to pack and unpack by allowing you to clearly and legibly label your boxes with detailed descriptions, including the rooms they’re destined for.
Types of Packing Materials
So, what kinds of packing materials should make up your moving checklist? Here are the most useful moving essentials to include in your packing plans:
Boxes
Before you can begin packing, you need to get your hands on the right boxes. These can include a variety of sizes: small, medium, and large, for starters. Small boxes are perfect for heavier or more fragile items, bigger boxes are ideal for lightweight and bulky items, and medium-sized boxes can hold almost anything with their just-right combination of size and strength.
Bubble wrap
Bubble wrap absorbs well and can protect your most fragile items like a dream, but it often takes up more space than other types of padding. It’s most useful for small, delicate items such as glassware, teapots and figurines.
Packing paper
Packing paper is useful both for wrapping any item you may be moving and filling the space in your moving boxes. This kind of material is flexible, lightweight, and protects your valuables from scratches while providing a layer of protection.
Tape
Heavy-duty packing tape is your best option for sealing boxes properly so they don’t burst open during the move. Tape the middle of the box where the lid flaps meet, using a few layers for security. To give heavier boxes some extra reinforcement, you can add tape to the sides of the box, seal all the edges and use the H-shaped taping method many removalists recommend.
Moving blankets
Moving blankets stabilise your items and stop them from getting scratched in the moving truck. Stack your things on top of one another; it will also help fill the gaps and prevent items from toppling over.
Markers
Labelling is an important part of any move, so having permanent markers on hand is a must. Clearly and legibly label what’s in each box and which room it’s destined for. Draw arrows to indicate which side of the box should be on the upper part, and make sure you clearly label boxes containing breakable items.
Rope/cargo straps
Cargo straps and rope secure your items on the moving truck and stop them from shifting out of place. With a cargo strap, you can secure your items to the side of your moving truck or each other.
Cleaning gear
If you’re renting and want your bond back, giving your house or apartment a deep, detailed clean is essential. The right cleaning supplies—like strong disinfectant and carpet cleaner, buckets, and garbage bags—will make your place look spotless and allow you to get your bond back.
Selecting the Right Material
When choosing your packing materials for moving, it’s important to be mindful of the physical properties of your furniture and other possessions. Here are the kind of house moving essentials you should use for fragile, heavy and unusually shaped items.
Fragile
When you’re moving items that are easily cracked, chipped, or broken, strong corrugated cardboard boxes are best. Extra layers of packing tape along the corners of the box prevent them from coming open in transit. Cushioning materials like bubble wrap and foam sheets are commonly used, and you should make sure the fragile items are completely covered.
Heavy
Strong and durable items are essential when it comes to heavy items. Corrugated packaging is ideal for withstanding stress and pressure. Bubble wrap, foam padding, or packing peanuts stop your bigger and heavier items from shifting out of place during your move.
Oddly Shaped
Bulky, awkward and unusually shaped items are among the possessions most commonly damaged on the road. Luckily, some advanced planning can help prevent this. If you can, disassemble large items into smaller pieces before the move. Bubble wrap is your best friend when it comes to moving distinctively shaped items, whether you can take them apart or not. Make sure your cardboard box is large enough to fit your distinctive-looking item and use padding to fill the empty space around it.
Where to Buy Packing Materials
You can buy packing materials from stationery stores, office supply stores, DIY/homewares stores, and online. However, the easiest way to find the right packing materials and other essential house moving materials is on the Ready Movers website. Not only will we provide your packing supplies, but we’ll also pack for you!
Let Ready Movers Do It For You
Here at Ready Movers, our passionate, skilled team is committed to providing you with a seamless, stress-free moving experience.
Our reliable local and interstate removalist services come with benefits like an affordable hourly rate, full coverage insurance options, your own dedicated move manager on interstate moves, and the Ready Movers Written Guarantee on local moves. We treat your furniture and other personal items like they’re our own and always provide the highest standards of care.
Ready Movers’ packing services are versatile and designed to meet your needs, whatever they may be. Whether you need a single room or your whole house packed and unpacked, we make the whole process easier by supplying the highest-quality packing essentials for moving. We can also pack heavy and unusually shaped items like pianos and sculptures.
To find out more about how Ready Movers can help with your moving essentials, contact the Ready Movers team and get your moving quote.
