Moving house can be an exciting and stressful experience. Apart from offering the opportunity to make changes and start over, moving house also involves a lot of work and packing issues. You may think that clothes can be simply tucked into suitcases and travel bags and transported, but it's not really that simple. Good settings are needed to facilitate your work later. Clothes are heavy, and you should make sure they are safe and dry when you transport them from your old home to your new one. To pack clothes, you should do some planning in advance and use quality packing materials.
Step
Part 1 of 3: Preparing Clothes for Packing
Step 1. Take out all the clothes and do the sorting
Over time, clothes will pile up everywhere without you even noticing. To do the sorting, you must first remove all the clothes from the closet, drawer, attic, and from the basket under the bed. Lay clothes on the floor, or on the bed. Start sorting them by color, size, and material.
- After determining the category, place each item in the appropriate pile.
- Start adjusting the size of the cardboard and suitcase. If the pile of clothes is relatively small, you can put them in smaller boxes. More stacks should fit into larger suitcases or boxes.
Step 2. Get rid of unnecessary clothes
Now is a good time to try on old clothes you haven't worn in 10 years. Check clothes for mold, mothballs, fleas, moths, and so on. Sniff to see if clothes smell musty. Determine if the clothes are out of date or not. After unpacking your closet, you'll have a pile of outdated, small, and worn-out clothes that you should just throw away.
- Scrape the cloth with your fingernail. This step helps remove lice, or any remnants of tick activity (dirt or dried blood) that may be attached to clothing. It would be better if you throw away these clothes, especially if the clothes are old and never worn again.
- Donate clothes that are still in good condition, but are too small or don't suit the climate in your new home. Many people donate their clothes to orphanages or charitable organizations.
- Throw away clothes that are torn, stained or too worn to wear, especially old underwear and socks that have been crammed in closet drawers for years.
Step 3. Set aside the clothes to be worn
You may not have time to unpack everything on your first day in your new home. So pack some clothes in a small bag that you can wear when you first arrive in your new home. Don't forget to prepare clothes to wear on the day of moving, including underwear and socks.
Pack the items you will need when you arrive at your new home in separate boxes. It could be not just clothes, but also a toothbrush, deodorant, hairspray, and so on
Step 4. Use old clothes to pack the crockery
When moving house, you may have to transport glassware, such as plates, glasses and so on. Wrap these items in clothes that will be disposed of. Choose clothes that match the shape and size of the item. If the item is long, you can tuck it into the pants pipe. For a wide plate, use a T-shirt.
- Arrange these items carefully by stacking them or placing them side by side. Do not slam objects or drop them from a height.
- You can also put an extra layer of clothing between these items when packing. Add a soft T-shirt or trousers in between the items.
- Pack a regular glass or a stemmed glass in a long sock.
Step 5. Leave some clothes in the chest of drawers
If you're taking your closet to a new home, just leave some clothes in it. You can abandon light clothing such as underwear, socks, t-shirts, and so on and pull out sweatpants, jeans, jackets, and the like. After that you can decide whether to transport the cabinet as a whole, or disassemble the parts. Enlist the help of someone who is large, or has arm strength to move cupboards.
- If the drawer opens easily and does not have a locking mechanism, it is best to just remove it. Each drawer must be wrapped separately with bubble plastic. Wrap the drawer from all sides several times. Do this until the entire drawer is tightly wrapped and the contents will not spill.
- If you are going to transport the wardrobe in its entirety, the drawer sections must be but secured. Take a bungee cord and wrap it around the cupboard, past one of the rows of drawers. Tie the two ends of the rope. Take another string and wrap it around the cupboard past another row of drawers.
- Secure the cupboard in the transport truck. You can use a cargo strap or a lifting strap. Wrap it around the cupboard tightly and hook the ends on the base/side of the inside truck.
Part 2 of 3: Packing Clothes Efficiently
Step 1. Fold and/or bundle your clothes
Try to fold clothes neatly and tightly so that you can fit as many of them as possible in your suitcase or box. It's a good idea to turn the clothes (inside out) when folding to make it easier for you to handle the folds when unpacking. Bundling clothes can also be a good option if you don't mind clothes getting a little wrinkled.
- To bundle clothes, spread a large piece of clothing on a table/bed surface. You can use a jacket, coat or oversized sweater.
- Place the other clothes one by one on top of them. Start with the largest piece of clothing and work your way towards the center until you have placed the smallest piece of clothing.
- Now take one end of the largest piece of clothing that will serve as the base. Start rolling all the clothes that have been arranged as tightly as possible until they become a bundle. You can tie it with a hair tie or some rubber bands to keep the coil from coming loose.
Step 2. Put the clothes in a small cardboard box
As with books, the weight of clothing is often underestimated. Therefore, it is better to put clothes in several small boxes rather than just using 1-2 large boxes. Otherwise, the bottom of the cardboard will burst, making transportation difficult.
- If you buy/borrow cardboard for packing clothes, choose the size 30x30 cm. Larger cardboard will be difficult to lift.
- While packing, lift the cardboard occasionally. This way, you can estimate how heavy the box will be and determine when to use the next box.
Step 3. Use suitcases to transport clothes
This is probably the most economical way to transport clothes (if you already have one, of course). You simply fold the clothes neatly, then stack them in the suitcase. It's a good idea to place your trousers/shorts at the very bottom, leaving room for shirts and dresses at the top.
- If possible, use a suitcase with wheels. This kind of suitcase is easier to move, either into a vehicle or into a new home.
- Be careful when packing perishable clothes. Don't cram it into a tight suitcase. You should put it in a loose place, or use another packing method. Suitcases are perfect for carrying T-shirts, jeans, and shorts as they can be ironed to reorganize them.
Step 4. Use a wardrobe box (cardboard cupboard)
When transporting shirts, trousers, dresses, and so on, you need a certain way to keep the clothes from getting wrinkled. Wardrobe box is tall, with handles on each side, and features a shelf for hanging clothes at the top. You can hang clothes on hangers, and there is no need to fold them. This way, you can take advantage of the hangers and don't have to pack them separately.
- Look for wardrobe boxes with metal rods, not cardboard ones. Especially if you are going to hang a lot of clothes in a cardboard box. Metal shelves are stronger to hold the weight of clothes for a long time, and can be reused.
- Wardrobe boxes are not cheap. Limit its use. Buy one or two, and use them to carry the most valuable clothes.
Step 5. Put the clothes in a garbage bag or vacuum plastic bag
Garbage bags can be an easy and inexpensive solution to protect hanging clothes. Make a hole in the bottom of the garbage bag with scissors; The hole must be large enough for the hook to pass through. Hang clothes on hangers through the holes. Tie the bottom of the plastic bag, and secure the top with a zip tie.
- Vacuum plastic bags can also be an excellent choice. You can buy them at supermarkets/convenience stores for a fairly low price and allow you extra space to pack more clothes.
- Place the clothes in a vacuum plastic bag, which can be folded or stretched, depending on the size of the plastic bag. Tighten the plastic bag (usually there is a plastic zipper at the top). Attach the vacuum cleaner hose to the plastic bag and suck the air inside.
- Once the excess air is expelled, you will get a bag of clothes that is quite thin and can be packed in a suitcase or cardboard.
Step 6. Label each box
Each label should include the following information: season, size, type (shirts, jackets, coats, underwear, etc.), who owns it, and where it will be placed in the new home. You can buy ready-made labels or make your own. Gluing a piece of paper to cardboard can also be a good option. Use enough tape so the label doesn't come off.
- Cover the label with clear tape. This will protect the label from damage if the cardboard gets rained on. You can still read the information clearly through the tape.
- Use a pen with black ink or a marker to write the information on the label. That way, the label will not be erased during the shipping process.
Step 7. Shoes should be packed separately so as not to soil the clothes
You can use a shoebox if you still have it. Then, you can stack the shoeboxes in a larger cardboard box.
- Fill the shoes with socks or paper to keep them in shape and not squash if you pack them without a shoebox. In this way, the shoes also don't get scratched from rubbing against each other.
- Place the shoes upside down in the box to save space.
Step 8. Transport clothes without packing
If your new home isn't too far away, you don't have to pack everything up. For example, if you're only moving a few streets away, your clothes can be placed (along with the hangers) in the back seat of the car. You can also be more flexible in determining how much you can carry at once. Pick up clothes you won't be wearing in the near future first.
Part 3 of 3: Sorting Clothes while Packing
Step 1. Group clothes by material
Place all the clothes with the same material in the same cardboard. You can separate clothes from silk, cotton, polyester, wool, and so on. Each material requires different treatment, has a different thickness, and a different degree of creasing. It will be easier for you to sort your clothes this way, and prioritize which items to take out first.
- Wool is usually thicker, and more wrinkle resistant. To pack woolen clothes, you can fold them as you normally would, and then stack them. You can place a piece of tissue paper between each garment to keep it from getting wrinkled and mixed. You can also use some extra cardboard to accommodate the thickness of the fabric.
- Silk and cotton are thinner and wrinkle easily. You can fold it up and put it in a cardboard box if you don't mind getting a little wrinkled. You can always iron them once you get to your new home. However, if you don't want to bother with ironing, hang each item on a hanger and protect it with a plastic bag. You can hang it on the transport car when moving.
- Clothing made from polyester and synthetics can be folded and put into cardboard. This material is quite thin and does not wrinkle easily. Fold the clothes as usual and stack them in the cardboard.
Step 2. Pack clothes that you won't be wearing in the near future
You won't need it right away. You can label boxes and bags, and unpack them later. For example, if you're moving at the start of the dry season, pack heavy clothing first. Vice versa, if you move at the beginning of the rainy season, pack shorts, sleeveless shirts first.
- If you're moving in mid-year or the holiday season, place clothes you'll be wearing in the near future, such as casual dresses, shorts, t-shirts, and so on on top of the box.
- Don't forget to pack special clothes, such as sportswear, swimsuits, and so on. Most likely, you won't be traveling and need it before the move.
Step 3. Sort clothes by function
Use different boxes for work clothes, holiday/Christmas/new year clothes, party clothes, everyday clothes and so on. Everyday clothes are usually thin and can be packed in one box. Clothes that wrinkle easily can be hung up. However, you must consider the availability of space. So, choose wisely. Thick clothes usually don't wrinkle easily. You'll need more cardboard, but barely any hangers.
- Don't forget to label each box. Otherwise you will have to disassemble each box to find the clothes you need.
- Prioritize clothes based on where you live. If you're moving to a cooler place, pack heavy clothing first. That way, when you get to your new home, the box is ready. If you're moving to a hot climate, pack light clothes first.
Step 4. Sort clothes by size
Place all the large clothes in one box, and the smaller clothes in the other. For example, pack a sweater, jacket, coat, jeans, etc. in one box. Place underwear, socks, scarves, leggings, and so on in smaller boxes. Don't forget to label the box what's inside because you'll be mixing different types of clothes, based on size.
- Make a list as you pack so you can easily write it on the label.
- Combine different packing methods. For example, pack thick clothes that are only used for holidays to cold climates. Make one all the silk clothes. This will make it easier for you to disassemble it.
Step 5. Sort clothes by use
Put all the pants in one box. Collect all the underwear and place them in another box. Prepare a separate cardboard for the shirt. This method is perfect if you don't have much time to prepare for the move. If you have a lot of time, it's a good idea to use one of the other methods that will allow you to pack different types of clothes in one box.
Tips
- Don't forget to pack your jewelry separately. Don't risk losing jewelry in a pile of clothes or allowing jewelry to get caught or tear clothes.
- Only pack dry and clean clothes. Do not let the clothes get moldy during the shipping process. Also, damp clothes will smell bad and will infect other clothes.
- Use tissue paper or cloth to protect easily damaged clothing.
- Place the hats in a separate large cardboard box. Make sure there is enough space so the hat doesn't deform or scuff.
- Heavy clothes should be placed at the bottom of the box, and lighter ones at the top.
- If you wrap glassware in clothes, try not to wrap sharp objects as they can tear or puncture the clothes.
Warning
- Don't forget to put camphor/insect repellent in the box, especially if the clothes will be in the box for a long time. Spiders, ants, and other insects like to build their nests in warm fabrics. You can look for insect repellent that is specifically for clothing.
- Use double cardboard for heavy items. You can put the smaller cardboard inside the larger box. That way, it's easier for you to move them around, and the smaller cardboard won't fall out.
