Moving home or office is never a fun task but there are some ways to make your life easier and one step you can take is choosing the correct packing supplies. In this blog, we’ll explain why high-quality packing materials are essential, what they’re used for, and how this can remove much-unwanted stress when you’re packing and moving.
Add this blog to your moving house checklist!
1. Boxes
First and foremost are the boxes. When you think of packing, most people of boxes and that’s rightly so. Packing can’t begin without the good old cardboard box. Let’s start with the types of boxes out there on the market today – Corrugated Fibreboard (Cardboard Box). Paperboard (Carton) and Mat Board (find out more here). Ignore the latter 2 because they’re useless when it comes to moving and only go for the classic cardboard box. Boxes come in all shapes and sizes and before you hit that ‘add to cart’ button, you should know a few things before making your purchase.
Always Use At Least Double-Walled Boxes
Let’s dive a little deeper into how these boxes are produced. There are 3 types of widely produced cardboard boxes for moving – single, double and triple-walled. Each box has a layer of fluting (the corrugated part) and two thick layers of cardboard on either side. Single, double and triple refers to the number of fluting, it’s that simple.
Single-walled do not cut the mustard with items heavier than a few large books without the bottom feeling like it’s going to fall out and the box itself crumples with a small amount of weight on top. Imagine stacking boxes in a Luton van with a height of over 2 meters and then think how the bottom box will cope with the weight. It will collapse into a pulp and so will your contents. You can easily add a lot more time onto the move.
Although double-walled is only an extra layer of fluting, it makes so much difference and feels much stronger. Also, if you’re planning to box dumbbells and anything else with a lot of weight, go for triple-walled. You can also keep these boxes for the next move to reduce your carbon footprint.
You should also consider finding free boxes and other packing materials from local shops and supermarkets. This can reduce the overall cost of the move.
Wardrobe Boxes
If you’re like us and a sucker for nice clothes that you don’t want to be folded, these boxes are for you. They are rectangle-shaped box with a hanging rail at the top for your clothes. We find these very popular for our clients who want their suits or dresses moved by folding and stuffing them into a box.
It’s important to note that these boxes are designed to handle up to around 10-15 items of clothing depending on weight. After all, they’re made from cardboard and will collapse if you overdo it.
2. Invest In Good Quality Tape
So, you’ve seen 100 rolls of tape on eBay for £10 and you’re thinking ‘jackpot, that will save me a few quid’. Trust us, you’re swapping money for stress. Cheap tape won’t stick to your boxes and for some reason, it sticks more to your hand and you’ll end up feeling like a character from a ‘Carry On’ film but without the comedy.
The good quality tape will save you time and hassle but most importantly, your boxes won’t fall apart when you pick them up.
3. Never Underestimate The Power of Bubble Wrap!
We only use bubble wrap and not paper for our packing service. The main reason why we use this material is for the layer of air that cousins against knocks and this is especially important for crockery and glassware. I won’t lie, the cost of this material compared to paper is much higher but it’s worth the extra money. Unpacking a box full of broken plates is not what you want after a long day of moving.
4. Sofa and Mattress Covers
It’s not rocket science to know moving home or office isn’t a clean task and excess dust and dirt can easily get onto fabrics making them hard to clean.
The best way to solve this problem is to use sofa and mattress covers that are essentially large plastic bags designed to encase a sofa or mattress. A helpful tip is to always buy a size up from what you need it. For example, if you have a 2 seater sofa, buy a 3 seater cover. The extra room should accommodate the bulker sofas.
6. Removal Blankets
These are just great; we never do a job without them and this is one of the reasons people choose us for their move. In case you’re unaware, these are very thick blankets used by all removal companies (the good ones, I mean) and they cover furniture items from wardrobes to small bedside tables whilst in transit. They reduce the risk of scratches and dents that will most likely happen without using these blankets.
7. Carpet Protection
This isn’t a packing material as such, but we use it a lot so it’s worth a mention. Essentially, it’s a roll adhesive plastic that sticks to the carpet with ease and offers great protection against dirt that’s quite unavoidable when moving items in and out of a property. Be aware, it’s not cheap and can’t be used multiple times and if it’s out of your budget, we recommend using shoe covers but be prepared to take them off and put them on every time you leave and enter the property. This will slow down the moving process.
I hope this blog has helped by providing you with the know-how of which packing supplies you’ll need for a successful move. Alternatively, we offer a packing service that includes all the materials mentioned in this blog but if you still want to pack yourselves, we’ll happily rent you every you need and even deliver and collect with the Bristol area. Please contact us at Macro Removals for more information.
Disclaimer – This blog should only be viewed as a guide and Macro Removals will not accept liability for any injury, damage to possessions, loss of earnings, or death.
