How to Pack for a Move

Plates go vertical, not flat. Wrap each plate individually in packing paper, then stand them on edge like records in a crate. Vertical plates survive impact far better than flat stacks. Use a small or medium box with crumpled paper on the bottom for cushioning.

Glasses in socks or cell boxes. Slide each glass into a clean sock, then place it upright in a box with cell dividers (liquor store boxes work perfectly). No bubble wrap needed, no broken glasses.

Pots and pans. Nest pots inside each other with a sheet of packing paper between each one to prevent scratching. Lids can go in a separate box or wrapped and placed on top. Use a medium box since nested pots get heavy fast.

Knives. Use a knife roll if you have one. Otherwise, wrap each blade in a few layers of packing paper and secure with tape, or use blade guards. Never toss loose knives into a box.

Spices. Group spice jars in a gallon ziplock bag in case any lids come loose. Pack them upright in a small box with paper between rows.

Don't pack perishables. Eat, donate, or toss anything from the fridge and freezer. Frozen food on a hot truck creates a wet, smelly disaster. Plan meals around clearing out the fridge in the final week.

Clothes can stay in dresser drawers. Cover the whole dresser in stretch wrap to keep drawers shut during transit. This saves boxes and packing time. If the dresser is too heavy with clothes inside, remove the drawers and wrap each one individually.

Wardrobe boxes for hanging clothes. These tall boxes with a built-in metal bar let you transfer clothes directly from the closet. Worth the $10 to $15 per box for suits, dresses, and anything you don't want wrinkled.

Mattress bags. A mattress bag costs $5 to $10 and keeps your mattress clean during the move. Without one, your mattress picks up dirt, grease, and moisture from the truck floor. Slide the mattress in, tape it shut, done.

Bed frame disassembly. Take the bed frame apart. Put all hardware (bolts, screws, brackets) in a labeled ziplock bag and tape it directly to the frame so nothing gets lost. Keep the Allen wrench with the bag.

Nightstand items. Pack everything from your nightstand in a single small box labeled "bedside." You will want your book, reading glasses, phone charger, and alarm clock accessible on the first night.

TV. Use the original box if you kept it. If not, wrap the screen in a moving blanket and secure with stretch wrap or tape (tape on the blanket, never on the screen). TVs must stand upright during transport, never flat. Laying a flat-screen TV on its back can crack the panel from vibration.

Couch. Remove the legs if they detach. This makes the couch lighter, easier to maneuver through doorways, and less likely to snag on walls. Bag the legs and hardware together.

Mirrors and framed art. Use corner protectors if you have them. Otherwise, wrap in a moving blanket and place in a mirror/picture box (or between two pieces of cardboard taped together). Always transport mirrors and glass upright, not flat.

Electronics and cables. Before unplugging anything, take a photo of the cable setup behind your TV, router, gaming console, and sound system. You will not remember which cable goes where. Label each cable with a piece of masking tape. Coil cables and rubber-band them individually.

Bag all liquids separately. Shampoo, conditioner, cleaning products, lotions. They leak. Put each bottle in its own ziplock bag or group them in a plastic bin. Even bottles that seem sealed can pop open under pressure changes or heat on the truck.

Medications travel with you. Prescription medications, daily vitamins, and anything you might need within 24 hours should go in your car, not on the moving truck. If the truck is delayed, you still have what you need.

Towels double as packing material. Bath towels and washcloths make excellent padding for fragile items throughout the house. Wrap vases, picture frames, or small electronics in towels instead of buying extra bubble wrap. You're packing the towels anyway.

Back up everything first. Before disconnecting any computer, back up your data to an external drive or cloud storage. Hard drives can be damaged by vibration during a move. Treat this as non-negotiable.

Monitors. Original boxes are ideal. If you don't have them, wrap screens in moving blankets and place them upright in a large box with plenty of padding on all sides. Never stack anything on top of a monitor box.

Label every cable. Desk setups accumulate a tangle of power cords, USB cables, display cables, and chargers. Label each one with masking tape before unplugging. Bag related cables together (e.g., "monitor cables," "desk lamp + charger").

Printer ink. Remove ink and toner cartridges before packing printers. Ink can leak during transit and ruin the printer and everything around it. Bag cartridges separately in ziplock bags.

Drain fuel from gas-powered tools. Lawn mowers, leaf blowers, chainsaws, and generators all need to be drained before loading. Movers are required to refuse items with fuel in them.

Movers will not take hazardous materials. Propane tanks, paint cans, pesticides, pool chemicals, and solvents cannot go on the truck. Dispose of these properly before moving day or transport them in your own vehicle if local regulations allow it.

Power tools. Wrap each power tool in a towel or moving blanket. Remove batteries from cordless tools and pack them separately. If you have the original cases, use those.

Shelving. Disassemble metal and plastic shelving units. Keep all hardware in a labeled bag taped to one of the shelves. Take a photo of the assembled unit before disassembly for reference.