Moving Supplies: Essential Items to Have Before You Pack

Gather and organize essential moving supplies before you pack to improve your moving experience and protect your belongings during the move. These supplies are not very expensive, and they are available at most local stores. Getting your moving supplies organized right away can help you plan the move in the most effective and time-saving manner possible, making it worth preparing in advance.

Packing Solutions to Motivate Organization
Use a detailed supply checklist to plan your move. Lists are invaluable because they help you organize and pack all of your belongings into boxes that are properly sized and clearly marked to ensure safety during transport and handling. Save time by going through each item on the checklist, and save money by purchasing moving supplies in bulk whenever possible.

Common Moving Supplies
The most common moving supplies are boxes and bubble wrap. Many small moves can be performed with these basic items. Perforated bubble wrap allows you to accurately size each section of wrap in order to protect small valuables and other delicate items, for example. In addition to standard moving boxes, you may need to use customized moving boxes as well. These are available for unique items that have unusual shapes, and this is an excellent option for protecting electronic equipment and valuables that have unusual dimensions.

Sized Boxes, Box Reinforcements and Bins
Use a variety of boxes, and protect your valuable belongings by reducing the amount of excess space around each item. This essential step will ensure that your possessions are not damaged during transport. Each size of box has a common use, so follow these guidelines as a standard packing practice to ensure the best results. For example, small boxes are suitable for kitchen spices, music, pencils, stationary, glassware and other delicate belongings. Books should be packed into small boxes instead of one large box to avoid the problems that inevitably come with heavy, bulky boxes.

Box reinforcements and bins are accessories that can supplement this process. Medium boxes are suitable for most items. Always place heavy items on the bottom. The box reinforcements are recommended whenever you pack heavy items into moving boxes.

Moving bins are appropriate for miscellaneous items like clothes, shoes and certain types of sports equipment. The side handles provide a convenient alternative to moving boxes. Large and extra-large boxes are appropriate for light, bulky materials like blankets, clothing, lampshades, cushions and curtains.

Bubble Wrap, Protective Wraps and Corner Protectors
After you separate your belongings into groups, the next step is to identify specific types of protective materials. Examples include picture packing kits, quilted pads, paper pads, bubble wrap and stretch film. Bubble wrap comes in small, medium and large sizes. The sealed air pockets protect fragile items from breaking. Always use bubble wrap when packing delicate glassware, antiques, electronic equipment and dishes. In general, use small bubble wrap on small items and large, anti-static bubble wrap on large items. Use the large bubble wrap to line your moving boxes and restrict the potential for any movement.

Protective wraps are also used to protect fragile belongings. They are made from shock-absorbing materials, and they are very cost effective. Foam protective wraps are light and flexible, and they are often made from recyclable materials. Corner protectors prevent damage to furniture edges and the walls. Large furniture items will not fit into containers, and the edges may scrape against the walls while loading or unloading. This can happen when you are moving tables and couches. Use corner protectors to cover the edges of the furniture and prevent scrapes and scratches.

Box Cutters, Scissors, Tapes, Sharpies and Labels
Customized packaging and shipping options are available for special items, but you have to know about these services in advance. Any fragile valuables or other special items should be packaged and shipped separately using custom boxes, which are designed to maximize safety during transport.  

Scissors and tape are used to secure the open edges of the moving boxes. For the best results, always purchase more tape than you think you will need. Always use heavy-duty packing tape. Examples include aluminum foil tape, shipping tape, box tape and duct tape. Moving labels take the guesswork out of the moving process. Quickly color code and label a variety of moving boxes, bins and tubes with brightly colored labels. Use a sharpie to categorize each label, or use pre-made labels marked for each room in the home.

Specific Supplies for Business Moves
Business moving supplies are distinguished from residential supplies primarily based on their load-carrying capacity, which is often very high. Moving business equipment from one location to another often requires large carts, hand trucks or dollies. These supplies usually list their weight-bearing capacity as a key feature. Use this special equipment if you are moving many heavy items. You might need to rent a pallet jack, which can handle extremely heavy loads. Loading ramps are essential for moving any heavy equipment with wheels. They are placed over curbs or gaps, and they allow you to move the equipment on an improvised ramp.

1. Dollies, Hand Carts and Furniture Pads
Dollies and hand carts come in a variety of shapes and sizes. Some of them have handles, and others will fold out into vertical or horizontal positions. Residential moves can be facilitated by using a simple hand truck to stack moving boxes of different sizes. However, moving a business may require the use of an industrial-grade platform truck instead of a light dolly. Always check the weight-bearing capacity of any dolly, hand cart or platform truck to ensure a seamless move. Keep your furniture pads close to the dolly or hand cart in order to avoid searching for them when moving furniture.

2. Bungee Cords and Various Fasteners
Bungee cords and other fasteners can secure your items in the moving truck. They are also invaluable when transporting stacked items on a hand cart. Rubber straps and assorted hooks can be used in conjunction with bungee cords to secure your load vertically and horizontally. These hooks are also used to fasten the ends of a bungee net. Wrap the net around large, bulky items, and fasten the ends with the hooks.

3. Shrink Wrap and Hazmat Labels
Shrink wrap is an effective part of any moving kit. It can be used to bind several large boxes together, and it is equally useful when securing small items inside of a bin. Shrink wrap can be used in conjunction with bubble wrap when preparing glassware and fragile items for packing. Although shrink wrap is commonly used during business moves, it is equally handy to use in a residential move.

Hazardous material labels are necessary items for businesses involved in transporting certain types of materials that must be labeled in a specific manner for O.S.H.A. and D.O.T. regulations. Always check the relevant manual to ensure that all hazardous materials are packed, loaded and labeled according to the requirements of the law.

Other Accessories for Moving
1. Cleaning Supplies
Before and after the move, you will need a variety of cleaning supplies to avoid any liability for the condition of your home or apartment. It is easy to overlook the clean-up stage, so make sure to assemble a kit complete with a broom, dustpan, paper towels, sponges and a degreaser spray before you get distracted by the packing process.

2. Protective Personal Gear
Use personal protective gear to avoid harmful bacteria and reduce your exposure to cleaning agents. If you are working in a dusty environment, get a box of dust masks, for example. Plastic gloves, trash bags and hand wipes are essential supplies. Use a moisturizer to replenish your skin after wearing gloves for extended periods of time.

3. Protective Covers
Protective covers are specifically designed to protect common household items like mattresses, furniture and perishables against dust, moisture and other debris. To prevent scratching, use felt floor pads when handling large furniture items on hardwood floors.

Summary of Moving Supplies
Creating a comprehensive moving checklist is the fastest way to get organized. Getting all of your moving supplies together before packing your belongings will help you keep track of each category, maintain safety during the move and improve your overall experience. Every move will require different types of supplies, and residential moves normally require less expensive materials than business moves. Determine the most important packing supplies for your overall situation. Repeat this process for each room until your entire inventory can be safely packed. Think about how many people will be involved in the move, and make sure additional supplies are available when needed. Protect your valuable items and save time by preparing this list of moving supplies well in advance.