The Best Hacks for Packing Clothes for a Move

Moving day is an exciting time, but one that also requires lots of planning too. There’s transportation to organize, personal days to take from work, plus cleaning and decluttering to plan and schedule… it’s safe to say that you’re going to be very busy. Moving to a new house is stressful enough, without the worry of how to pack up clothes on top of everything else you own. Take on our top tips and make this job easier.

Packing Clothes for a Move: Top Tips

Have a Sort Out

The best place to start when you need to pack clothes for moving is to take some time to sort through your wardrobe. Get rid of anything that no longer fits, is ripped or worn or just isn’t up to the job anymore and clear these out. Separate your clothing into keep, throw away and donate piles. You can donate lightly used items to your local goodwill or sell them online to make a few dollars to put towards those new home renovations.

Taking the time to clear out some clothing will make the packing process easier. There’ll be less to sort through and move between properties.  

Launder Your Clothing

Before you do anything, ensure your clothes are freshly laundered and ready for packing. No one wants to open a box to musty smelling clothes, so take some time to check through and wash all your clothes before the big move.

If you want to give your packed clothes a boost of freshness or will be storing them elsewhere during the move, pop some scented sachets or even dryer sheets into the box. This will keep them smelling great.

Ironing and pressing your clothes before packing will also keep them neat and ready to wear when you pull them back out. Pressed clothes can help save on space, so you can squeeze more into those boxes and bags.

Organize by Article of Clothing

Organization when packing clothes for a move can really help when it comes to that mammoth job of unpacking later. Take some time to pile up your wardrobe into categories.

You could keep all your jeans together, pile up T-shirts and carefully fold your gym gear into a neat bundle.

Alternatively, you can organize your clothes by occasion. Formal wear in one box, work clothes in another and weekend sweats can be packed up and kept together, ready for that first movie night in your new place.

This means when you get to your new property you can pack away your wardrobe and drawers with ease, as everything is already organized for you.

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Invest in Storage Boxes

Wardrobe boxes are an ingenious idea. These tall, slim boxes feature a rail inside that allows you to simply move everything, while still on the hanger, out of the wardrobe and into the box. Then, you close this up with packing tape and take it with you.

It saves time when packing clothes for a move and keeps formal wear such as suits and dresses wrinkle free. You’ll need two people to move these between properties and it’s best that you avoid overloading them with clothes. Lightweight dresses and shirts are best reserved for wardrobe boxes.

Wrap Hanging Clothes with Garbage Bags

Protect your clothes from damage and spills during the moving process. Wrap hanging clothes individually with garbage bags. It’s also a great option if you need to keep clothing clean and ready to wear upon arrival. Simply push a hole through the top of the bag using the hook of a hanger and let the bag drape across, protecting from moisture.

Alternatively, pull out those dry-cleaning bags you have stored in a drawer somewhere and use these to wrap your clothes in.

Put your vacation luggage bags to good use and fill these with clothes instead. Luggage bags are typically very strong and made for packing clothes into, plus they’re much easier to carry and move from place to place.

Use Luggage Bags and Briefcases

We recommend opting for your vacation suitcase when packing folded or rolled up clothes. So those neatly folded t-shirts and sweaters will easily slot into place and even folded trousers and nightwear. Alternatively, they’re a great choice for off-season clothes.

This means if you’re moving in the height of summer, you can pack your winter clothing into your suitcase. Then simply store this out of the way until you need it later in the year.

Vacuum Seal Off-Season Clothes

Create more room in your boxes or luggage bags by vacuum sealing bulky seasonal clothing, such as coats or long summer dresses and skirts. Keep in mind that anything you vacuum seal will need pressing and ironing later. Only do this with clothing that you won’t need straight away.

Vacuum seal bags can compress a huge number of clothes into a small and manageable package, perfect for transportation later.  It’s a great option that allows you to squeeze more into one bag and maximize on space in that moving van.

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Label Clothing

Once you’ve organized your clothes and packed them away in their assigned boxes, it’s a good idea to label them. This means you can quickly allocate them to the right places when you arrive, with no confusion over what items need to go where.

Label them up by room, person, or by type – it’s completely up to you. We think labelling by room is the best idea. If you’ve packed all your kids’ clothing in one box, label this with their name. They can then take responsibility for getting it to their new room and feel like they’re helping with the moving process.

It also avoids mix ups between siblings that are around the same age (no one wants a fight on moving day!) and ensures nothing gets missed.

Keep Your Moving Clothes Separate

One vital tip is to ensure you set aside clothes for your moving day. It’s easy to get wrapped up in the packing process and before you know it you wake up on the morning of your move with nothing to wear!

Comfortable clothes that you find easy to bend and crouch in are ideal. We recommend throwing on those gym leggings or comfy jeans and a slouchy t-shirt that you don’t mind getting dirty or sweaty while moving.

It’s also a good idea to keep your linen basket unpacked so you can throw in your clothes from the night before and move this easily into your new space.

Final Top Tips for Packing Clothes for a Move

• If you can, roll your clothing up don’t fold. This is a hack that creates more space in that box or bag, which means you can squeeze more clothing inside.

• Don’t let sentimentality get in the way. When organizing and sorting through your clothes before the packing process has even started, don’t hold on to items if you really don’t need them.

• Pack shoes and accessories separately. Don’t let jewelry or dirty shoes get mixed up in your packing. Pack these separately, in clearly labeled boxes, or bags. It’s also a good idea to return shoes to their original shoe boxes, if you’ve kept them, or wrap them in plastic carrier bags to keep everything clean. 

Ready to tackle that process of packing clothes for a move? Take on our tips and you’ll find it much easier to manage. If you need a storage unit to house any belongings in between properties, be sure to take a look at our latest offers.