How to Pack Clothes For Moving | Best Way To Move Clothes

A) Don’t Pack Clothing Items That You Never Wear

First off, this may sound obvious but you’d be surprised at how many articles of clothing people like to hang onto just in case. To make the decision of keeping or tossing easier for you, here is a list of scenarios in which you should get rid of clothing items : If you are changing climates completely. For example, moving from a tropical climate to a cold one or moving from the country to the city or vice versa. If they are clothes that you never wear. If you can’t remember the last time you wore it, get rid of it. There’s no use taking the time to pack items that you don’t wear. If they are...

B) Get Rid Of Clothes That You Don’t Want

Secondly, you have several options for responsibly getting rid of unwanted clothing items before your move. Gift them! Some clothing items might not suit you, but they would look great on this or that friend. Turn your extra clothing items into gifts for friends and family. Donate them. Sending unwanted clothing items to a thrift store is a good way to ensure that your clothes will be used. Donating to your local Goodwill is a great option . Sell them! Use OfferUp or Facebook Marketplace to sell unwanted clothing items that you spent a lot on or that you think you could make some change from....

C) How to Pack Clothes For Moving

1. Pack Seasonal Items To Start

Categorizing your clothes is one of the most efficient ways to pack clothes for moving. First, pack out of season clothing, preferably clothing for the opposite season that you are in. If it is summer, pack winter clothes to start and vice versa. You can even categorize down further if you want to make the unpacking process easier as well as know exactly where all your pieces are during your move. You could categorize by material or size to help you avoid opening the wrong box should you need an item of clothing while moving. How To Pack Clothes Efficiently

2. Consider Two Folding Techniques

There are two popular folding techniques used when packing clothes for a move. You can decide for yourself which method is most efficient for packing your clothing items. Rolling your clothes: Rolling clothes is a packing technique used by many travelers and movers. It is considered an efficient way to pack clothes and has the benefit of allowing you to remove items without upsetting other rolled items in the same box. While this is an efficient way of packing for travel, our moving experts think it may not be the best way to pack your clothes for moving. Which is why we recommend the next...

3. Consider The Wardrobe Box Method For Moving Hanging Clothes

Yes, there is this nifty invention called a wardrobe box that lets you move hanging clothing without the threat of it wrinkling. It has a simple rack across the top of the box for hanging your hangers on. This is ideal if you have any formal dresses of suits that cannot be folded and need to be transported hanging up.

4. Consider The Vacuum or Garbage Bag Method

Another method for moving hanging clothes is by utilizing the tried and true method of vacuum bags (or even garbage bags if you don’t have vacuum sealed ones). Be cautious when using this method to move hanging clothes as bags — garbage bags especially may tear or allow the sunlight to fade your clothing. While this method is more convenient than buying a wardrobe box, it is less protective of your clothing so make sure that you are extra careful when it comes to moving clothes that are vacuum-sealed.

5. Consider The Box Method

What kind of boxes you use for packing your clothes is entirely up to you. You don’t need ultra-fancy boxes or anything, regular cardboard boxes will work just fine. Just make sure that you accurately label every box in multiple areas so that you are able to tell at a glance what is in which box. See our ideas for affordable packing materials .

6. Label Your Clothing Boxes

Here are three steps for labeling your clothing boxes. Label your clothing boxes on the top, and on two opposite sides. This will ensure that you are able to tell what is in your box without trying too hard. Describe what is in each box in detail. Don’t just label it “Winter Clothes” and leave it at that. Put the sizing information on it and the name of the person it belongs to. If it is just outerwear or inner-wear, mention that too. You can never be too descriptive when it comes to labeling boxes for moving day. Secure the labels and cover the front of the label with clear tape to keep the...

7. Set Aside Your Moving Day Clothes

If you have a comfy pair of clothes that you want to wear on moving day, make sure that you don’t pack them and instead leave them out. You should also consider packing a change of clothing for the day after your big move since you likely won’t be unpacked by then. This is especially important if you are moving with kids . Kids never plan for moving. They don’t add it to their schedule or plan to make it convenient for their parents. Expect that something will probably go awry during your move and that your kid will need a change of clothes. Put your own change of clothes along with one or...

8. Have a Moving Day Essentials Kit

Not only do you need to consider clothing, but it is also paramount to have a moving day kit full of all the little things you will need for the moving day and the first day in your new house. It's hard to pack clothes when you don't know where the tape and markers are and the last thing you want is to go searching through boxes once things are packed away.

9. Pack Your Shoes Separately From Clothes

Often overlooked, shoes should not be thrown in with shirts and nice clothes. This will cause extra work by having to iron or clean your wrinkly and dirty clothes. Instead be sure to pack shoes in their shoeboxes if you have them, or stuff them in a larger box with socks. Click here for more tips on how to pack shoes.