Olga Nikitina


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Anyone who has had to move to a new apartment at least once in their life is well aware of the feeling of “prostration” that arises when looking at numerous things in closets, nightstands and shelves. It’s not for nothing that moving is “equal to one fire” - some things are lost, some get broken and broken on the road, and some simply disappear somewhere in an unknown way. There is no need to talk about the amount of effort and nerves expended.

Here are the main secrets of a proper move!

Preparing to move – what to do first?

The most common mistake people make when moving is to pack their things at the last minute. It would seem that “everything will be done in time!”, but - alas and ah - the result of getting ready in the last hours before the car arrives is always equally deplorable.

Therefore, it is better to start preparing in advance.

About a month before the planned move, the most important things to do are:

  • Terminate all contracts (note – with the landlord, with companies providing cable TV, telephone, Internet services, etc.) so that new apartment they did not demand money from you for services that continue to be provided in the old one under existing contracts.
  • Throw away everything you don't need , and everything that could interfere with the new owners.
  • Clearly define the moving date , enter into an agreement with the appropriate moving company and inform those who will help you move to a new home.
  • Sell ​​furniture (clothes, washing/sewing machine, other things) that you don’t want to take with you, but which still look quite decent. It’s better not to set high prices, so that later you don’t have to leave these things in the old apartment for free. It’s better to let them “fly away” at a modest price than for no one to buy them at all. And remember: if you haven’t used an item for more than six months, it means you don’t need it—feel free to get rid of it in any convenient way.

One week before moving:

  1. We pack all the things that you will not need in the near future.
  2. Throw away the excess.
  3. We begin to sort out things, food and furniture in the kitchen.
  4. We buy disposable plates/forks to easily remove all dishes from the kitchen.
  5. We connect the Internet to the new apartment so that on the day of the move we don’t frantically call companies for this purpose, running between boxes with a useless router.
  6. We clean carpets and wash curtains (save yourself the effort in a new place), and also rewash items that require it.
  7. Let's do general cleaning in a new apartment, so as not to waste time on this after moving.

The day before the move:

  • We send the children to grandma (friends).
  • Defrosting the refrigerator.
  • We deal with the keys to old and new housing ( mailboxes, garages, gates, etc.).
  • We take meter readings (note – we take photographs).
  • We collect the remaining things.

7 secrets of preparing for a move that will make your life and the preparations easier

  • Revision. Moving is a great way to get rid of excess clutter. When you start sorting things to pack them for moving, immediately put a large box “to throw away” or “to give to neighbors.” Surely, you have things (clothes, tiles, lamps, toys, etc.) that you do not need in your new apartment. Give them to those in need and don’t carry extra junk into your new apartment. Toys can be given to Orphanage, sell decent items on the appropriate websites, and take old blankets/rugs to a dog shelter.
  • Box with documents. We collect it especially carefully so that we can take it with us in the car on moving day. Place all the documents you have in folders, label them and put them in one box. Naturally, this should not be done the day before the move.
  • Box “1st necessity”. That's how we label it. In this necessary box, when you move, you can easily find a first aid kit, toothbrushes and toilet paper, a set of spare clothes for each family member, the most necessary products(sugar, salt, coffee/tea), towels, pet food and other important things.
  • Box with valuables. Here we put all our gold with diamonds, if any, and other valuable items that are expensive or have other value for you personally. You should also take this box with you (we don’t shove it into the general “pile” in the truck, but take it with us into the cabin).
  • Disassemble the furniture. Don’t rely on chance and don’t be too lazy to take it apart, so as not to cry over a torn sofa, a broken table and chips on a rare chest of drawers. There is no point in disassembling old chipboard furniture and dragging it with you - just give it to your neighbors or leave it near the trash heap (whoever needs it will take it himself).
  • Don't make any major purchases in the week before moving. Don't stock up on groceries either - it's excess weight and space in the truck. It is better to replenish the bins in a new place.
  • Prepare food the day before moving day (you won’t have time to cook!) and pack it in a cooler bag. Nothing inspires you in a new place after moving like a delicious dinner.

Collecting and packing things for moving - boxes, bags, tape

It is almost impossible to collect the things that you have accumulated in your old apartment even in 1 year in 1 day.

That's why perfect time for "start" - a week before the move. The most important thing when packing is packaging.

Therefore, we start with boxes and other items for a comfortable move:

  1. Looking for or buying cardboard boxes (preferably durable and with holes for easy carrying). Most often, boxes are given away for free in hypermarkets or local stores (ask store administrators). Assess the volume of your things and take boxes according to this volume. On average, it takes about 20-30 large boxes to pack items from a 2-room apartment in which a large family with pets lives. It is not recommended to take giant boxes - they are inconvenient to carry and difficult to lift, in addition, they often break under the weight of things.
  2. Don't spare money on wide, high-quality tape! You will need it in large quantities, and not just to seal boxes. And preferably with a dispenser, then work will go many times faster.
  3. Also, you can’t do without cardboard “spacers” (newspaper, wrapping paper), twine, regular stretch film and a pack of clear bags.
  4. Special film with “pimples” , which everyone loves to click, we buy in large quantities.
  5. Multi-colored markers and stickers will also help.
  6. To pack furniture you will need thick fabric (old sheets, curtains, for example), as well as thick film (like for greenhouses).
  7. For heavy items we select bags and suitcases (the boxes may not be able to support them), or we put the weights in small and strong boxes, and then carefully secure them with tape and twine.

General work plan:

  • We reinforce all boxes with good tape, paying special attention to the bottom of the container. You can also make handles from it if there are no holes on the boxes themselves (or you can make these holes yourself with a stationery knife).
  • We allocate a separate room (or part of it) for packed items.
  • We buy a notebook for notes, where there will be all the information on accounts, movers, counters and the things themselves.

On a note:

If you wear suits, you'll be glad to know that there are cardboard "closets" for safely transporting expensive items directly on hangers.


How to move and not forget anything - lists of things, labeling boxes and much more

In order not to spend a painfully long time looking for clothespins or tights in all the boxes in a new apartment, which no one ever sorts right away (usually this takes from a week to a month, and for those who are especially lucky, up to a year), Use the rules of proper packing:

  • We mark the boxes with stickers and markers. For example, red for the kitchen, green for the bathroom, etc. Don't forget to duplicate each box in a notepad.
  • Be sure to put a number on the box (on each side of the box, so that later you don’t have to turn it around looking for the number!) and duplicate it in a notebook along with a list of things. If you are not shy about movers and are not afraid that “things will be stolen,” then the list of things can be glued to the box. In your notebook you should have all the boxes with all the lists of things. Numbering the boxes is also useful because in a new place it will be easier for you to check whether all things have been brought into the apartment.
  • Lifehack: To avoid searching for clothespins and washing powder, pack them directly into the drum of the washing machine. Tea and sugar can be placed in a teapot, and a pack of coffee can be placed in a box with a Turkish coffee grinder. You can put bedding, bowls and pet food in a cat carrier. And so on, with other things.
  • When storing wires from equipment and gadgets, try not to confuse them. In a separate box - a scanner with wires, in another - a computer with its own wires, in separate packages there are phones and other gadgets - each with its own charger. If you are afraid of getting confused, immediately take a photo of the area where the wires connect to the equipment. This cheat sheet can make your life easier after moving.
  • Ship bed linen separately with towels and blankets and pillows.
  • Don't forget to have a separate box for tools. and small things necessary for repairs, you will need it almost immediately after moving.

Apartment moving – preparing furniture for transportation

Don’t rely on “strong” furniture and “caring” movers.

If your furniture is dear to you, then take care of its safety before moving.

  • Everything that comes apart is disassembled, packaged and labeled. For example, we disassemble a table into parts, pack each one in special thick paper or cardboard (bubble wrap is ideal), and mark each part with the letter “C” (table). We put the accessories from the table into a separate bag, twist it and secure it to one of the parts. It’s ideal if you can secure all the parts together or put them in narrow boxes. Don't forget the instructions! If they are still there, put them in a bag with accessories to make it easier to assemble the furniture later. Place keys for furniture and other tools for quick assembly in the “1st necessity” box (described above).
  • We wrap sofas and armchairs with thick fabric , cover with thick film on top and wrap with tape. We do the same with mattresses.
  • We wrap all handles on doors and drawers cling film or foam rubber so as not to scratch other things.
  • If you don’t take out the drawers from the chest of drawers (desk) , then be sure to secure them so that they do not fall out when carrying. Also fix all the doors on the furniture - on the kitchen, etc.
  • All glass and mirrors in mandatory remove from furniture and pack separately . They are usually the first to break if owners leave them in closets.

If you are sending things to another city by container, then pay special attention to packing furniture and boxes!

Moving to a new apartment and pets – what do you need to remember?

Of course, the ideal option is to send pets and children to relatives during the move. Firstly, it will be easier for parents, and secondly, it will protect children and young animals from accidental injuries.

But if this is not possible, then use the “memo” on moving with pets:

  1. Don't swear at your pets. For them, moving in itself is stressful. Their attention to things and boxes is quite natural. Don't swear or shout. Don't forget that they won't feed themselves.
  2. While collecting and running around with boxes, give the little animals something that can distract them – a separate box for cats (they love them), toys, bones for dogs.
  3. In advance (a couple of weeks), resolve all issues with the veterinarian, if any. Update the information on the chip (approx. phone number, address).
  4. To transport fish: pour the water from the aquarium into a bucket with a ventilated lid (transplant the fish there too), and transfer the vegetation from it to another container, adding the same water. Place the soil in bags. The aquarium itself - rinse, dry, wrap in bubble wrap.
  5. For transporting birds: We wrap the cage with cardboard, and on top with warm and dense material (birds are afraid of drafts).
  6. Rodents can be transported in their own cages , but it is recommended to insulate them if it is too cold outside. In hot weather, on the contrary, choose a place for transportation that will not be too hot and stuffy (so that the animals do not suffocate).
  7. Don't feed dogs and cats right in front of the road , be sure to walk the dogs, and remove the drinking bowls during transportation - or, if it’s hot, replace them with wet sponges.
  8. For cats and small dogs, it is better to use hard carriers. Naturally, it is not recommended to transport them to new house in the cargo compartment of the car. The best option– transport pets on your lap.

And don’t forget to take a couple of days off to move and unload your things in the new place. Moving after work is an ordeal.

The site site thanks you for your attention to the article! We will be very pleased if you share your feedback and tips in the comments below.

Have you ever had to carry uncomfortable bags of shoes and heavy boxes of books while moving? If so, then you probably just didn’t know that it’s more convenient to transport light shoes in wine boxes, and books in a suitcase on wheels.

We have collected life hacks from people who know exactly how to pack things correctly. Their advice will make the process of changing housing a quick and even enjoyable experience.

1. Pack a dinner box.

Moving takes a lot of time and effort. After transporting your things, you will probably want to eat, and it will be better if necessary products will be at hand. Collect them in a separate box and put them in a visible place, for example, take them with you in the car.

2. Glue the decorations to the box

Small items often get lost when moving. To avoid accidentally losing your favorite decorations, tape them to the outside of one of the boxes. This way they won’t get lost, and it will be very easy for you to find them.

3.Or secure them with a sleeve

Another simple way to avoid losing your jewelry during transportation. But in this case, it is better to pack the sleeve in one of the boxes - this way the jewelry will be more reliably protected.

4. Insert the earrings into the buttons

Buttons will help keep the smallest decorations intact. Place earrings in them and secure them in the same way as in your ears. After this, the buttons can be folded into their usual storage location. Just make sure that the box with them is tightly closed. You can additionally wrap it with tape.

5. Use cotton pads to protect your makeup

During transportation, cosmetics may fall apart. Cotton pads and balls will help avoid this. Just make sure that the box of cosmetics closes tightly, and to do this, choose balls that are not too large.

6. Cover the mirror with tape

Apply strips of wide adhesive tape to the mirror. Even if the glass is damaged during transportation, the tape will prevent it from falling out. This way you will protect not only things, but also yourself.

7. Pack fragile items in something soft.

You can put plastic ones between ordinary plates, then they will not break, even if the box is shaken. Large fragile items can be wrapped in towels - this way you will simultaneously pack everything you need and keep things intact.

8. Place accessories in labeled bags

If you are disassembling furniture for transportation, small bags will help you avoid losing the necessary parts from it. To prevent the bags from getting lost, you can stick them to the furniture with tape.

9. Label the boxes

On each box you can indicate not only the name of the room, but also the contents of the box itself. Then you don't have to open it to understand what's inside. You can use a different color for each room - it will be even more convenient.

10. Stick a photo of the contents on children's boxes

Children will probably want to sort out their boxes themselves. Boxes with photos will help them find their favorite toys faster. To make searching even easier, put toys in transparent containers.

11. Put important documents in a separate folder

Losing documents will be especially unpleasant. Place them in a separate folder for safekeeping. And put the folder in your personal bag - not a travel bag, but one that you carry with you all the time.

Moving is an exciting and at the same time troublesome task that requires the right approach. You can reduce the amount of wasted nerves and broken things if you properly sort and pack books, clothes, household appliances and fragile items. It is recommended to start preparing 4, or better yet 7 days before traveling to a new apartment, so as not to forget anything due to the bustle.

What you can't do without

You will need cardboard boxes of all sizes and shapes. You should inspect the garage, storage room and attic, ask for a couple of cardboard accessories from friends, and if it’s not enough, buy the missing amount at the store. Old and new newspapers, film with pimples or pieces of polystyrene foam will come in handy.

You can seal boxes and wrap suspicious corners with tape. Thick wrapping paper will be needed for paintings and mirrors. Stacks of books, small boxes and furniture parts are tied with twine to make it easier to move from the apartment to the car and back.

Clothes are packed in boxes, or they stock up on spacious checkered bags with strong handles, which cost pennies on the market.

Books, dishes and wardrobe

First, they take on things located on open shelves and in closets to take away every last button. Books and important magazines are sorted by size and placed in low piles, which are wrapped in paper. Place the waste paper in a box, seal it and sign it, and put it in a corner. Physics textbooks or clippings from Soviet newspapers intended to collect dust should be donated to a neighbor or the local library, rather than dragged to a new home.

Moving is a great reason to get rid of unnecessary things. Cracked plates, cups with broken handles, holey pots and other kitchen delights that are unsuitable for further use should be placed in a trash bag, used as bowls for stray cats, or given to children to play in the sandbox. Wrap the rest in newspapers and place them compactly in bags: large pots and pans on the bottom, smaller ones on top. Cups and plates will fit inside, with paper or pieces of soft cloth placed between them. For crystal and other fragile items, select a separate box so that exquisite glasses do not turn into pieces of glass during transportation.

Important: Do not skimp on paper or newspapers. The thicker the layer, the less damage to the dishes.

Sort through clothes and sort them by season. Put aside the jeans that became too small ten years ago. It is better to distribute things that no one wears to friends or take them to an orphanage. If it's summer outside, pack down jackets and spring jackets first, put terry robes and fleece pants in bags. Place clothes that you will need in the coming days, underwear and towels in a separate compact bag.

Cosmetics with detergents and other hygiene items are transported in plastic bags, separately from shoes and things. Bottles, even well-sealed ones, can open at any moment, and then you will have to wash your favorite jacket from eau de toilette or massage oil.

Small equipment

Hairdryer, Electric kettle, microwave and curling iron can be sorted into separate boxes or folded into one large one, separating each item with a thick wall of paper or bubble wrap.

An alternative is to wrap them in terry towels and put them in bags, remembering the rules of the game Tetris at the same time. All items should be arranged as compactly as possible so that there are no empty corners. Balls of newspaper are stuffed into empty spaces; you can use folded socks, curtains and other soft things that do not take up much space.

Large furniture

When transporting sofas and cabinets, there is a main rule: disassemble everything that can be divided into parts, and then assemble it. This is where sticky notes and a marker come in handy. When detaching the headboards, be sure to mark where to return which one. If there are several similar cabinets with removable doors in the house, you can number the parts: everything under one belongs to the first, accessories marked with two belong to the second.

Nuts and chalk screws are collected in a ziplock bag, which should be placed in a safe place so as not to be forgotten when moving into the old apartment.

The doors of large cabinets are wrapped with thick cardboard and tied with twine. It is better not to stick the drawers out of the chest of drawers; they will only take up extra space. Doors that cannot be removed and other sliding parts are secured with tape so that they do not pop out or get scratched while driving.

Protect the paintings from damage with several layers of thick cardboard. Mirrors are also placed in such envelopes, and the edges of the paper are sealed with tape or the product is wrapped with twine.

If the cushions are removed from the sofa, they are placed in plastic bags or clean garbage bags. Upholstered furniture can be covered with film or old washed sheets so that it does not become saturated with dust during transportation. Place the orthopedic mattress in a cover. Place pillows in bags along with other bedding.

Important: Blankets, rugs and clothes will take up less space if they are folded into tubes rather than squares.

Large equipment

A refrigerator with a washing machine and other large appliances are packed in original boxes. If they have not survived or are unlikely to survive the move, use new cardboard boxes. Wrap the equipment in bubble wrap, fill the void inside with polystyrene foam, and seal the top with several layers of tape. Be sure to make a mark where the bottom is so that the refrigerator is not placed upside down.

The washing machine needs to be emptied so that there is no water left inside, which could leak and soak the cardboard box. The refrigerator must be defrosted and washed, and packed only after it has completely dried.

Nuances

  1. Shoes are stored in boxes or wrapped in plastic bags, and then compactly stuffed into a suitcase or travel bag, leaving only one pair of sneakers or boots for each family member outside.
  2. Clothes that cannot be wrinkled or folded are covered with covers and placed in a long box.
  3. Kitchen cabinets are cleared of bags of cereals and spices. Bags of seasonings and jars of tea can be stuffed into pans, the rest is put in a separate box. Food should not be mixed with cosmetics, clothing or tools.
  4. It is not recommended to transport unused rolls of wallpaper, half-empty jars of paint and other items that will not be useful in a new apartment. real life, but will turn into dust collectors.
  5. The carpets are rolled into tubes, tied on both sides and in the middle with twine, and loaded into the machine in this form.
  6. The boxes can be signed or numbered by making a list on a separate sheet of what items are under what number.
  7. Items that are resistant to mechanical damage are loaded into the machine first. Boxes with crystal and other fragile items are placed on top. It is advisable that the boxes and furniture stand tightly and do not tilt when the car turns to the sides.

Moving is always associated with a fire or flood, but if you plan your actions correctly, you can get away with a slight scare and minor losses.

Video: How to make your move easier and more organized

It’s not at all easy to move from a long-established place and move your favorite sofa and other furnishings to a new apartment, sometimes located hundreds of kilometers away. You will inevitably think about how to make sure that during transportation nothing gets damaged, broken, lost or broken.

You can, of course, trust professionals from special services, but many people like to do it themselves. And the reason is not only cost savings. If you know how to properly lay and pack things, the chances that losses during the transportation of things will be minimized will increase sharply.

You can learn more about what we need to pack household items from the previous article. Today we will talk about how to pack this or that item specifically. And let's start with fragile items that require special care and attention when handling.

There are always a lot of things in the house that require special preparation and packaging for moving.

Tip: Boxes with fragile and breakable items should be provided with warning signs: “Glass!”, “Caution, fragile!” and mark where the top and bottom of the boxes are.

TV and monitor packaging

Modern plasma and LCD TVs, unlike older models with glass screens, are especially sensitive to shock. To prevent anything from happening, you need to follow some rules when packing them.

The best way to transport a TV, or any household appliance, is in its original packaging, secured in a box with foam or wrapped in bubble wrap and filling all empty spaces with newspapers or soft things.

But few of us keep boxes from purchased household appliances. Therefore, we proceed as follows:

  • We wrap the TV in air bubble wrap, while on the screen side we make an additional seal of film in three layers, using tape to secure it. Then we pack it in corrugated cardboard.
  • You need to transport the TV in an upright position, with the screen facing a large, flat surface and placing something soft between them, for example a blanket, but without knots or folds.

Transporting an aquarium

The main condition for transporting aquarium inhabitants is to create normal conditions, that is, the usual temperature. To do this, the fish must be placed in a container with a tight lid and water taken from the aquarium.

Separately, we are preparing a fish house for moving. Its walls, outside and inside, are first lined with cardboard and secured with tape. Then it is completely wrapped in bubble wrap, which is also fixed.

Packing the paintings

Transportation of paintings, especially valuable and old ones, requires special care so as not to damage the base canvas and the paint layer. Everything is important here: you need to eliminate the effects of temperature fluctuations and dust penetration, ensure the necessary air humidity (too dry or excessively wet air equally harmful to paints).

It is best to transport the painting in a specialized container, having first freed it from the frame. If there is none, it can be packed in fairly thick paper and wrapped with bubble wrap on top. Do not stick tape directly to the surface of the canvas with paints.

The frame is packaged separately with the corners protected from impacts and in a vertical position. In addition, paintings can be packed in twos, with the front side inward, with cardboard or a thick layer of paper placed between them so as not to scratch the paintwork.

How to pack dishes, vases, crystal and other fragile items?

There are always many objects in the house that are easy to break and break. When transporting fragile items, it is important to prevent their contact with each other, the presence of voids in the box and the mobility of objects in it. To wrap them, you can use crumpled newspapers, wrapping paper, towels, old magazines (sheets can be placed between plates and wine glasses and mugs can be wrapped in them), scarves, socks, and hats.

The inside of the box can be divided into separate sections according to the size of the items, into which they are placed one at a time, pre-wrapped in bubble wrap or paper. Remaining free place in the box and her top part you need to fill it with crumpled newspapers, soft things, towels, close it and seal it with tape.

Be sure to write with a bright marker that the box contains fragile items.

Porcelain figurines, delicate glass and crystal glasses can be packed in plastic containers, after wrapping each item separately with cling film, paper, or placing the fragile item in a sock (a very effective method).

As for the plates, it is recommended to transport them by wrapping each one separately in packaging material in an upright position and separating one from the other with a piece of cardboard. In a car in which things are transported, boxes with dishes must be placed so that they do not move while driving. You can't put anything on top of them.

Chandelier packaging

If this is possible, then the chandelier needs to be disassembled, the shades and all breakable items removed from it and packaged separately. If this cannot be done, the chandelier should be wrapped in protective film and placed in a box according to size. All voids are compacted as much as possible to ensure its immobility during transportation.


We transport mirrors and glass

Thick cardboard is fixed to the front side of the mirror and the whole thing is completely wrapped in bubble wrap, which is secured with tape. During transportation, the mirror should not move, and something soft should be placed under the packaging.

Glass of the same size (for example, furniture shelves or doors) can be sandwiched between each other with cardboard, paper, or newspapers. Then cover everything together with cardboard and wrap it in packaging film or thick fabric, tie it tightly or secure it with tape.

Most often, we leave our “green friends” in their old place or give them to friends and neighbors. Agree, providing them with proper transportation (especially in winter, and even to another city) is very troublesome and requires time, which is always lacking in the pre-move bustle.

But, if the distance is short or you don’t want to part with a rare or very favorite specimen, you can try to organize their transportation.

Important:

  • Observe the temperature regime (in winter, flowers need to be transported in a cabin or a warm van).
  • There is no need to water flowers and plants before loading.
  • Pots with small plants can be transported in standard boxes, divided into cells by partitions so that they do not hit each other during transportation. For tall plants, you can glue the box to the height of the plant and wrap it in film.

Packaging of household appliances

Refrigerators, microwave ovens, washing machines and dishwashers are packaged in approximately the same way and require special care.

Let's look at packaging using the example of a refrigerator. It is advisable to defrost and wash the refrigerator a day before moving. In order not to damage the internal surface when tilting and carrying, you need to remove containers, shelves, and all removable parts from it (or fix it inside) and pack them separately.

Also remove the power cord and securely fix the door. Cover the walls of the refrigerator with thin cardboard and wrap with stretch film in 1-2 layers or bubble wrap in 1 layer. The compressor (power unit of the refrigerator) must be secured with special bolts during transportation (in modern models these bolts cannot be removed).

Important: when choosing a car for moving, focus on the tallest object in your apartment. Most often this is a refrigerator, which is recommended to be transported in a vertical position (transportation on its side or in a horizontal position can lead to its breakage).

Care should also be taken when transporting the washing machine. Before packing it, you must disconnect the hoses and drain the water. It is better to cover the back part with foam rubber and seal it with wide tape. If possible, secure the drum with fastening screws, and during the move it can be protected from loosening by filling it with soft toys, sheets, and towels. The machine should be packed in bubble wrap and then wrapped with 1-2 layers of stretch film.

We pack small household appliances in boxes according to size, pre-wrapped in packaging film or padded soft cloth. IN microwave oven First you need to fix the glass tray inside. It is recommended that you back up important data before packing your computer for moving. The monitor should be packed in the same way as the TV. When packing household appliances, we focus on the manufacturer’s recommendations. We mark the top and bottom of the box and the front of the product.

How to transport furniture?

Inspect all the furniture in advance and decide what you will transport. It may make sense to get rid of some bulky old things, even because old furniture that has seen wear and tear may simply fall apart when reassembled after moving.

The next step is to determine what of the remaining furniture can be disassembled and what will have to be transported entirely. Walls, beds, tables, large sofas and wardrobes need to be dismantled. This way they will take up less space during transportation and will easily fit through the doorway.

Place all small parts, spare parts, fasteners, fittings, bolts, screws, keys and handles in separate bags, sign what furniture they belong to, and put them in a separate box (do not attach them to a package with disassembled furniture (they may come off and get lost) during transportation) with the inscription “accessories”.

You can also put the necessary tools there for assembling furniture in a new apartment - screwdrivers, pliers, universal spanners, screws, nails.

Panels, shelves, doors of collapsible furniture need to be folded equal sides one to one, lined with cardboard or other packaging material, wrapped with film, sheets of corrugated cardboard and secured with tape, making handles for carrying. Number and make appropriate notes in your notebook. Fragile parts of furniture, corners, protruding parts additionally need to be glued with tape or special sponge rubber.

Wrap sofas, armchairs, small cabinets and anything that cannot be taken apart (after securing the doors and drawers and removing all protruding parts and handles) with stretch film and secure with tape to protect from dirt, dust and scratches.

It is advisable to number the dismantled shelves and drawers so that they can be hung or inserted in the same order.

For convenience, all boxes and packages with disassembled furniture can be equipped with adhesive tape handles.

How to transport books?

Books are separate topic when moving. They are the heaviest. And the transport company will first of all charge you money for weight. If possible, review the contents of your library and keep what is most valuable, important and dear to you. Some books can be given to the library or given to friends.

It is convenient to transport books in boxes. But here, as in the case of dishes, if you pack them in large boxes, they can turn out to be too heavy to lift and even fall apart.

There is an unwritten rule regarding the weight of a packed box - the “rule of thumb”. If you can move a box full of stuff with your thumb, you're good. If not, transfer some of the things from it to another package. If in kilograms, the approximate weight of the packed box should not be more than 30 kg.

You can put books in trash bags or sacks (accumulated T-shirt bags from stores will do). To do this, books in small piles need to be placed in a bag and wrapped with tape, making a wide improvised handle for convenience. You can also pack photo albums, music CDs, and video cassettes.

How to pack clothes, shoes, textiles, bedding?

Once your clothes are sorted by season, they can be packed into travel bags, suitcases, large bags, trunks and sealed bags. To save space, winter clothes, duvets, pillows and other bulky items can be transported in vacuum bags. It is also convenient to transport bedding, clothes, textiles, curtains in plastic bags, and shoes in boxes.


Packaging of household chemicals

When transporting powders, shampoos, gels and other household chemicals, they must be placed in a separate box. To prevent leakage, the lids should be sealed with tape and the bottles with liquid should be placed vertically separately in plastic bags. Such boxes must be marked with the word “Top”. The same rules apply to various varnishes, paints and other flammable substances.

Boxes with essentials

For the first time, you need to collect several boxes with things that you will need immediately after moving. And it’s very convenient if they all lie together.

  • Everything you need for cleaning: bucket, rags, broom, vacuum cleaner, mop, paper towels, detergents.
  • Food and kitchen utensils. It's different cookware- kettle, saucepan, frying pan, microwave, knives, plates, cups, forks, spoons according to the number of household members. Stationary utensils can be temporarily replaced with disposable ones. Take a set of products from which you can quickly prepare something: tea, coffee, cereal, milk, sugar, instant porridge, eggs, salt.
  • Clothes and. For each family member, two sets of clothes are enough (from underwear, socks to pajamas). Sleeping accessories: blankets, sheets, pillows, bedding sets.
  • For bathroom. Everything you constantly use in the bathroom: towels, toothbrushes, shampoo, razor, toothpaste, soap, cosmetics, toilet paper, hairdryer
  • For children. In a separate box, put food for small children (if they are participating in the move), sufficient supplies to care for them, and favorite books and toys.
  • For animals. If your family has animals, you also need to take care of them and prepare food, cat litter, and eating utensils in a separate package.

These boxes of essentials should be made the most visible, for example, with a bright "Open First" sign and stacked separately from the rest.

I carry everything I have with me

Documents, valuables, communication equipment (phone, laptop, chargers), jewelry and bank cards should not be sent with the transport company. All this should always be at hand in a separate safe bag or box and transported personally. You should also keep the necessary medications and first aid supplies with you.

  • Don't put off packing your things until last days. Do this in advance, systematically and thoughtfully. For example, in order not to be too overloaded, pack five boxes a day, label and number them, write down the list of things and the number in a notebook. And leave the packed boxes in the same room for the time being.
  • The sequence of actions during packaging is the key to success. You can start with anything. But still, it would be more correct to first pack all the things that are in the closets and on the mezzanine (clothes, books, bed linen), thereby preparing the furniture and equipment for subsequent disassembly and packaging.
  • Small kitchen drawers can be transported with their contents by wrapping them with bubble wrap on top and securing them with tape.
  • Item compatibility. Do not put books, clothes, oily, dyes, etc. in one box. household chemicals, food products, even if there is still enough space in it. And remove fragile things away from sharp objects.
  • Good packing. No doubt, bubble wrap, packs of polystyrene foam - good opportunity protect things from dirt, dust and damage. But you can save a little by using some of your home clothes, socks, washcloths, towels, soft toys, scarves, hats and mittens as packaging material when transporting fragile items. The savings are double - money will not be spent on a huge amount of special packaging, and some clothes will not require an additional box or bag.
  • To transport especially valuable items and if you are concerned that things may get wet, you can use durable plastic containers of different sizes.
  • Try to put it in a box maximum amount things - this will reduce the number of packages, but without overloading it in weight. First, the heavier items are placed in the box, and the lighter items are placed in the upper part. For greater strength, the bottom of the box needs to be further strengthened by gluing it with tape.
  • Always have scissors, bags, packing tape and tape at the ready. If any packaging is opened or torn during loading, it can be quickly restored.

If you do not treat moving and changing your place of residence as if it were a natural disaster, a flood, a fire or a tsunami, you can even enjoy the process. Moreover, having thoroughly prepared and properly organized your relocation, everything can go quite smoothly, without nervous shock and confusion. And moving can be an interesting event that will bring something new to your established life.

Moving like disaster, when meeting with whom you need to be fully armed. Packing things, dishes, books and other household utensils takes a lot of time, and when you can’t organize the process correctly, you simply give up. How to pack things for moving? Use our advice, and then all your property will remain intact, and you will save your nerve cells.

Packing things when moving begins with preparing the containers. Often these are cardboard boxes of various sizes. In addition to the container, you will need a roll of bubble wrap, popularly called “anti-stress”, tape, a stationery knife, old newspapers and a marker. It is important to prepare the required amount of packaging material immediately and preferably with a reserve. Choose drawers with slots on the sides. This will make it easier to transport them from place to place.

Do not use plastic bags. It's better to take construction bags, especially for packing children's toys.

Buy construction bags in advance

Choose boxes of different sizes, because for small things it is not necessary to take containers like for a TV. Relevant items are packed in a large box: pots, bed linen, books, shoes, etc. Scotch tape, preferably wide, will be needed for sealing already packed boxes. You can also make carrying handles from it, if none were originally provided. Special attention Pay attention to the bottom of the box and seal it as securely as possible. Additional containers can be suitcases and sports bags that you used for travel. Use them to transport clothes or shoes, but watch the weight. The handles of the suitcase may not be able to support a load that is too heavy.


Each box must be labeled according to its contents. For this you will need a marker. By indicating where the dishes are, where the clothes or documents are in the new place, you will be able to quickly find your way and not rummage through all the boxes in search of a tie or toothbrush.

General principles of collecting, packing and storing things when moving

An important rule of training is to do everything yourself. If you involve relatives or friends in this process, then you are in charge of the process. This will help save time and nerves upon arrival.

Goods acquired over the years cannot be collected in one day, so do not rush to seal the collected boxes, even if it seems to you that you will definitely not put anything in them. As practice shows, everything can change more than once. To store packaged containers, select a separate room or place in the room. Storing things during a move should not interfere with the free movement of you, and subsequently the movers. It is better to sign the boxes from the sides, and from each one, because... the top inscriptions simply will not be visible if the boxes are stacked one on top of the other. Distribute things for each family member into a separate container and sign it with his name. But don't lump everything into one pile. Select a separate bag for socks, underwear, T-shirts, trousers and, using the matryoshka principle, fold small packages into one large one.

Sideboards, cabinets, bedside tables are completely empty of contents. Even the strongest mover will not be able to lift furniture filled with your goods. Seal the doors of non-dismountable furniture with tape or wrap them with cling film. Everything else that can be disassembled - disassemble and label each part. Dismantle the fittings, put them in separate slip bags and tape them to the furniture from which they were removed. Take photos of complex structures and equipment connection diagrams. From the pictures you can easily connect everything in the correct order.

What is the best way to pack breakable items when moving? Wrap crystal and glass items one at a time in newspapers or thick film. Replace fragile plates with plastic or soft cloth. Kitchen and bath towels, your T-shirts or pillowcases may come in handy at this stage. Make them into intermediate layers between dishes. Apply strips of tape to mirror surfaces. Even if they break, the tape will prevent them from falling apart and the fragments will not fall asleep on your things.


Wires from office equipment are pulled out, wrapped with tape and, in this form, tied to a computer, printer, etc. Also wrap small gadgets, headsets, chargers with tape and pack them in a small box. The most important thing is to pack all the documents into one folder and remember its location, or better yet, write it down.

Where to start packing things when moving

Not everyone knows how to properly pack things when moving and not miss a single detail. The worst thing is to grab everything at once, so we recommend making an action plan. Out-of-season items and shoes should go into the boxes first. Next, lay the curtains, curtains, bedspreads, and all the clothes from the mezzanine. Between things you can put paintings, portraits, flat glass dishes. But in this case, there shouldn’t be anything heavy on top of them. After putting everything you need in one box, seal it, sign it and set it aside. You can start packing the next container.

After collecting textiles, start packing books, CDs, and magazines. If you have time, arrange all the literature in alphabetical order and tie each block, for example, from A to F, with a rope. You can then arrange the books on the shelves in the same order. Collect the disks in piles, wrap them in paper and place them in a small cardboard box.

Dishes are transported heavier than other things and may not be possible without losses. Collect it according to the principle from largest to smallest. Large items are wrapped and folded to the bottom. Smaller and lighter ones are placed on top. When packing your dishes, be sure to leave a few accessories behind. After all, you will need something to eat until the day of the move.

If all the furniture has been dismantled and the tools are no longer needed, put them in a special box or drawer. Pack children's toys as late as possible. Let kids throw them around rather than packed things from boxes. You can go through the toys in advance and get rid of broken or unnecessary ones to increase the usable space in the drawers.

Designate one box for items you will use until you move out. These are toothbrushes, some clothes, cosmetics, a couple of towels, cutlery for each family member. This box is packed last.

Practical tips on how to pack your things correctly when moving

Finally, we suggest you familiarize yourself with life hacks from professionals and just “lovers” of moving:

  • place each glass in a sock. This way, the glass won’t break and you don’t need to think of a storage place for your socks;
  • sort and stack things sequentially depending on their purpose;
  • hats, scarves, mittens can be placed with appropriate clothing, for example, tucked into the sleeves;
  • Pack bath accessories such as clothespins, toothbrushes with toothpaste, washing powders, shampoos in separate plastic containers and place them in the drum of the washing machine;
  • Place jars of coffee and tea in a box with a coffee grinder or coffee maker;
  • Place the blender, mixer, and cutlery in the microwave for the first time, but first wrap the glass dish in a layer of newspaper. The same rule applies to all the things you will need upon arrival. Fold them last and place them on top, and non-essential items can be packed at the very bottom;
  • get packaging for transporting wine. They have special cells in which it is convenient to put shoes.

If you approach the move with full responsibility and a clear head, you can avoid unnecessary hassle. There is no desire to work on my own. Use the services of specialists. Many transport companies provide trained people who will compactly pack your belongings. Remember that moving is not the end of the world and a new one awaits you interesting life in a new house.