Packing tips

Orangezorki

Hello all,

I'm going to have to move most of my possesions across country soon to make my flat available to let. I'm wondering if any of you have tips for where to find packing materials etc, as I can't stomach the prices the removals companies want. What I'd really like to use is something like the 'really useful boxes' as they would be reusable and decent enough to keep around my new home, but I can't see them anywhere for decent prices.

Thanks in advance,

David

warwicktiger

Try freecycle for boxes

Ivana_Tinkle

This is going to sound ridiculously tight, but we managed to get loads of boxes by just keeping an eye out on recycling day to see if anyone in the streets near us had left any out. I got about 20 Pickfords boxes for free because I happened to walk past a little recycling depot and someone had obviously just dropped them off. (Simple pleasures!)

fannyanna

We've just moved all of our stuff into storage and didn't buy a single box.

My Husband and I both got a lot of boxes from our workplace and our parents also did the same. Even the boxes that paper comes in are handy.

Also remember the things that you probably already have like suitcases.

alfiesmum

Costco/Mackro, those type of warehouse places always have strong boxes available. Don't go for BIG boxes, impossible to lift once filled. A comfortably medium box is best. Those rafia laundry bags are invaluable too. From the pound shops, they stand about a metre in height. Ideal for clothing, bedding, cushions, plastics from the kitchen cupbopards. We bought ours around 10 years ago now, and they've served us well!

Supermarkets are glad to give you bubble wrap from the fruit aisle if you just ask. Saves them having to dispose of such large quantities of it. Newspaper is pap, marks the crockery, and EVERYTHING needs washing as soon as you arrive - not good! Some cheapie kitchen rolls are good for smaller ornaments etc.

googler

Settle on three sizes of small, medium and large for easy stacking in the removal van. If you have all odd sizes, it's mayhem

For small - local print or copy shops for the boxes that A4 paper comes in. They have lids, and are generally quite strong.

Medium and/or large - Costco, Makro or other cash and carry, or Staples, Office World for Document Storage Boxes. They're designed to take lots of heavy paperwork, so are strong enough; they come with lids for easy stacking and sealing, and generally have carry handles inset into the sides.

Sharpie or Marker Pen to write contents on side.

Brown vinyl parcel tape to seal 'em up.

princeofpounds

Small boxes for anything that is remotely heavy. Books especially magically transform into lifting a block of solid wood if you put too many of them in one box.

Have a system for marking up boxes so when you get to the far end you know what is what. Put you marks on most faces of the box so you don't need to sping them around to find out what they are.

Have a couple of 'first unpack' boxes. Include anything you might need immediately in the new place; tea, kettle, loo roll etc!

Normally you need more boxes and more tape than you think.

If there are good options, try to combine soft items with fragile ones. Eg use tea towels as spacers for crockery. You will be unpacking at the same time and also saves on rubbish you will have to dispose of.

Polystyrene beads; if you use them you will be picking them out of your stuff for days. Sometimes they are useful, but they get everywhere.

Keep a knife handy at the far end to cut tape and dismantle boxes as you unpack them.

DadDee

We moved a couple of week ago and used a lot of boxes from supermarkets. We wrapped the open fruit/vegetable crates with Pallet stretch wrap purchased from ebay. This made the contents secure and having a clear wrap ensures that the contents are visible, removes the need for labelling.

These crates stack up, have handles to for easy pickup. You can get the open trays in large numbers.

The stretch wrap was also useful in wrapping mattresses, drawers, etc. Would highly recommend getting one or two rolls, it is very versatile. Search for stretch wrap on ebay.

Bought some used packing crates from ebay, which we are going to reuse for storage.

Recommend to pack everything in stackable boxes/crates and leave nothing loose.

poppysarah

How silly is the price?

Moving without actually doing the moving yourself is completely exhausting.

Orangezorki

Thanks for all the advice.

poppysarah wrote: »

How silly is the price?

Moving without actually doing the moving yourself is completely exhausting.

Basically I'm moving all of the non-furniture stuff out of a pretty packed 2bed flat. Chose the smallest removals option on the Pickfords site which was for a 1 bed and the quote was £980+VAT. This is from Liverpool to London, not Vladivostok!

By the way, the one thing that I am worried about is how to move my 42" flatscreen TV. Any ideas.

David

Callie22

googler wrote: »

Medium and/or large - Costco, Makro or other cash and carry, or Staples, Office World for Document Storage Boxes. They're designed to take lots of heavy paperwork, so are strong enough; they come with lids for easy stacking and sealing, and generally have carry handles inset into the sides.

This Archive boxes are absolutely brilliant for packing - you can't really overfill them, they're just the right size to carry comfortably ans they're designed to stack. We bought a couple of dozen a few years ago and they've seen us through half-a-dozen house moves, once you're done with them you can flatten them ready to store for next time. I can't remember how much we paid, but being able to re-use them and not have to scratch around for boxes each time we move has saved us a lot in time and hassle. My work also often give these away so if I ever need more, they're easy to get.

If you want plastic boxes, then IKEA do some reasonably priced clear ones called Samla. They come in lots of different sizes and you can buy the boxes and lids separately. The only downside is that the lids are loose, but for moving you could sort this out with some tape. I have a good few of these round the house and they're great, and they store brilliantly as they just sit in each other - I have some of the 'really useful' boxes too but they're not so good when they're being stored empty, as they don't sit in each other IYSWIM.