Hacking Away at Moving To-Dos: 10 Moving Hacks for a Simple, Stress-Free Relocation

Moving is undoubtedly one of the most stressful things you can do in life. It’s no small feat to uproot your life and put everything you own in a box. If moving stress has got you down before you even start, here are ten moving hacks for a simple, stress-free relocation.

Purge your belongings

Moving is the perfect time to do that spring cleaning you’ve been putting off for the past few years. Going through your possession and purging anything you don’t use is an excellent strategy to cut down on your moving expenses and hair-pulling meltdowns. Having fewer things to unpack will also make sure your relocation is a breeze on the other side of the road. Before packing, sort your belongings into four piles: donate, sell, keep, and toss. The less you take with you, the lighter your load.

Invest in professional car shipping services

You could drive your car to its destination, but if you’re looking to cut back on stress, nothing is more straightforward than handing your car over to an auto transporter and hopping on a flight. Shipping your vehicle will give you extra time to make arrangements before you leave, and you won’t have to deal with the stress of an hours or days-long road trip complete with screaming kids and animals.

If you’re ready to ditch the open highway for the comfort of a do-it-someone-else solution, hire a reputable open auto transporter like this.

Use trash bags around your hanging clothes

Instead of taking all your clothes off the hangers, folding and packing them, and trying to fit triangular hangers in a square box, just leave your clothes hanging. You can take a handful of hooks off the rod at a time, slip a garbage bag over the clothes, and tie it off at one end. That way, your clothes are easy to transport, protected from the elements, and when you get to your new home, you can pop them back on the rod like you never left.

Use containers you already have

Moving boxes get expensive when you need about a hundred of them. Instead of paying for containers, try to fill up suitcases, laundry baskets, and other organizational bins before restoring to store-bought cardboard. If you have leftover boxes for technology like TVs or video game consoles, pack them back up in their original packaging. Packing smarter will help you keep your blood pressure down as you relocate.

Pack breakable things with towels, blankets, and spare clothes

You can blow a pretty penny on packing peanuts, but they’re not always necessary. When you move, you can use blankets, towels, and even sweaters as a way to pad breakable objects. Smaller clothing, like clean socks, is perfect for protecting mugs and wine glasses.

Label hardware in plastic bags

If you’re dismantling furniture, make sure you put all the hardware inside a Ziploc bag and label it accurately. Either tape the bag securely to its furniture or put all hardware baggies in one place. The last thing you want is to have a cage match with Ikea because you can’t remember which piece of the Äpplarö goes on first.

Smaller boxes

You might think bigger is better, but when it comes to moving boxes, that isn’t always the case. Packing smaller boxes will ensure that one person can carry each box, and no one has to slip a disk to get your personal library inside the new digs.

Consolidate

Packing for a move is like playing a long, less fun game of Tetris. Consolidating your items can help you to use fewer boxes and keep everything together. For example, in the kitchen, you can put all of your pots inside one another like a Russian nesting doll. Slip large utensils into the box gaps, and leave no space unused.

Separate cleaning supplies

Cleaning is a fact of the universe, no matter where you live. It might seem wise to leave behind your cleaning supplies now, but when you’re in your new house, and everything is dusty, you’ll be gnashing your teeth at the idea of a trip to the supermarket. Pack basic cleaning supplies, and leave them somewhere accessible, such as a laundry hamper.

Pack a “first-night” container

Moving is exhausting, and your mental to-do list can feel endless. Make it easier on yourself by packing spare clothes, toiletries, toilet paper, and anything you’ll be sure to use the first night at your new place. That way, you don’t have to attack the box pile beast the second you land.

Final thoughts

A stress-free relocation does exist, and it can be yours. Just give yourself plenty of time to pack and say goodbye before you go, and you can make it to your new home without having a cow.

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