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Published on May 24, 2024
•6 min read
By Jessica Parker,Staff Writer
You’re going to be moving into your first home within the next few months. It’s time to think about packing up your things. You’re going to need packing tape, bubble wrap, labels, and of course, moving boxes.
You can go down to your local grocery store to pick up a few boxes but the quality might be questionable. You also might not be able to get the specialty boxes that you need to pack up your wardrobe and picture frames.
Check out this guide to learn more about choosing your boxes so you can get your packing done as soon as possible.
Getting your boxes from your local grocery store isn’t ideal but if you have no other choice, it’s fine as long as you inspect them first. Since most of the boxes were once carrying food, it’s possible that you may accidentally grab one that was the victim of a spill.
The sugar and smell of the food will attract pests and you don’t want to lead those into your new home. Not to mention that the overall structure of the box might have been compromised by the spill. The last thing that you need is for your ceramic dishes to get broken because the bottom of the box tore.
There are all kinds of different box sizes and shapes that you have to consider when you’re choosing yours. You’ll probably need a mixture of all of them to safely pack up everything.
You can throw all your clothes into a suitcase but it will take forever to unpack them when you get to your new place. Even if you don’t have a ton of clothes. That’s why wardrobe boxes are amazing to pick up.
They make it so much easier to pack up your closet and you won’t have to worry about your nice things wrinkling since they’ll be hanging up. These boxes are also made out of sturdy material so they won’t collapse under the weight of all your clothes and hangers.
If you don’t put your pictures and mirrors in a specialized box, they might not make it to your new place in one piece. You also have to be careful about how you pack them.
Put your frames and mirrors in a special picture box and make sure that they are nice and snug. If there is a little bit of wiggle room in the box, fill it up with tissue paper or some other form of padding.
Small boxes are so great for packing up the contents of bookshelves that some people actually call them book boxes. Granted, small boxes work for any item that’s tiny but on the heavy side. Not only books.
You can also use them to carry your small video game consoles, electronics, or canned foods.
Out of all the moving boxes available to you, you’re going to need medium-sized boxes the most. They’re sturdy and designed to carry pretty much anything. They are especially helpful for packing up the things that you have in your kitchen.
Use them to carry your pots, pans, and small appliances. Just make sure that you don’t overdo it. Medium boxes are durable but they still have a weight limit.
Large boxes can carry big items that are fairly lightweight. They aren’t quite as durable as medium and small-sized boxes so if you place heavy items in them, there’s a good possibility that they will break.
Large boxes are also sort of expensive so might not want to buy too many. Grab a few and try to make the most out of them without overstuffing them.
Mattresses are pretty expensive so, you want to be sure that your investment is protected. No matter how big or small your mattress is, there will be a box for it.
These boxes are sturdy enough to stop your mattress from getting stained or punctured during the trip or in storage. Getting one might be pricy but buying a new mattress will be even more so.
How many boxes you need all depends on how many rooms are in your house. As a standard rule of thumb, you need 15 boxes per room.
You may not end up using this many depending on how large your rooms are. That’s why it’s a good idea to find out if there is a way to return the boxes that you don’t use up.
There are a million and one places where you can grab your moving boxes. Bookstores are a good place to start considering that those boxes are designed to carry so much weight.
You can head to the grocery store and snag a few free boxes but again, you have to be careful about that because of the questionable quality. If you’re okay with paying for your boxes, of course, you can get good ones from the UPS store. Along with several other great supplies for packing.
Most of the time, your moving company will provide you with boxes and even pack up your things as part of their services. If you can take advantage of that, it will be the safest and easiest way to get your house packed up.
When it comes to packing, you need sturdy moving boxes that can handle all the weight that your things have to offer. While you can grab free boxes from almost anywhere, you have to be a little bit choosy.
Nothing will spoil the excitement of moving into your dream home like having a bunch of broken dishes and priceless family heirlooms. When in doubt, the best thing you can do is have our moving company do the packing for you. Go here t