Packing tips & hacks

Collect free boxesRestaurants, grocery, liquor, office supply, and bookstores are all good sources. You can also order slightly used, affordable box kits from usedcardboardboxes.com.

Pack an essentials kitEverything you'll need in the first 24 hours in your new home: clothes, sheets, towels, toiletries, phone, laptop, medications, paper plates and cups, plastic utensils, paper towels, toilet paper, etc.

Gather important documentsKeep legal and financial documents together in one easily accessible, safe place: birth certificates, passports, wedding license, immunization and school records, vehicle title/registration/license, wills, deeds, insurance documents, medical records, home improvement records, etc.

Photograph your electronicsTake a picture of the back of TVs and other electronics before unplugging everything. It'll jog your memory for where the wires go when you set up in the new home.

Leave clothes on hangersWhile they're still hanging in the closet, group bunches of clothes inside a trash bag for easier unpacking.

Label every boxNote the contents and the room on each box. Label the sides as well as the tops so you can read them when stacked.

Color-code with tapeUse colored packing tape to code each box by room. Use red tape to mark boxes that need to be unpacked first.

Bag your hardwareAs you disassemble furniture, put all screws and hardware in plastic bags. Label each bag and tape it to the furniture, or designate one box for all furniture hardware.

Don't overpackKeep boxes light enough to carry. Pack heavy items in small boxes.

Wrap drawers in plasticStretch plastic wrap over utensil organizers, bins, and drawers you don't want to empty.

Fill the empty spaceFill pots and pans with spices and other kitchen items.

Tape cords to appliancesTape electrical cords underneath the appliances they belong to.

Use what you already ownLaundry baskets, suitcases, buckets, and trash bins all work as boxes.

Cut handles into boxesCut triangles into the sides of boxes about a third of the way down to make handles for easier carrying.

Add padding top and bottomPut extra padding in the bottom of the box and on top of your items. Plastic grocery bags work great for extra cushioning.

Use soft items as wrapSocks, T-shirts, towels, and linens are perfect for packing breakables.

Stack plates verticallyStand plates on their edges to keep them from breaking, and slip a styrofoam plate between each one for extra protection.

Sheathe your knivesSlide knives inside an old oven mitt to prevent injuries.

Wrap everything fragileUse bubble wrap, newspaper, towels, linens, or socks around all breakables.