Pack Like a Pro
If you decide to do your own packing, it can be a real money-saver. But it does take extra time and energy to get the job done right. With the right materials and expert guidance from Rainbow Movers, you can pack your whole house successfully and efficiently.
To get started, make sure you have ample supplies of:
- Tissue paper
- Packing paper (plain newsprint)
- 2" packing tape
- Permanent markers
- Professional quality boxes (available from Rainbow Movers)
- Utility knife and scissors
It’s All in the Boxes
Using new, quality packing materials specifically designed for moving can ensure that your belongings arrive safely. Rainbow Movers have a wide range of boxes and professional packing materials available, including:
- 1.5 cu. ft. cartons - Small carton for heavy items such as books, files, music CDs and DVDs/video tapes
- 3.0 cu. ft. cartons - Medium utility carton often used for pots and pans, toys, and small appliances
- 4.5 cu. ft. cartons - For bulky items, such as linens, towels or toys
- 6.0 cu. ft. cartons - For large, bulky, or lightweight articles, such as pillows or large lampshades
- Wardrobe cartons - A “portable closet” that keeps clothes and draperies hanging on a built-in bar
- Mirror cartons - Several sizes of telescoping cartons for framed pictures, mirrors or glass
- Mattress cartons - Available in queen/king, double, single (twin) and crib sizes. A separate carton is necessary for box springs
- Dishpack (or china barrel) - Heavy duty carton used for dishes/china, crystal and glassware.
- Double-walled cartons - Extra protective cartons made especially for fine china, crystal, and other high-value, hard to replace items.
- Stretchwrap - A special plastic covering that safely adheres to furniture and protects from snags, tears and dirt.
Packing Preparation
When packing yourself, have everything properly packed and ready for loading the evening before moving day. Leave out only the things you will need that night, the next morning and immediately at your destination for last-minute packing. Things like toiletries, a change of clothes and breakfast are good examples of what to leave out.
Basic guidelines to make packing a snap:
- Make a schedule, allowing enough time leading up to moving day.
- Pack items in the basement, garage, or attic first - these items usually are not needed right away.
- Stay organized by packing room by room.
- Designate work areas in each room.
- When a room is completed, sort cartons by light, medium, and heavy. Limit your heaviest cartons to 50 pounds each.
Clearly label cartons or items that you do not want Rainbow Movers to handle.
Pack for Success
Your self-packed cartons will need to be inspected by your Rainbow Movers Professional Mover before they can be loaded. If items are improperly packed or cartons are susceptible to damage, they may need to repack them before they can be safely transported. This is to ensure the safety of your belongings.
It’s recommended that Rainbow Movers' Professional Movers handle the following:
- Marble or glass tabletops
- Heavy wall ornaments
- Mirrors 40" x 60" or larger
- Other bulky or fragile items like large trophies, statues, chandeliers, etc.
- Pool tables
- Major appliances
A Few More Suggestions for a Successful Pack
Here are a few more things to keep in mind when packing for your upcoming move:
- Empty drawers of breakables, spillables, non-transportable items and anything that would puncture or damage other items.
- Keep all parts or pairs of things together - for example, curtain rod hangers, mirror bolts and other small hardware items should be placed in plastic bags and taped securely to the article to which they belong.
- Pack small, fragile, individually wrapped items separately or a few together in small boxes, cushioning with crushed or shredded paper. Place small boxes in a single large box, filling in spaces with crushed paper.
- Put a special mark (the number 1, or the letter A) on cartons you want to unpack first when you reach your destination.
- Use newspaper only for cushioning; never place it against items, as the ink will rub off. It can even get embedded into fine china, so be careful!
What Not to Pack
You should transport valuable and irreplaceable items with you rather than on the truck. In addition, there are several items that can not be put on the truck, such as explosives, compressed gases, flammable liquids and solids, oxidizers, poisons, corrosives as well as radioactive and other hazardous materials.
Items we cannot transport for you:
- Nail polish remover
- Paints and paint thinners
- Propane cylinders
- Automotive repair and maintenance chemicals
- Radio-pharmaceuticals
- Matches
- Lighter fluid
- Gasoline
- Fireworks
- Oxygen bottles
Other items not recommended for transport on in our vehicles:
- Firearms
- Family photos
- Food in glass jars and perishable foods
- Prescription drugs needed for immediate use
- Collections (coins, baseball card, stamps, etc.)
- Important personal papers (deeds, wills, etc.)
- Negotiable papers (bonds, stocks, certificates, etc.)
- Jewelry
- Cash
- Moving Documents
If you have any questions, just ask your Relocation Consultant. We also suggest that you transport items of personal importance or sentimental value with you.
Labeling Hints
Each and every carton should be labeled. This will not only help our Moving Professionals, but also you when you begin to unpack.
- Use a broad, felt-tipped marker.
- Clearly mark the contents and the room it will be placed in.
- Indicate "FRAGILE" on delicates; "THIS END UP" where appropriate.
- If available, include the bill of lading number from your moving company on every box.
- As you finish with each moving carton, list the contents on the side of the carton (for easy viewing while stacked) and in a special notebook. You might want to number and/or code the moving cartons as well.
- Indicate your name and the room to which each moving carton should be delivered at destination. Tape a sign on the door of each room at destination corresponding to the carton labels so movers can get the cartons into the proper rooms quickly.
- Put a special mark (the number 1, or the letter A) on moving cartons you want to unpack first at destination.
Other Tips From the Pros
- Start with out-of-season items. Next, pack things used infrequently.
- Empty drawers of breakables, spillables, non-transportable items and anything that would puncture or damage other items while moving.
- Pack similar items together. Do not pack a delicate china figurine in the same moving carton with cast-iron frying pans, for example.
- Keep all parts or pairs of things together. For example, curtain rod hangers, mirror bolts, and other small hardware items should be placed in plastic bags and taped or tied securely to the article to which they belong.
- Wind electrical cords, fastening them so they do not dangle.
- Wrap items individually in clean paper; use tissue paper, paper towels, or even facial tissue for fine china, crystal and delicate items. Colored wrapping paper draws attention to very small things that might otherwise get lost in a moving carton. Use a double layer of newsprint for a good outer wrapping.
- Place a two- or three-inch layer of crushed paper in the bottom of cartons for cushioning.
- Build up the layers, with the heaviest things on the bottom, medium-weight next, and lightest on top.
- As each layer is completed, fill in empty spaces firmly with crushed paper and add more crushed paper to make a level base for the next layer, or use sheets of cardboard cut from moving cartons as dividers.
- Cushion well with crushed paper; towels and lightweight blankets may also be used for padding and cushioning. The more fragile the item, the more cushioning needed. Be sure no sharp points, edges or rims are left uncovered.
- Pack small, fragile, individually-wrapped items separately or a few together in small boxes, cushioning with crushed or shredded paper. Place small boxes in a single large box, filling in spaces with crushed paper.
- Avoid overloading moving cartons, but strive for a firm pack that will prevent items from shifting; the cover should close easily without force, but should not bend inward.
- Seal moving cartons tightly with tape except for those containing items that must be left open for the van line operator's inspection.
