15 Moving Hacks To Make Your Next Big Move A Breeze

Tips For Not Breaking Things

1. Instead of wrapping plates in newspaper, place disposable foam plates in between each one. Then pack plates vertically, like records. They’ll be less likely to break.
2. Put your drinking glasses in clean socks for extra padding during your move. You have to pack the socks anyway. Might as well put them to work.
3. Same thing with towels. Don’t just pack them in a box — use them to wrap and cushion fragile items.

Tips For Staying Organized

1. Some of the best moving hacks are good old-fashioned ingenuity, but modern technology comes to the rescue, too. When it’s time to move, check out these smartphone apps.
2. Don’t waste time folding up all your clothes. Leave clothes on their hangers and place several hangers in a large garbage bag. Your clothes will be protected and when you arrive at your new place, just hang them up.
3. Pack your tool box last, and take it off the moving truck first. You’ll need it to reassemble all the stuff you had to take apart.  
4. Pack the essential items you’ll need first in a clear plastic bin so you can see what’s inside and tell it apart from the mountain of cardboard boxes. What’s essential? Well, that’s up to you, but it could include paper towels, trash bags, eating utensils, phone chargers, toilet paper, coffee and coffee maker.
5. Label each box with not only what’s inside, but what room it goes into in your new place. It makes unpacking easier. Label the sides of each box, not just the tops, so you can see the writing even if boxes are stacked.
6. If you have to take something apart, keep sandwich bags handy. They are perfect for screws, washers and other small parts. Then tape the sandwich bag to the back of the item they correspond to. Label the contents with a Sharpie.
7. Shoot pictures of your electronics and their cords with a digital camera to be sure you hook them up quickly at your new place.

Tips For Protecting Stuff

1. To prevent your containers with liquid from spilling during your move, remove the bottle cap, place plastic wrap on the lip of the bottle, then place the cap back on.
2. Keep your mattress safe and clean by putting fitted sheets on both sides before it's loaded into the moving truck.

Tips For Settling Into Your New Place

1. If the previous owner’s furniture left behind carpet dents, get them out by placing ice cubes on the divots, let the ice melt, then fluff the fibers up with a coin or spoon.
2. When it’s time to hang your great stuff on the walls and they have exact holes for nails or screws, make a photocopy of the item to use as a guide.
3. Keep drill dust from falling on the floor by sticking a Post-it note on the wall right under where you’ll drill into the wall, and folding the bottom half up to form a V to catch the dust.  

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