How to Pack Clothes for a Move
Keeping things organized while packing will help ensure you have an easier transition to your new home. It helps to know how to pack clothes for a move. Before you start packing, you'll want to sort through all of your clothing and declutter any clothes you no longer need. It will be helpful to get rid of the following items:
- Clothes you won’t need if you’re moving to a different climate or from the country to the city (and vice-versa)
- Clothes that you or your children have outgrown
- Clothes that are worn out or torn
- Clothes that you just won’t wear
You could sell it at a garage sale (but only if your profit will be worth the time and energy, and you want to do the work), online, or to vintage shops. Most importantly, you could donate it to charity. However, if they are ripped or damaged, they should be thrown out.
- After you’ve decided what to keep, you’ll need to start thinking about how you plan to move these closet items. You can start prepping for the move by gathering necessary closet moving supplies. Here are the main items you will need when packing clothes for a move.
- Cardboard boxes – These boxes will be used for packing folded clothing. Fortunately, you can find them just about anywhere. From online stores and marketplaces to big box stores and local recycling centers, there’s no shortage of cardboard boxes
- Wardrobe boxes – Wardrobe boxes will come in handy when packing clothes on hangers and items that wrinkle easily. These specialty moving boxes can typically be found on Amazon.com and in Lowe’s stores.
- Suitcases – Suitcases are an excellent, low-cost way to pack folded clothing, shoes and more. If you already have suitcases, we highly recommend using them during your next move.
- Duffel bags – Have duffel bags in your closet already? These small bags are a great way to pack folded clothes and shoes. Just be sure to roll your clothes when using duffel bags to move.
- Vacuum or compression bags – These reusable storage bags are a great way to condense clothing items while also protecting them from the elements. You can purchase vacuum and compression bags from a number of stores including Target and Walmart.
Other moving supplies that may come in handy when packing and moving clothing items include: garment bags, packing paper, hat boxes, plastic bins, shoe boxes and plastic bags.
After gathering moving supplies and strategizing packing methods, it’s time to start sorting through all the clothes you plan to move. Sorting closet items into categories is one of the best ways to keep everything as organized as possible throughout the move. As you begin to sort through your clothes, use one of these three categories.
- Sort by season – Sorting clothes by season not only helps you stay organized during a move but also prevents clutter from accumulating after the move. For instance, if you move in the winter, you’ll only need to unpack cold weather garments. Summer, spring and fall clothing can remain packed inside boxes and possibly stored inside a storage unit. This will keep your closet clutter-free in the future.
- Sort by pieces – Prefer to pack by item? Try sorting your closet by pieces. This means packing pants with pants, shirts with shirts, shorts with shorts, etc. Once you move, this will make it easier to find certain clothing pieces and will also make the unpacking process much more efficient.
- Keep everything separated for each person – Moving with a family? It’s important to keep everyone’s clothing separate. Each person in the family should have their own labeled boxes and supplies. Sorting by person will make packing and unpacking an easier experience for everyone.
Happy packing!
