24 Moving Hacks to Simplify Your Move

Whether you are traveling across town or across the country, making the most of your time and resources is critical to a safe and economical move. And while relocating is an exciting time, the moving process can sometimes feel overwhelming.

To help streamline your move, Penske has put together a list of best practices and reminders to keep you on track. From packaging and moving tools to creating timelines, these moving hacks improve efficiency and protect the things that are important to you.

12. Bag up any small parts.

Discover useful ideas around organization and visibility that will help you before, during and after your move. Learn how to use common household goods to protect items during the move. Even if you feel like you have the moving routine down well, you're sure to learn a few things along the way, like do you know how to pack a tie or to make sure the television remote doesn't get lost?

For over 50 years, Penske has delivered confidence and we want you to be in confident in your next move. Make the most of your time with these Penske moving hacks and make sure your stuff leaves your old place and arrives at its new destination the way it is intended.

Moving Hacks Quick Guide

Need to access our 24 moving hacks at a glance? Check them out here:

1.Start with the closets.
Pack up any out-of-season clothes first.

2.Try the "30-minute" rule.
If your move isn't coming for a few weeks, spread out your workload by packing a few boxes for 30 minutes each day.

3.Consider overlapping move dates.
If you're not moving far, don't vacate your current residence until a week or two after you move into your new place to give yourself some breathing room.

4.Create a packing supply center.
Find one place to store the essentials: packing tape, permanent marker, scissors or utility knife and packing material.

5.Go room by room.
Marking boxes by room will help you (or your helpers) know exactly where each box goes once they arrive in your new home.

6.Create three piles.
Donate, recycle or trash. If you haven't used an item in a year, consider whether you really need to move it.

7.Use color coding.
Color code your boxes to easily identify your items. Label boxes on both the top and sides so they're easy to find.

8.Try clear plastic storage boxes.
They make it easy for you to know what's inside each one.

9.Separate bowls with coffee filters.
They provide a great cushion to prevent breakage.

10.Use Styrofoam plates between ceramic plates.
Make sure your serving sets arrive scratch-free.

11.Use hand towels as packing materials.
They're great to wrap around fragile items, cutlery and other small or sharp objects.

12.Bag up any small parts.
Removing table legs or taking apart bed frames? Put the hardware in a small plastic bag and tape it to the object.

13.Take a picture of the back of the TV before disconnecting any wires.
That way you'll know how to re-wire it in your new place.

14.Tape the TV remote to the back of the TV.
This will help ensure it won't get lost.

15.Hang jewelry on toilet paper rolls.
Keep necklaces, bracelets or anklets from tangling.

16.Take pictures of wall hangings.
Then you can hang them in the same positions in your new space.

17.Hang or roll your clothes.
It's a great way to save space. A garbage bag over hanging clothes makes for an easy pack-up job. Or consider purchasing wardrobe boxes from Penske to easily move and protect your clothing.

18.Don't fold your ties.
There are two ways to pack ties: on or off a tie rack. If you pack them off the rack, you should roll the ties, not fold them.

19.Use your dresser drawers.
You don't need to remove them unless they're overly heavy. You can use straps to keep them in place. If you remove full drawers, use plastic wrap to cover the contents.

20.Try a plastic wardrobe bar.
They fit in the back seat of your car, giving you more room in your moving truck.

21.Cover all liquids.
Use plastic wrap before putting the cap on.

22.Put the toaster in a plastic bag.
Keep those crumbs away from other items.

23.Pack a cooler.
That way you'll have cool drinks and snacks on moving day. Put the cooler in your car or on the floor of your moving truck.

24.Create a moving day toolkit.
Include a hammer, screwdriver, nails, screws, cleaning supplies—those things you'll need on Day 1. Pack it last and unload it first.

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