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Moving Supplies I Wish I Had When I First Packed a Whole Apartment
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items My first move was a disaster. Drawers flew open in the truck, boxes collapsed, and I lost a lamp I actually liked. If you're staring at an apartment full of stuff wondering how to get it across town without breaking half of it, this is the list I bui...
Sections
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Stretch Wrap and Tape That Keep Furniture From Falling Apart in the Truck
Boxes and Containers That Won't Collapse Under Pressure
Padding and Protection So Nothing Shows Up Broken
Labels and Markers So You Actually Find Things After the Move
Tools and Small Gear That Save You on Moving Day
Stretch Wrap and Tape That Keep Furniture From Falling Apart in the Truck
Dresser drawers sliding open mid-move was my villain origin story. I spent 20 minutes on the highway shoulder shoving clothes back in. Never again.
Wrap this around your dresser three or four times and those drawers will not budge. Wish someone had told me this before my first move when socks were flying everywhere in the U-Haul.
Duck Brand 20 in. x 1000 ft. Clear Stretch Wrap Film
Keep a couple rolls in your back pocket on moving day. Boxes that I sealed with cheap tape split open going down stairs. These hold even when you overstuff like I always do.
Scotch Heavy Duty Packaging Tape, 3" Core, Clear
Grab this if you're the person who always fights with tape and ends up with a crumpled mess. The dispenser actually works, which felt like a small miracle at 11pm the night before my move.
Duck Brand 1.88 in x 55.5 yd EZ Start Packaging Tape
Use the wider roll for couches, mattresses, and anything bulky. I wrapped my IKEA bookshelf and it survived a bumpy ride across two states without a single scratch.
Goodwrappers Stretch Wrap,Blown,Standard Duty,PK4
Toss a pack in your bag for sealing weird-shaped boxes or taping down loose flaps. They peel off like stickers so you don't need a dispenser. Perfect for the friend who shows up to help with zero supplies.
Duck General Purpose Packing Tape, 1.88 in. x 55 yd., Clear
Stick this on the inside of drawers to keep small stuff from rattling around. I used it to hold down a jewelry tray that would have been a tangled nightmare otherwise.
Gorilla Heavy Duty Mounting Tape
Boxes and Containers That Won't Collapse Under Pressure
I once stacked five boxes of books in a regular cardboard box. It lasted about four seconds. Picking the right container saves your back and your stuff.
These have actual handles that don't rip off when the box is heavy. I moved 30 of these last time and not a single one gave out. Stock up before your move date sneaks up on you.
Bankers Smooth Move Classic Moving and Storage Boxes
Use these for anything you want to keep after the move too. I packed my winter coats in four of them and now they live neatly in my closet instead of garbage bags.
Sterilite 18 Gallon Large Storage Bin, Plastic
Perfect size for kitchen stuff without making the box so heavy you throw out your back. I learned this lesson carrying a large box of cast iron pans up three flights.
Bankers Box, Moving Boxes, 18" x 15" x 14", Kraft Recycled
Toss bathroom and medicine cabinet stuff in here. Being able to see through the sides means you're not opening every box at midnight looking for your toothbrush.
IRIS USA 19 Qt Stack & Pull Clear Box
Grab a bundle of these for books and heavy items. They're cheap, they fold flat when you're done, and they held up better than the random boxes I used to beg for at the grocery store.
Pen+Gear Medium Moving Boxes, 22 in. L x 13 in. W x 15
Throw pillows, comforters, and stuffed animals go in these. I used to just toss bedding loose in the truck and it always ended up dirty or wet. These seal tight and stack easily.
Heavy Duty Storage Bags for Home Organization
Padding and Protection So Nothing Shows Up Broken
I unwrapped a box of plates after my second move and heard that awful clinking sound. Three of my favorites were cracked. Packing paper costs less than replacing dishes.
Wrap every single plate and glass individually. It sounds tedious but it takes five seconds each and saves you from that gut-punch moment when you open a box of shattered mugs.
UBMOVE Packing Paper Newsprint for Moving
Keep this for anything fragile and sentimental. I wrapped a ceramic vase my grandma gave me in three layers and it survived being at the bottom of a stack. Worth every penny.
Duck Brand Original Clear Bubble Wrap Cushioning
Slide these between plates and bowls for extra cushion. Way faster than wrapping each one in paper, and great for the night-before panic packing session we all end up doing.
Foam Packing Pouches, 50 Pack 12 Inch x 12 InchWrap
Grab this if you have a full set of dishes and zero patience. It comes with dividers already sized for plates and glasses. Saved me about an hour compared to wrapping everything by hand.
Pratt Retail Specialties Dish Packing and Moving Kit HDDK
Use big sheets to wrap lamps, picture frames, and anything oddly shaped. I crumpled up extra sheets as void fill in boxes too. Way better than using old newspapers that leave ink on everything.
Duck Brand Flourish Recycled Kraft Packing Paper: 30 in. x
Try this for electronics and small appliances. It grips around items without tape and cushions better than crumpled paper. I used it on my coffee grinder and it arrived without a scratch.
Scotch Cushion Lock Protective Wrap, 30 ft. Roll
Labels and Markers So You Actually Find Things After the Move
Nothing worse than needing a pan on night one and opening fourteen boxes labeled ‘kitchen stuff.’ A little labeling goes a long way when you're exhausted and starving.
Assign each room a color and slap a dot on every box. Movers or friends helping can just match colors to rooms without asking you where everything goes fifty times.
Avery® Removable Neon Color-coding Labels
Keep these everywhere on moving day. I always lose the one marker I have and end up writing on boxes with a pen that doesn't show up. Buy the 12 pack and scatter them around.
Sharpie Permanent Markers, Fine Point, Black, 12 Count
Print your new address on these ahead of time for anything you're shipping separately. Also handy for labeling boxes with a detailed list of contents instead of just scribbling ‘misc.’
Avery Shipping Labels, 2" x 4", White, 250 Labels (5263)
Stick one on each room's door at the new place with the room name. Helpers can read them from across the house and you don't have to yell directions while carrying a couch.
Post-it, Super Sticky Big Notes, 11x11 in, Bright Yellow, 1 Pad
Use strips of this on furniture to mark which shelf goes where during reassembly. It peels off clean so you won't leave residue on your wood furniture like I did with masking tape once.
Scotch Blue Painter's Tape, 1.88 in. x 60 yd.
For the organized friend who wants printed labels on every box. Sounds extra, but I borrowed one last move and unpacking took half the time because I knew exactly what was in each box.
Brother P-touch PT-D220 Home and Office Label Maker
Tools and Small Gear That Save You on Moving Day
Halfway through my last move I realized I had packed my box cutter inside a sealed box. Learn from my mistakes and keep a small kit accessible the entire day.
Keep this in your pocket all day, not in a box. You'll use it to open packages, cut tape, trim bubble wrap, and about thirty other things. I go through two blades per move easily.
Stanley Quick Change Retractable Utility Knife, Case of 6
Slide these under heavy dressers and bookshelves instead of dragging them across the floor. My old apartment charged me for scratched hardwood. These would have saved me that deposit.
Slipstick, Furniture Sliders, 3-1/2 Inch
Pair up with a friend and carry heavy stuff with your legs instead of your back. My buddy and I moved a washer up a flight of stairs without wanting to cry for the first time ever.
Shoulder Dolly 2-Person Lifting and Moving System
Toss this in your glovebox for the drive to the new place. When you get there and need to start slicing open boxes immediately, you'll be glad it's not buried in a random container.
Milwaukee Folding Utility Knife with Blade Storage
Drape these over wood furniture and anything with a finish you care about. I skipped this once and my dining table arrived with a gouge from the truck wall. Never again.
Best Sellers In Moving Blankets
Bring this for disassembling bed frames and removing door handles that block furniture. Keep it in your back pocket, not the toolbox. You will need it at least six times on moving day.
Hyper Tough 4-in-1 Mini Screwdriver, Steel, Black, 1/8 in