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Moving Supplies I Wish I Had When I First Packed Up My Apartment
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items My first move was a disaster. Unlabeled boxes everywhere, tape that wouldn't stick, and I couldn't find my coffee maker for three days. By my third move, I had a system that cut unpacking time in half. This is everything I actually used, from color-c...
Sections
7
Color Coded Markers and Labeling Supplies
Packing Tape and Dispensers That Actually Work
Moving Boxes and Storage Containers
Bubble Wrap and Cushioning Materials
Furniture Protection and Covers
Cleaning Supplies for Move In and Move Out
Color Coded Markers and Labeling Supplies
I used to scribble ‘kitchen stuff’ on every box in the same black marker. Then I spent two hours digging through 14 boxes for a spatula. Color coding by room changed everything.
Grab one color per room and suddenly you know exactly which box goes where. I assigned red to kitchen, blue to bedroom, and unpacking took half the time it used to.
Markers (Legacy) | Maps JavaScript API
Stick these on the side of every box so you can see the color even when they're stacked. Saved me from opening 30 boxes looking for towels during my last move.
Avery, Printable Color-Coding Labels, 3/4" Round
Slap one on each room's door so your movers know where to drop boxes. My brother-in-law stopped asking ‘where does this go?’ every thirty seconds.
Post-it Super Sticky Notes Limited Edition Pack
Use this to attach printed labels or inventory sheets to box tops. Way more reliable than the packing tape method I tried that peeled off in the moving truck.
Scotch-Mount™ Indoor Double-Sided Mounting Tape
For anyone who moves more than once every few years, this pays for itself. I labeled storage bins, shelves, and pantry containers all in one afternoon.
Brother P-touch PT-D220 Home/Office Everyday Label Maker
Keep these in your ‘open first’ box for last-minute labeling. The chisel tip is readable from across the room, which matters when you're directing movers from the doorway.
BAZIC Permanent Marker Chisel Tip
Write down which box number has what inside. Sounds obsessive until you need your phone charger at 11pm and you find it in under a minute.
Mead Astronaut Composition Notebook, Wide Ruled
Packing Tape and Dispensers That Actually Work
Cheap tape cost me a box of dishes once. The bottom fell out on the driveway. I don't mess around with tape anymore.
Switch to this if you've ever had a box pop open mid-carry. The dispenser cuts clean every time and one roll handles about 8 to 10 medium boxes.
Scotch, Heavy Duty Packaging Tape, Clear, 1.88 in. x 25.6 yd
This is the tape that doesn't fold over on itself and make you want to scream. Pulls off the roll smooth, sticks on the first try, every single time.
Duck EZ Start Packing Tape, 1.88 in. x 54.6 yd., Clear
Use this on your heaviest boxes, books, tools, anything over 30 pounds. I double-stripped the bottom of my book boxes and nothing budged.
Gorilla 6034015 Heavy Duty Packing Tape with Dispenser
The grip pattern on this tape is wild. I packed fragile stuff with one strip instead of wrapping tape around the whole box three times like I used to.
Scotch, Box Lock Packaging Tape, 1.88 in. x 25.6 yd., Clear
Wrap a strip around your ‘open first’ boxes so they stand out. Bright pink screams ‘find me immediately’ when everything else is brown cardboard.
The Original Duck Tape Brand Duct Tape, Neon Pink
Slap this on anything breakable instead of writing FRAGILE by hand on four sides. Movers actually noticed it, which felt like a small miracle.
Tape Logic Pre-Printed Carton Sealing Tape "Fragile
Keep a spare dispenser in your car. I learned this the hard way when I needed to reseal a box in the parking lot and had nothing but my teeth.
Universal Handheld Adhesive Tape Dispenser
Moving Boxes and Storage Containers
Grocery store boxes are free but they're also weird sizes that don't stack. Uniform boxes changed my entire packing game.
These come with handles that actually hold weight. Carried a full box of books up two flights without my fingers going numb for the first time.
Bankers Box, Moving Boxes, Small 20pk, Kraft Brown
Perfect size for kitchen stuff and bathroom supplies. Not too heavy when full, and they stack without leaning like a Jenga tower.
Pen+Gear Medium Moving Boxes, 22 in. L x 13 in. W x 15
For anyone who wants to skip cardboard entirely, these survive multiple moves. I've used the same four totes for closet stuff across three apartments.
Sterilite 30 Gal Extra-Large Plastic Storage Bin
Hang your clothes directly from closet to box. I showed up at my new place and everything was wrinkle-free. Skipped the ironing completely.
Bankers Box SmoothMove Wardrobe Moving Boxes
Toss bathroom supplies and cleaning products in these. The clear sides mean you can see exactly what's inside without opening a single lid.
IRIS 5 Qt Stack & Pull Box, Clear
Dedicated these to heavy items like canned food and books. Small box plus heavy stuff means you can actually lift it without throwing out your back.
(5 pack) Pen + Gear Small Recycled Moving Box
Pair these with your color-coded labels for long-term storage after the move. I use them in my closet now and can find holiday decorations in seconds.
(4 pack) Sterilite 66 Quart Large Latching Storage Bin
Bubble Wrap and Cushioning Materials
I wrapped my grandmother's vase in a bath towel once and it still cracked. Proper cushioning isn't optional if you own anything you'd cry about breaking.
Wrap every single glass and frame with at least two layers. I got lazy on my second move and paid for it with a cracked picture frame.
Duck Brand Small 1/8" Bubble Cushioning Wrap, 12" x 200'
Stuff this between plates and bowls. Way better than newspaper because it doesn't leave ink stains on your white dishes.
Pen+Gear Packing Paper, White, 24x24
Pour these around oddly shaped items that bubble wrap can't cover. My ceramic lamp survived a cross-country move thanks to a box full of these.
uBoxes White Packing Peanuts 3.5 Cubic Feet Lightweight
Try this for wrapping electronics. It grips onto itself so you don't need tape, and it cushions better than crumpled newspaper.
Scotch Cushion Lock Protective Wrap, 30 ft. Roll
Slide one between each plate in your stack. My entire dish set survived a move where the truck hit a pothole hard enough to spill my coffee.
Pen+Gear Cushion Foam Pouches
Toss small fragile items like ornaments or jewelry in these. Way faster than wrapping each piece individually when you're packing at midnight.
Duck Brand Kraft Bubble Mailers: 10-1/2 in. x 15 in.
Suck the air out of pillows and comforters. I fit an entire queen bedding set into one moving box. Freed up so much truck space.
Customer reviews for Hefty Shrink-Pak Vacuum Seal Bags
Furniture Protection and Covers
My couch arrived at the new place with a giant scratch from sliding around in the truck. Spent twenty bucks on covers for my next move and everything looked perfect.
Get a friend and use these instead of bear-hugging your dresser down the stairs. My back survived moving day for the first time ever.
Shoulder Dolly 2-Person Lifting and Moving System
Roll this across hardwood floors before dragging anything heavy. Saved my security deposit when I moved out of my last rental.
Ram Board Home Edition, Heavy Duty 36 inch x 50 feet
Wrap this around dresser drawers so they stay shut during the move. Also keeps couch cushions together. One roll lasts an entire apartment.
Duck Brand 20 in. x 1000 ft. Clear Stretch Wrap Film
Slide your mattress into this before it goes on the truck. Mine picked up a mystery stain during my first move and I never made that mistake again.
UBMOVE, Queen Mattress Storage Bags
Toss these over table corners and chair legs. My dining table has zero new scratches after two moves, which feels like beating the odds.
(2 pack) Pen+Gear Furniture Cover
Stick these on every furniture leg before you set things down in the new place. Prevents scratches on floors from day one instead of discovering them at move-out.
Self-Stick Furniture Round Felt Pads for Hard Surfaces
Drape this over anything you care about. I wrapped my TV in two of these and wedged it between mattresses. Not a scratch.
Stalwart Cotton-Filled Heavy-Duty Moving Blanket
Cleaning Supplies for Move In and Move Out
Nobody tells you that you need to clean both apartments on the same day. Having a dedicated cleaning kit ready to go saved me from a frantic Target run at 9pm.
Wipe down every shelf, counter, and cabinet in the new place before you unpack. You don't know what the last tenant left behind and you don't want to.
Clorox Disinfecting Wipes, 75 Count, Crisp Lemon Scent
Run this across every floor before furniture goes in. It's the one window where floors are totally empty and you can actually clean them properly.
Swiffer WetJet Hardwood and Floor Spray Mop
Scuff marks on walls from moving furniture in? These take them off in seconds. Saved me from repainting a hallway wall at my old apartment.
Mr. Clean, Magic Eraser Extra Durable Cleaning Pads
Hit every mirror and window in the new place. Amazing how much better a room looks when the glass is clean. Takes five minutes per room.
Windex Glass & Window Cleaner Spray, 23 Oz
Keep one in your cleaning kit specifically for move day. I scrubbed the old oven, the new bathroom sink, and the fridge all with one and it held up fine.
Scrub Daddy Variety Pack 8 Count
You will generate an absurd amount of trash on moving day. Bubble wrap, tape scraps, packing paper. Have way more bags than you think you need.
Glad ForceFlex 13-Gallon Drawstring Tall Kitchen Trash
Spray down counters in the new kitchen before putting anything away. Smells great and you start fresh without inheriting someone else's crumbs.
method, All-Purpose Cleaner Spray, Pink Grapefruit, 28 fl oz
First Night Box and Survival Kit Supplies
Pack one box you open before anything else. Toilet paper, phone charger, snacks, sheets. I forgot this once and slept on a bare mattress eating crackers off a paper towel.
Toss these in your first-night box for remotes, flashlights, and anything else that dies at the worst possible moment. My smoke detector started beeping at 2am during my last move.
Energizer MAX Double A Alkaline Batteries (24 Pack)
Keep this in your pocket on moving day. You'll need it when the sun goes down and you haven't figured out which switch controls which light yet.
Mainstays LED Solar Powered Motion Outdoor Security
You'll sign paperwork, jot down notes, and write your new address more times than you expect. Having pens accessible beats digging through a box.
Paper Mate Ballpoint Pens, Write Bros. Black Ink
Eat off these for the first two days while your real plates are buried somewhere. No shame in pizza on paper plates while sitting on the floor.
Dixie Ultra Paper Plates, MMF7 6 7/8 Inch
Water, coffee, juice, whatever you need while your glasses are packed. I survived on gas station coffee in these cups for my first 48 hours.
Red Solo Party Plastic Disposable Cups, 18 oz, 50 Count
Bring this filled with coffee on moving day. It stays hot for hours and you won't have to stop for a drive-through when you're already running behind.
Classic trigger travel mug 500ml 500ml/16oz Emerald
Blisters, paper cuts, bumped shins. Moving day injuries are small but annoying. Having bandages and ibuprofen within reach beats searching five boxes.
First Aid Only Comprehensive 260-Piece All-Purpose