Packing Guide Archives - NJ Movers and Storage Company

Packing is not easy. In fact, it’s the task that most people dread because it takes up so much time and energy. It’s all too easy to forget something since you’re spending time disassembling your furniture, organizing your belongings, and prepping your fragile items so they don’t break during the move. Who has time to think about how to pack clothes?

While it might be tempting to just throw your clothes into a bag or box, this haphazard approach can lead to wasted space and time when unpacking. Plus, it leaves all your clothes wrinkled or, in the worst-case scenario, damaged. If you want to make sure your clothes arrive in good condition, the following tips can make that possible.

Declutter Your Old and Unnecessary Clothes

This step might be one of the longest, but there’s no better time to start purging your closet and wardrobe than when you move. While this step might take some time, it’s a lot better to reduce how much you bring with you, as you will have less to pack and unpack.

In order to properly declutter your closet and wardrobe, empty everything so you can see what you have. From there, sort your clothes into three categories: clothes you wear often and want to keep, items you don’t wear but are in good condition, and damaged clothes. Take the time to look carefully at each piece, including dressy and seasonal outfits. With dressy items, unless you are constantly going to fancy parties, you can probably get away with one three-piece suit or black dress.

Clothing Decluttering Checklist (Item Counts)

Clothing Type	Typical Closet Count	Recommended Keep	Donate / Sell
T-Shirts	20–30	10–15	10–15
Jeans	8–12	4–6	4–6
Sweaters	6–10	3–5	3–5
Dresses	6–12	3–6	3–6
Coats / Jackets	5–8	2–4	3–4
Shoes	10–15	5–7	5–8
Formal Wear	4–6	2–3	2–3
Workout Clothes	6–10	4–6	2–4
Seasonal Items	5–10	3–5	2–5

You can choose to donate or sell the lightly worn items you have. If these items are from a brand name, you can probably fetch a good price for them online. Whatever you earn, you can put towards your moving budget. For anything that didn’t sell, donate to a Goodwill store.

Wash Dirty Laundry Before Moving to Your New Home

It might be tempting to leave your dirty laundry in a bag and forget about it until you’re in your new house, but the last thing you’ll want to do is do a load of laundry while unpacking. More importantly, stained or soiled clothes will only get worse as time goes by, and if some of your clothes are particularly stinky, the smell can spread to the rest of the dirty laundry and suitcase.

It might seem like a waste of time, but do all of your laundry the day before you move. It will make unpacking a lot easier. Plus, you’ll need to wash the clothes you donate anyway, so you might as well do another few loads while you’re at it!

Sort Your Clothes

Once you’ve figured out what you’re keeping, the next thing you should do is start sorting your things by season. That way, you can start packing away the clothes you don’t need as early as a month before your move. So if it’s summer, pack away your winter clothes and vice versa.

While you’re at it, sort pieces by type to help you organize your closet better after the move. Put all your pants together, shirts together, dresses, etc. Just make sure to keep all of these items separate for each person in the house. Then label and identify the various boxes and bags with the name of the person and the type of clothes for easier unpacking.

Find the Appropriate Packing Method

Sure, you can throw your clothes into a box, and that might not be the worst idea for more casual items like jeans and t-shirts. However, for items like button-down shirts, dresses, dress pants, etc., you might need to take a different approach. Some options include:

Standard cardboard boxes – these are great for folded clothes like your sweaters, t-shirts, etc.

Wardrobe boxes – perfect for clothes on hangers! You don’t even need to take the items off the hangers, just put them in these boxes. Many professional moving companies in NJ provide one or two wardrobe boxes for free

Suitcases and bags – if you don’t have enough cardboard boxes, these are great alternatives
Vacuum bags – perfect if you need to save space and condense clothes like bulky sweaters and jackets. It’s also a great way to store seasonal clothes, so it doesn’t take up too much space in your closet once you’re settled into your new home.

Organize Folded Attire for the Move

If you’re someone who has trouble folding the laundry when it comes out of the dryer, you might balk at folding your clothes during your move. There’s no getting around it, folding clothes is a labor-intensive process. You can make it easier on yourself, though. Unless your dresser is in very bad condition, you can leave all your foldable items in the drawers and tape them up tightly. You’ll save money on cardboard boxes and time spent packing. Plus, professional NJ movers know how to carry and maneuver large pieces of furniture.

Folding vs. Rolling vs. Vacuum Bag Space Comparison

Method	Space Saved	Best For	Pros	Cons
Flat Fold	20–25% space saved	Shirts, pants, sweaters	Prevents wrinkles; simple	Not the most space-efficient
KonMari Fold	30–40% space saved	T-shirts, activewear	Maximizes visibility; good structure	Takes more time to fold correctly
Military Roll	40–60% space saved	T-shirts, leggings, light items	Very compact; reduces wrinkles	Not ideal for bulky clothing
Vacuum Bags	70–80% space saved	Coats, sweaters, bedding	Maximum compression; great for bulky items	Can wrinkle clothes; requires sealing

However, if you’re not keeping any of your furniture, you will have to pack it. There are two methods of folding your clothes that are easy and efficient:

Flat fold – these are perfect for your sweaters and jeans, and pair well with cardboard boxes and vacuum bags, and are the most traditional way to fold your clothes. Lay the shirt flat, fold the bottom up a few inches, then flip it around. Fold both sleeves toward the center, then fold the bottom half of the shirt.
KonMari Fold – popularized by Mari Kondo, this method is similar to flat fold, but it allows you to see any designs on the shirts, so long as you pack them properly. It’s a fairly straightforward process where you fold one side of a shirt towards the center and repeat on the other side. Then fold the shirt in half lengthwise, and finally fold the shirt in half. You will want your shirt to stand upright to maximize space.
Military roll – use this method for delicate items like shirts and dresses, or if you’re using suitcases or duffel bags. Follow the flat fold method, but instead of folding the bottom half of the shirt, roll from top to bottom.

Protect and Pack Footwear Like a Pro

Don’t throw all your shoes into a duffel bag! Shoes quickly lose shape and can get damaged during the move. Plus, if you have worn all of your shoes before, you’ll be getting whatever dirt, etc., on all of your shoes.

It’s in your best interest to pack your shoes properly, especially your dressier shoes. Stuff the shoes with some packing paper or socks so they keep their shape and wrap them in paper to prevent scuffing. If you have the original shoebox, place it in there and put everything into a small or medium box. It’s okay if you don’t have the original shoebox; you can place the shoes gently in a cardboard box without it.

And don’t ever pack your shoes with your clothes!

Accessories

Don’t toss these in with your clothes! It’s all too easy to lose small accessories like rings, necklaces, neck ties, etc. Instead, back these separately in a small bag or box. If these items are very valuable, you will want to keep these possessions on your person.

Pack a Bag or Suitcase for Moving Day

Don’t pack away all your clothes in boxes. Unless you are super motivated to unpack immediately when you move into your new place, chances are you’ll take a few days to go through all your boxes and bags. In the meantime, the last thing you want to do is root around your boxes to find your pajamas and a change of clothes. This is doubly true if you moved on the weekend and have to go to work on Monday.

So before you tape up all of your boxes, separate all of your essential items into a suitcase or box. When planning what to pack, consider what you would bring to a 2-3 3-day hotel stay. Items like socks, underwear, shirts, pants, pajamas, tooth brush, toiletries, etc. are all necessary, but you might have to pack other things like bedding, pillows, toilet paper, towels, silverware, one or two cups, etc. Don’t overload yourself, of course! Remember, this should be enough for two to three days, not a full month! The hope is that you will be finished unpacking the essentials within that time frame.

Get Ready to Move!

The tips above should help make packing your clothes a lot easier. If all else fails, you could always contact NJ Great Movers and request a partial packing option for your closet and dresser. We’ll handle all the hard work so you don’t have to!

FAQ

Can I pack clothes in plastic bins?

Of course, and it might even be a better option as plastic bins are sturdier than cardboard boxes and weather resistant so you don’t have to worry about your clothes getting wet if it’s raining or snowing during moving day.

What packing materials do I need to pack my clothes?

You should have tape, packing paper, and boxes for starters.

When should I start packing my clothes?

You can start packing your off season and/or dressy clothes as early as a month before your move date! For everything else, start packing your clothes no more than a week or two beforehand.

It doesn’t matter if you’re moving from an apartment to a house or vice versa; there’s one step that you cannot skip, and that’s packing. For most people, packing is the task that they dread the most because it’s time-consuming. Doubly so if you want everything to arrive in one piece at your new home. Luckily, you can make the process easier on yourself by following the packing strategies below. Not only will you save time, but you’ll also save yourself some money in the process.

Set Your Old Belongings Aside

Moving is the perfect time to take stock of everything you own and keep the items you truly want, even if you’re moving from an apartment to a larger home. Unless you’ve lived an incredibly minimalist lifestyle, you probably own a lot of stuff that you don’t need or use that often. The less you have during a move, the cheaper it will be since fewer boxes = less time it takes the NJ movers to load and unload their truck. This is especially important for long-distance moves, as these get calculated by volume, weight, and distance.

While it will be hard to part with your stuff, it’s important to set aside a few days to sort through your belongings. When choosing what items to say goodbye to, ask yourself how often you’ve used them in the past year or two. For expensive items like furniture, you should take into account its condition, whether it will fit in your new home, and if it will match whatever aesthetic you want for your new place. Buying a new couch isn’t cheap, but lugging one to your new home and realising there isn’t a place for it is even more expensive.

Once you’ve separated out all of the items you don’t plan on taking with you, host a garage/yard sale. It’s a great way to make some extra money to pad your moving budget. Of course, you won’t sell everything, so try and donate whatever you can. Items that aren’t in good condition, you should recycle if possible. If not, then throw it out.

Have All the Supplies You Need

There’s nothing worse than starting the packing process only to realise halfway through that you don’t have everything you need. You might think that boxes and some tape are enough, but for a smoother move, you should consider investing in the following:

Bubble wrap, packing paper, and packing peanuts to secure fragile items
Plastic bags to group smaller items together, like toys, pens, etc.
Sharpies to label your boxes
Stretch wrap to secure your dressers’ drawers or keep items together
Mattress bag to keep your mattress from collecting dust and debris
Packing tape to close up your boxes. Don’t skimp, get more than you think you need!
Boxes to pack your items. While you can always try and find free boxes, it might be worth it to purchase boxes specifically designed for moving, as they are more durable. You should also get a variety of sizes to account for the different items you are moving.

Essential Packing Supplies Checklist

Item	Recommended Quantity (1BR / 2BR / 3BR)	Estimated Cost	Purpose
Bubble wrap	50 ft / 100 ft / 150 ft	$15–$30	Protect fragile items
Packing tape	6 rolls / 12 rolls / 18 rolls	$10–$25	Secure boxes
Packing paper	100 sheets / 200 sheets / 300 sheets	$20–$50	Cushion fragile items
Stretch wrap	1 roll / 2 rolls / 3 rolls	$10–$20	Secure furniture drawers
Mattress bag	1 / 2 / 3	$10–$20	Protect the mattress from dirt

Buying all these supplies can put quite a dent in your wallet, so ask around to see if you have friends or family who might have some of these items.

A Fully Organised Inventory List

Before you start packing, you’ll want to know exactly what you plan on bringing with you. A well-organised inventory can help you manage what’s in each box, where each one needs to go in the new house, and keep track of valuable items. If you’re hiring professional movers, they will always request an inventory of items to make sure they don’t forget anything during the move.

Creating an inventory might sound difficult, but it’s a relatively straightforward process. It does require you to keep track of everything you plan on moving, right down to the last nail. For best results, you’ll want to do this while you pack. A good moving inventory lists the following:

Box number to keep track of boxes
Contents of each box
The room where each box came from
Whether items are fragile
Whether items in the box are valuable
Colour code/label used for each box
Picture of fragile/valuable items in specified boxes and market value
Take pictures of your electronic setup so you know how to set everything back up in your new home

Pack Everything in the Best Way

It might sound funny, but there are proper ways to pack a box. In fact, you can train yourself on the best way to pack a box to make the most use of the space while still keeping your items safe. Plus, a well-packed box also makes unpacking a lot easier as everything will be properly organised. If you’re not sure where to get started, below are some useful packing tips:

Use the right box size – heavier items should go in smaller boxes, and lighter items should go into larger boxes. You should also put fragile items in smaller boxes, as you want to reduce the amount of pressure you put on the fragile items.
Put heavy items on the bottom – this sounds like common sense, but many people simply toss everything into a box without considering the weight. If you put heavy items on top, they will crush and/or break the lighter items. So, pack heavy and bulky items carefully.
Don’t leave gaps in the box – these gaps can jostle your belongings, which can lead to damaged items. Fill any holes with packing paper, towels, etc.
Tape boxes securely – use more tape than you think you need and tape both the top and bottom. Then wrap a couple of times around the edges. You really don’t want the boxes opening up on the top or bottom during the move.
Buy speciality boxes – They might cost a bit more, but things like wardrobe boxes, speciality boxes for art, dishes/glassware, and televisions are designed to provide an extra layer of protection. If you don’t know where to find these boxes, the NJ moving company you use might have some.

Another useful hint is to pack similar items together – books with books, toys with toys, etc. Go a step further and organise by room. So if you have books for the living room and books for your bedroom, put them in separate boxes. It might seem like a hassle, but you’ll be able to unpack a lot faster when you put the effort into the initial packing.

Cost Comparison: DIY vs Professional Packing

Packing Type	Estimated Cost (2BR)	Time Required	Pros	Cons
DIY (All supplies purchased)	$150–$300	10–15 hrs	Full control, cheaper	Time-consuming, physically demanding
Partial Professional Packing	$300–$600	3–6 hrs	Saves time, professional handling	Costs more than DIY
Full Professional Packing	$600–$1,200	2–4 hrs	Stress-free, best for fragile items	Expensive

And sometimes the right way to pack is not to pack! For example, if you have clothes on hangers, don’t take them off. Instead, bundle the clothes together and then wrap them in a garbage bag to protect them. For clothes in dressers, simply wrap the drawers tightly with stretch wrap.

You’ll also want to pack a separate box specifically for essentials like clothes for 2-3 days, toiletries, bedding, toys for children, food for pets, etc. That way, you won’t have to dig through all the boxes to find exactly what you need, and you can take your time unpacking since you already have the essentials easily accessible.

Need Expert Assistance

If you’re strapped for time, you can’t go wrong with hiring professionals. Luckily, many moving companies also offer packing services. Naturally, it will cost you more money, but if you simply don’t have the time or energy, it’s a great option. Plus, you can have them pack up certain rooms or areas instead of the entire house to save some money. Sure, you’ll still need to do some packing if you choose this option, but it can reduce your overall workload significantly.

The reason it’s better to hire professionals than to ask friends is that they know exactly how to pack your boxes and will handle each item with care. Your friends or family members won’t have as much experience and knowledge, so they could inadvertently pack your boxes incorrectly. Or perhaps they’ll simply jumble all of your belongings together so you don’t know where anything is. Obviously, those who volunteer to help mean well, but they don’t always know the best practices. It’s well worth it to find some money in your budget to hire packers.

Make Packing Less Stressful

Following the packing strategies above does mean you’re putting in more upfront work. However, it is well worth the time and effort, as you won’t have to worry as much when you’re unpacking. And if you don’t want to deal with the hassle, then you can call in professional NJ packers like us!

FAQ

How can I make packing more fun for the family?

Liven up the process by playing some music. Make sure to have plenty of snacks available, and don’t forget to take some breaks. With kids, have the younger children pack some of their toys and clothes. With older kids/teens, they can pack their room.

What happens if a box breaks during the move?

If you’re using professional movers, they will provide a new box and re-pack it. This might cost you some extra money, though!

What do I do if the movers lose a box?

Let the moving company know immediately. If they are not able to locate the box, they will then reimburse you. All items are covered by basic moving insurance, which provides $0.60 per item per pound. You can also pay extra for full service, which is great if you have more valuable items.

Tag: Packing Guide

How to Pack Your Clothes for Moving