Clothing is one of the items frequently left until the last minute during a move. In many cases, it’s stuffed hurriedly into bags, boxes, and plastic containers. Clothing may be more durable than your furniture and appliances, but it still requires careful preparation in order to arrive safely. To make the packing process as smooth as possible, we’ll briefly explain how to pack your clothes, what techniques to use, what strategies to follow, and what you’ll need to ensure everything arrives in good condition.
Declutter Your Wardrobe
Before packing everything up, go through your dressers and closets and pick out any items you no longer wear. Shipping rates are determined by weight and volume, as well as distance, so packing less is one of the best ways to save money. If you’re having trouble deciding what to toss out, the general rule of thumb is that if you haven’t worn something in over a year, you probably don’t need it.
Rather than taking your unused clothing out to the dumpster, consider organizing a yard sale instead. It’s a great way to get rid of unwanted items while making a few bucks at the same time. Donating to charity is another good option. Groups such as the Salvation Army and Habitat for Humanity are always happy to accept used clothes, as long as they’re clean and intact.
Wash Clothing Before You Pack It
Always wash and dry your clothes before boxing them. Dirty clothes often carry sweat, oil, mildew, and food particles. Placing them together in a dark, confined space normally compounds these issues, locking in stains and smells. Worse, there’s a chance they could transfer grime, spores, or allergens to clean clothes packed alongside them, creating an even bigger headache later on.
If you don’t have time to wash everything, pack your dirty clothes separately, to prevent them from contaminating the rest of your wardrobe. Vacuum sealed bags are an ideal choice because they fully contain dirt and moisture, so the rest of your clothes remain fresh.
Sort By Season and Category
Organizing your clothes might seem like a chore, but it saves time in the long run. It means that instead of rummaging through every box in your home, you know exactly where everything is and how to find it. Start by creating separate piles for each member of your household. Then, arrange their clothes by season. If you’re moving in summer, you won’t need snow boots or heavy jackets, so pack those items first. Likewise, if you’re moving in winter, box up your shorts and sandals before starting on everything else.
Next, categorize items by purpose and function: work, exercise, casual wear, etc. Accessories, such as ties, belts, and scarves should be set aside in their own container. Ideally, each category should be small enough to fit into a separate box, which makes them easy to manage when loading and unloading. However, large categories may require several boxes.
Save Space By Folding Clothes
How you fold clothes matters more than you might think. Efficient folding techniques minimize wrinkles and maximize space, allowing you to fit more in every box. It also protects delicate items from snags and stress. More importantly, it lets you place clothes directly into drawers and shelves when you get to your new home, saving time and effort during the unpacking process. While there is no right way to fold clothing, there are a few proven methods for keeping clothes smooth and compact.
Flat Fold
A common technique used for stacking and packing that works well for shirts, pants, and pajamas. Start by laying your shirt down on a flat surface and fold the sleeves so they lie straight down the middle of the back. Then, starting from the bottom, fold it into halves or thirds, depending on the size of your container. For pants, lay them lengthwise, with one leg over the other, and fold them up in halves or thirds as well.
File Fold
Popularized by Marie Kondo, this is a vertical folding technique that allows clothes to sit upright in boxes, drawers, and suitcases. File folding is simple. First, lay your shirt flat and smooth out any wrinkles, before folding each side towards the center, bringing in the sleeve at the same time to create a long rectangle. Then fold the rectangle in half from top to bottom, then again into thirds or fourths until the shirt can stand on its end. Pants are handled similarly. Lay them flat and fold them in half, leg over leg. Then fold them in half again, waist to ankle, and then again into thirds.
Army Roll
This simple technique has been used by the military for years. First, lay your shirt on a flat surface and fold the bottom 2-3 inches inside out to form a cuff. Next, fold both sides in, creating a long rectangle. Then roll the shirt tightly from top to bottom, pulling the cuff over the roll to secure it in place.
For pants, lay them flat with the front facing upward. Roll up the bottom 2-3 inches of each pant leg and then fold the pants in half, with one leg over the other, edges aligned. Finally, roll the waistband down and tuck it into the cuff to hold the bundle in place.
Bundles
This is a great way to keep outfits together. Start by sorting your clothes into large, medium, and small groups. Choose one large item, such as a jacket, sweater, or pair of pants, and spread it out on a flat surface. Place 2-3 other large items on top of it, rotating each one slightly to form a star shape. Repeat with 2-4 medium items, like skirts, T-shirts, or long-sleeve shirts. Then place a group of small items such as tights, socks, or underwear on top. Finish by folding the arms and legs of the outermost clothes inward one at a time to form a bundle.
Select the Right Container
Homeowners have a lot of choices when it comes to packing clothing: moving boxes, wardrobe boxes, vacuum bags, suitcases, trash bags, and plastic bins. Before you begin, make sure you know which ones are best suited to the task at hand.
- Moving Boxes. Made from reinforced cardboard, these boxes are ideal for clothes that are fine being rolled, folded, or stacked. Large amounts of clothing can be heavy, so use small or mid-sized boxes to prevent overloading.
- Wardrobe Boxes. Include a built-in clothes rod, perfect for items that need to remain on their hangers. They’re convenient, but also expensive, so budget accordingly.
- Vacuum Bags. Perfect for large, bulky items such as sweaters, sweatshirts, and winter jackets, even comforters and pillows. The vacuum seal not only protects your clothes, it compresses them, saving space.
- Suitcases and Duffle Bags. Most useful for items you’ll need immediately after your move. Pack 2-3 days worth of outfits, so you don’t have to go through all your boxes to get dressed in the morning. If there’s space left, use it to store other clothing, to save on supplies.
- Trash Bags. Modern trash bags are a convenient way to transport small items such as socks and underwear. However, since their contents can’t be folded or bundled, they’re not a great choice for large or delicate items.
- Plastic Bins. Though plastic containers look strong, they don’t stack as well as moving boxes. Use plastic bins for lightweight items, such as belts, jewelry, and other accessories.
- Shoeboxes. The best way to store shoes is in their original packaging, but if you don’t have any, a sturdy, cardboard box works just as well. Stuff shoes with packing paper and place them upright to preserve their shape, heavy ones on the bottom and light ones on top.
Seal and Label
Once you’re finished with a box, seal the top and bottom with packing tape. For large, heavy boxes, use two layers. Make sure each box is clearly labeled, so your movers know exactly where it belongs. That ensures every box winds up in the right room, so you won’t have to waste time carrying boxes back and forth across your new home.
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