As you are probably well aware, we just got done with a pretty big move. Through that moving process I picked up on a bunch of moving and packing tips that helped us out a ton! Today, I’m sharing one of my favorite.
Sometimes the easiest tips are the best. Here’s one that won’t cost you a penny and will actually save you some money you might have spent on packing material. I used all my table runners and linens to pack my dishes. Fold them up, line them with or stuff them in. Whatever way you choose to use them, they help keep glass from touching glass, resulting in chips and breaks.
Now I mostly used just the linens and table runners because I had plenty. But you can also use dish towels, bathrooms towels and I’ve even heard of people wrapping their glasses in socks, although that totally weirds me out!
So there you have it. One super simple moving/packing tip. What are some of your best packing tips?
Cecily says
Best packing tip I have is that there is no reason to purchase packing boxes, you can get free boxes at the liquor store and Costco.
Mavis says
Great tip, and so true!
Practical Parsimony says
I used sheets, towels, anything I could lay my hands on. This may gross you out further, but I used my husband’s t-shirts and underwear to stuff in cracks and corners so breakable things would not shift. Remember, some breakables like vases will never touch food or your mouth.
Liquor store boxes are great because a lightly wrapped glass set can be set in without a lot of wrapping. I would put something in the bottom of one section that was not breakable but would cushion a glass. I could put small kitchen items in the bottom of the section, some padding like pot holders and then the glass. on top I could add other unbreakable items to fill each liquor box sections.
I moved about nine times in 11 years and never used newspaper or bought packing paper. If you know you are going to move, rather than downsizing clothing, put it in a box or bag and use that for packing. It may not be your idea of downsizing to move, but you can throw those items into the trash at the new place or donate them.
Mavis says
NINE time in 11 years? Holy cow. You are a pro!
mandy says
I’ve done the same as you here and went so far as to use bath and beach towels to wrap large objects, blankets to wrap pictures and mirrors. I feel this works better than conventional packing products I helped my niece move in the summer, come fall when she couldn’t some of her socks, shirts, beanies and mittens I had to tell her they were all in different boxes protecting her breakables. She didn’t quite get the concept of saving on packing material. She just thought I was nuts and wanted me to find her things.
Mavis says
Haha! That’s hilarious!
Stacey says
I used this tip from you when we moved cross-country a few months ago. All my dishes were packed with towels and dish rags. When I unpacked, two things got unpacked at the same time! Not a single thing got broken.
Mavis says
That is so awesome to hear!!
Erica says
I understand the logic of this, but what if a box gets dropped from the truck accidentally or something? Then you’ll have shards of glass in your linens. I think I’ll stick with newspaper to be on the safe side.
Laura says
For an in-town move, my husband and I simply stacked the china on my lap and drove it on over. Then we placed the dishes directly in the cabinet. No packing or unpacking required. Helped out quite a bit as we moved on Thanksgiving Day (and I made a turkey too!). That way we had all weekend to unpack.
We did eat Thanksgiving dinner in our bathrobes though, lol. Fun times!
Mavis says
I’d say you found the perfect way to carefully transport them! Ha! Now a move across the country might have been a little more tricky.
Sara says
You may cringe when we moved I never wrapped a thing. We drove a car and put all house hold dishes and antiques in the car with not one thing wrapped. Everything else was in the moving truck
Mavis says
Did everything survive? Holy cow that’s brave!
Catherine Foster says
When I moved from Boston to Southern Oregon, the movers gave me a video, which I actually watched and learned some good tips from. One was: when packing dishes, stack them the opposite way than you have in the photo…with the ends up. The video said that plates were stronger that way than laid flat. So, that’s my tip. (But I love the idea of the runners, table clothes, linens, beach towels, and yes, even t-shirts and sox used as padding!)
Mavis says
Seriously? I never would have guessed!
Lisa Millar says
I was about to write that tip when I read your post Catherine! One of our movers had given us that tip!
Delores Lyon says
Thanks for sharing this! I am in the middle of packing for a move, but I didn’t really know how to handle fragile plates. However, I do have a bunch of table cloths that would work perfectly for this! As soon as I finish packing all the kitchen stuff, I’m done too! I’m going to let the movers worry about moving all my stuff to the new place.