DIY Packing Hacks to Make Your Move Easier

Moving can be overwhelming, especially if you’re packing items yourself. Thankfully, with a little creativity and a DIY spirit, you can streamline the process significantly. Whether you’re packing every box yourself or just organizing early to make moving day smoother, these practical packing hacks will help you reduce stress, minimize costs, and feel more confident about your move.

Make the Most of What You Already Have

You don’t need to spend money on special packing supplies when your home is full of excellent alternatives. Towels, blankets, clothes—even shredded paper—can do the job just as effectively. You’ll feel resourceful, cut costs, and reduce waste all at once.

• Wrap breakables: Use towels, blankets, linens, and sweaters as padding for dishes, glassware, and electronics.
• Use shredded paper: Shred old mail, newspapers, or documents for protective filler.
• Repurpose containers: Fill pots, pans, and baskets with smaller items, maximizing your space.

Pack Smart with Existing Storage

Your suitcases, backpacks, and drawers are ready-made packing solutions! It feels great knowing you’re making the most out of things you already own. Plus, unpacking becomes simpler when belongings stay in their familiar storage containers.

• Suitcases and backpacks: Perfect for heavy books, shoes, or clothing items.
• Leave items in drawers: Keep lightweight clothes or linens in dresser drawers, sealing them shut with painter’s tape.
• Utilize reusable grocery bags: Handy for odds and ends or pantry items that need to travel.

Prevent Bottles from Leaking in Transit

There’s nothing worse than opening a box or bag to find your shampoo or lotion has leaked everywhere. Thankfully, a simple piece of kitchen plastic wrap can save you from the mess. This quick trick helps keep your liquid toiletries sealed tight during the move—especially if they’re packed in a suitcase or box with clothes or electronics.

Here’s how to do it:

1. Unscrew the cap from the bottle.

2. Place a small piece of plastic wrap directly over the opening.

3. Screw the cap back on tightly over the plastic wrap.

That extra barrier helps keep liquids from leaking out, even if the cap gets jostled or loosened during the move.

What NOT to Pack in Your Moving Boxes

Not everything is safe or practical to pack into boxes when preparing for a move. Certain items can pose significant risks, such as causing damage or dangerous accidents. To ensure your move goes smoothly and securely, it’s important to set aside items that you should personally transport or dispose of safely.

Here are items you should avoid packing into moving boxes:

• Flammable or hazardous materials: propane tanks, paint, lighter fluid, aerosol cans, fireworks, and batteries.
• Valuables and important documents: expensive jewelry, cash, credit cards, personal electronics, passports, birth certificates, and other sensitive paperwork.
• Medications: prescriptions and other medicines you might need immediate access to.
• Perishable items: food, refrigerated goods, or anything that could spoil during transit.
• Plants: delicate and easily damaged; transport them separately to ensure they survive the move.

Keep Things Clearly Organized

Labeling might seem tedious at first, but clear, simple labeling saves massive amounts of stress later. Imagine how effortless unpacking becomes when boxes clearly communicate their contents and destination—no guesswork, just straightforward unpacking.

• Color-code boxes: Use different colored labels or markers for each room.
• Write details clearly: List contents briefly but specifically (e.g., “coffee maker and mugs,” not just “kitchen stuff”).
• Mark fragile boxes: Clearly label boxes containing fragile items so they’re handled with extra care.
• Take pictures: Take clear photos of your electronics and furniture before disassembling them—especially the back of TVs, computers, or routers where all the cords connect. These reference images will be incredibly helpful when it’s time to reassemble everything in your new place.
• Secure hardware: Place screws, bolts, and small pieces in clearly labeled zip-top bags, then tape them to the furniture itself.

Pack for Easy Transport and Unpacking

Bulky, awkward, or heavy items can slow you down on moving day. But with a bit of DIY ingenuity you’ll save yourself plenty of hassle. Plus, well-packed boxes mean fewer trips back and forth, fewer items lost in cracks and crevices, and less time unpacking.

• Roll rugs tightly: Secure with twine or packing straps to make handling easier.
• Zip-top bags for small items: Store cords, jewelry, screws, and other small essentials safely.
• Cut hand-sized holes: Create hand openings in the sides of boxes with a utility knife. Just be careful not to damage the box so much that it collapses or tears.
• Secure heavy boxes with tape: Reinforce bottoms of boxes with sturdy packing tape to prevent accidents.
• Don’t overload: Keep heavy boxes manageable, spreading weight evenly.

DIY Space-Saving Bags

Bulky bedding, pillows, and winter gear can take up valuable box space. DIY vacuum-sealed bags offer a simple solution, compressing items dramatically, which saves space and makes transporting large items easier. Start by placing your item—like a blanket or a pillow—into a large plastic garbage bag. Then, insert the nozzle of a vacuum cleaner into the bag. Using your hands, gather the bag’s opening snugly around the hose to create a tight seal (you want to prevent any air from escaping or entering). Turn on the vacuum and let it suck the air out—watch as the bag compresses around the item. Once it’s nice and flat, quickly remove the hose and seal the bag shut with a rubber band or twist tie to keep it airtight.

Protect Your Important Documents and Information

It’s easy to overlook important documents in the chaos of moving, but losing critical data can cause big headaches later. Keeping passports, medical records, and financial documents close by ensures peace of mind and immediate access when you need them.

• Pack separately: Keep documents in a clearly labeled folder or binder.
• Carry personally: Transport these yourself to prevent misplacement or damage.
• Back up digitally: Scan important documents beforehand for digital safekeeping.
• Back up computers: Copy important data off of your computers – into a cloud backup or external hard drive – before moving so that your important information is protected if the computer is damaged during transport.

Taking the time to pack carefully and thoughtfully means you’ll arrive at your new home with fewer surprises and less stress. You’ll know exactly where your essentials are, you’ll avoid costly damage, and you’ll save time unpacking. Most importantly, you’ll feel more at ease during what can otherwise be a hectic transition.

So whether you’re packing every last box yourself or just trying to get ahead before the movers show up, keep these DIY strategies in your back pocket. They’ll help you move like a pro—even if it’s your very first time.