Lesser-Known Packing Hacks for House Shifting

Are you worried about packing for house shifting? I can understand your pain. I know that packing for house shifting can be challenging, time-consuming, and overwhelming. However, you need to accept the truth. It is an absolute truth that you will encounter several challenges when packing your household items for moving. This is why you should not take things lightly and complete the tasks seriously. To ensure the safety of your belongings in transit, you need to make sure that your items are thoroughly packed.

I know that you are aware of some basic packing hacks and techniques, like using sturdy boxes, labeling boxes, and sealing boxes using packaging tape. Are these basic packing tips enough to ensure the safety of your belongings? I don’t think so. There are several other tips and techniques that you can use to ensure proper packing of the items you want to shift. If you are not sure what other packing tips can be, allow me to share with you. 

First of all, you need to know that there are several other packing hacks and tips that can be helpful. Some tips are lesser-known and underrated. However, they work wonders if used smartly. 

If you are interested in knowing those lesser-known packing hacks and tips, please allow me to share them with you. In this blog post, I will share some smart, underrated packing tips and techniques that will help. By learning these smart packing tips, you can pack your household items efficiently, save time, and reduce stress during your house shifting. 

Smart Packing Hacks and Tips for Moving

1. Pack an Essential Box and Name it “Open Me First”

After reaching your new home after a long and hectic moving day, you might struggle to find your toothbrush, phone charger, or nightwear. If you have not labelled the boxes properly or mixed essential things in general boxes, you will feel frustrated. To avoid this situation, packing a separate essential box with essential items can be a lifesaver. So, take your time to pack an essential box and name it “Open Me First”, and clearly label the essential box with this specific tag. Your essential or open-me-first box should include items like:

• Tilletries
• A change of clothes
• Mobile phone chargers
• Power banks
• Basic cooking essentials
• Important documents

Note: Keep this essential box with you in your car or carry-on luggage. This will allow you to access essentials easily when needed in the new home.  

2. Use Cling Wrap to Prevent Lakes

When moving home from one place to another, you might have bottles of shampoo, oil, or liquid cleansers. Transferring these things can always be risky, as they can spill during transit. And needless to say, spillage can damage your other items. So, what should you do? No worry, among many smart packing hacks for house shifting, there is a very simple trick to avoid this situation. Simply, remove the cap, cover the bottle opening with plastic wrap, and then screw the cap back on tightly. Believe me, this will prevent any leakage and save your packed items from messy spills. 

3. Color Code Your Boxes for Easy Unpacking

Popular packing hacks and many experts say that you should label boxes properly and write room names or numbers on every box. Of course, this is an effective technique. However, you can make little changes in labeling techniques and simplify the process. If you are wondering what other packing hacks in this regard, allow me to share those. 

First, you do not need to make many changes to the plan. Pack your items as usual, using good-quality packing materials like bubble wrap, plastic sheets, and sturdy boxes. 

When it comes to labeling, use the color-code system. Instead of writing room names on every box, use colorful labeling stickers or tape to mark them. Assign a specific color to each room. For example, you can consider:

🔴 Red for kitchen

🔵 Blue for bedroom

🟢 Green for living room

🟡 Yellow for bathroom

How does this work? When you arrive at your new home, simply look at the color to know where each box belongs. This will definitely save time and effort while unpacking. 

4. Use Suitcases for Heavy Items

Why should you carry heavy books or kitchenware in cardboard boxes when you have sturdy suitcases? I know cardboard boxes are good enough to pack household items. But packing heavy boxes and kitchenware in these boxes can also be risky because of wear and tear in transit. To avoid this risk, using sturdy suitcases that you already have can be one of the smart packing hacks. This will not only protect your belongings but also save you money on buying boxes and packing materials. You can use rolling suitcases to transport heavy items like books, utensils, and small kitchen appliances. The wheels make them easier to move and slide. Also, they will not break like cardboard boxes under heavy loads. 

5. Keep Clothes on Hangers and Use Garbage Bags

Many homeowners take clothes off hangers, fold them, and pack them separately. It is not a bad idea. But wait! It is also not a good idea. I mean it can be made more efficient. The hack is that you should keep clothes on the hangers instead of taking them off. Simply, tie the clothes with hangers in a large garbage bag and carry them as they are. If you use this trick, you can hang your clothes directly in your new wardrobe without any hassles of unpacking boxes or suitcases. 

6. Use Egg Cartons for Small Breakables

When shifting to a new home, obviously, you will also have to handle fragile items like jewelry, light bulbs, silverware, or glass ornaments. Transporting these items that are very likely to get damaged in transit is a big challenge even for people who think they are good at packing. Packing fragile items for a move is not like adding covers to school notebooks. You know what I am pointing out. In simple words, the task is challenging and must be done with the utmost care and attention. Also, you should use the appropriate materials to protect your fragile items in transit.

I recently came up with an idea that I am sharing with you here. You might have empty egg cartons. If you do not have them, you can take them from your local grocery stores. Repurpose these empty egg cartons to store the delicate items safely. The separate compartments cushion them and prevent breakage. 

7. Pack Plates Vertically to Avoid Breakage

Many homeowners stack plates horizontally when packing for house shifting. This is one of the biggest packing or moving mistakes. Because this increases the risk of breaking. When you arrive at your new home and open the box containing the plates, you may find them damaged. However, you can prevent this risk by using my smart packing hacks for house shifting. All you need to do is wrap each plate in bubble wrap and place them vertically in the box. Imagine the records in a record box. If you pack plates this way, you can be confident that your plates will not get damaged because of pressure. 

8. Label Cables & Take Photos of Electronics Before Unplugging

Moving home brings lots of challenges, and you may find yourself frustrated. Imagine the situation when you need to figure out which wire goes where after your house move. This can be genuinely frustrating if you have not taken photos before unplugging your TV, computer, or home appliances. So, take a quick photo of the cable setup before unplugging it. Also, label each wire with masking tape so you can easily reconnect them at your new home.

9. Use Ziploc Bags for Screws and Small Hardware

This is often a forgettable thing when moving. You might misplace screws, nuts, and blots of your furniture and home appliances if you have disassembled them before moving. At the destination, you may run after searching for them. If, unfortunately, they are lost in between, you will have to encounter a great deal of frustration. But if you follow this simple hack, then you do not have to worry at all. Put all the screws, bolts, nuts, and other small hardware in Ziploc plastic bags. That’s not all. Label them with appropriate tags or tap them to the corresponding furniture pieces. Isn’t it a great idea?

10. Slide Socks Over Glasses and Mugs

It’s an amazing hack. And you will love it for sure. Your favorite coffee mugs and glasses! What if they got damaged in transit? You might feel bad and frustrated. But this hack is sure to bring a smile to your face. Many people wrap cups, mugs, and glasses in newspaper or bubble wrap. This can take extra time, and also, bubble wrap is expensive. The simple hack to save and make it easier is amazing, as I said earlier. Simply, slide your mugs or glasses into thick socks. This will provide a snug, protective layer to prevent damage or breakage in transit. If you find your mugs intact by using this amazing hack, do not forget to invite me for a coffee! 😊 Just having fun. Do not mind it. 

11. Pack Jewelry Using Cling Wrap & Straws

The chances of your jewelry getting tangled during your move are high. Once it is tangled, you find it very difficult to untangle. However, you can avoid this situation by using our tip. Remember that this is a lesser-known but smart packing hack. A few people know this hack. But you should know. Use cling wrap to lay out your jewelry flat, then cover it with another layer before packing. If you have necklaces, then you can thread them through straws. Using straws will keep your necklaces or chains from being knotted. 

12. Use Laundry Baskets for Last-Minute Items

You are more likely to have laundry baskets. These baskets are the perfect choice for last-minute packing. If you are wondering—how? Simplify, throw in items like blankets, pillows, or random things you find lying around on moving day. A good thing about using laundry baskets for last-minute items is that they usually do not require sealing. Thus, you can access them anytime during the move. 

13. Defrost and Dry Your Fridge a Day Before Moving

If you are moving from one home to another, you are more likely to take your refrigerator along. The hack is that you should unplug the refrigerator at least 24 hours before moving. This allows it to defrost. After defrosting, wipe away moisture to prevent water leaks inside the moving truck. 

14. Keep a ‘Lost and Found’ Box for Small Leftovers

This is one of the most significant lesser-known packing hacks that you should know. After packing everything, you might have or find small leftover items. Pens, keys, coins, chargers, power banks, or batteries are items. To ensure these items do not get left behind, keep a dedicated “Lost and Found” box. Keep last-minute finds in this box so they do not get misplaced or left behind. 

Final Thoughts: Lesser-Known Smart Packing Hacks

House shifting can be stressful. But with these lesser-known packing hacks, you can simplify the process, protect your belongings, and ensure a smooth transition to your new home. Try them out during your next move. And you will see how much easier and more efficient packing can be!

Got any unique packing tips? Share them in the comments!