Don't Pack These Items - Move With Them Instead
What shouldn't you pack before you move? While you need to bring everything you own from point A to point B, you don't have to box, bin, or bag every item. Before you pack, take a look at the top items to keep out of your moving containers and why you need to bring these picks with you.
Move-Day Snacks
Food and beverages should never go into boxes, bins, or other moving containers. Most moving companies prohibit these items. Perishables could spoil mid-move, making the items unsafe to eat. Beyond your safety, perishable food and beverage products could create an odd odor that stays in the moving company's trucks or attract pests.
Not only are perishables and other food or drink items no-go's on the moving truck, but you should keep them with you. Even with a professional helping you to move, you'll need extra energy for this busy day. This means you'll need plenty of rest the night before and healthy snacks for the day of your move.
While a snack-pack of cookies or a single-serving sized bag of chips may seem like easy options for your moving day, these items will only give you short bursts of energy and could cause dehydration. Instead of sugar-filled or salty snacks, prepare a bag of healthy, energizing options such as protein bars (look for lower sugar options), nuts, fresh fruit, whole-grain crackers, or trail mix.
Avoid items that require refrigeration, such as lunch meat, cheese, yogurt, or milk, or if you prefer these selections use a cooler. Keep your move-day snacks with you or bring them in your vehicle for the drive from your old home to the new one.
Electronic Device Chargers
You definitely don't want to get caught with a powered-down phone, tablet, or laptop on your moving day. Whether you need to stay in contact with the movers, want to map your to-move route, have a moving inventory on your tablet, or need these devices for any other reason, keep the chargers with you.
Untangle cords, make sure you have car or other mobile charging accessories, and pack these items in zipper plastic baggies, a tote bag, or a similar take-along container.
Portable Electronic Devices
Your chargers won't do much good if you don't have the devices that connect to them. While your PC tower, TV, and video game systems can go into the moving truck (provided you pack them carefully), your smartphone, tablet, and laptop can travel safely with you.
Cleaning and Sanitization Products
Like perishable food and beverage items, some cleaning or sanitization supplies are prohibited by movers. Chemical cleaners could spill mid-move. This could damage other items in the same box or nearby containers. A spill could also leave behind strong odors in the moving company's truck, potentially damage or discolor the interior, or injure one of the movers.
Along with damage or injury risks, you may also need to keep these types of products out of your moving containers to make them healthier and safer for you and your family. You may need to use sanitizing wipes, sprays, and other similar products to clean and disinfect your old home, new home, or places you go in between.
To securely move cleaning products with you in your car or another vehicle, bag the items and place them in a sturdy plastic tub. Make sure everything stays upright during the trip. If you have concerns about spills in your car, stick with easy-to-transport products - such as containers of cleaning wipes.
You may also want to include cleaning gloves, paper towels, garbage bags, sponges, rags, a small broom and dustpan, and a handheld vacuum.
Do you need extra help with your next move? Contact Helping Hands Movers for more information.
