Packing clothes for moving should be an easy task, right? For some yes, but for most people—packing your wardrobe can be stressful and tricky. From cleaning and organising your wardrobe to ensuring every item is ready for your big move, packing clothes is not the easiest of tasks. That’s why many homeowners still hire experts to do the job for them.
Need advice on how to pack clothes like a pro? Here’s our expert guide on how to pack clothes for moving:
Declutter, wash, and clean your wardrobe
The first step to any packing process is cleaning and decluttering. It’s impossible to have a stress-free moving experience if your whole wardrobe collection is in chaos.
Of course, it goes without saying but you should always wash all your clothes before you pack them. But you’ll be surprised how some people still pack dirty clothes with them before they move. Imagine opening a box of musty-smelling clothes and bringing them into your new home. Disgusting, right?
To have a truly successful moving experience, never pack used, dirty or wet clothes. If you have clothing that needs to be dry-cleaned or washed thoroughly, now is the perfect time to do it.
If you want to remain composed and happy during your moving day, have all your clothes ironed and pressed before you pack them. The same goes with shoes, pack shoes only after you’ve cleaned them.
Decide what to keep
After you’ve washed them, it’s time to decide which clothes you’ll bring and which you’ll leave behind. We all have that one friend who has piles and piles of clothing just because she can’t throw away her hold ones. But, if you want to make your move easy and stress-free, you need to be prepared to let go of some clothes.
Divide your clothes into three groups: keep, donate/gift, and sell. When choosing clothes to keep, only pick those that you’ve worn within the last year which still fit you and are in good condition. You can also keep clothes that hold a sentimental value to you but try to limit them to one or two items.
You can also donate unwanted clothing in thrift stores or charities. Donating is a great way to help your community. This is a good way to make sure all your beloved clothes will still be used. If you think you can earn money from your old clothes, sell them online!
Minimising the clothing items to bring in your new home will save space and energy during the big day. If you’re still having a hard time deciding which clothes to keep, donate, or sell —ask yourself the following questions:
- Do I love wearing this outfit?
- When was the last time I wore this item?
- Does this still fit me?
- Is this clothing out of style?
Organise clothes
It’s also very important to start the organising of your clothes weeks before your moving day. This will help you gather everything you need such as packing supplies when you start moving clothing items into boxes.
Clothes come in a wide range of styles, sizes, and shapes. Because of this, packing them can be more complicated than any other item in your home. However, packing and unpacking will be much easier if you’ve sorted your items.
The first step to packing is to group your clothes. For this, you need to have a couple of boxes to organise your clothing items. You can organise clothing in a number of ways. Here are some examples:
By season: Get your winter, summer, fall, and spring collection in order. This is extremely helpful if you live in a country with fluctuating seasons.
By material: You can store clothes made with natural fabrics so that you can preserve their quality. Polyester and synthetic fabrics are more resistant to creases and can be packed without much hassle.
By type: You can pack sundresses together while putting shirts or shorts together in the same box. Shoes also need to be separated with their own moving box.
The secret to organising is to just keep similar things together. You should also do these weeks before the big day. Organising weeks before the moving day will save you a lot of time and money. Remember to label boxes based on how you sorted them out. This will make unpacking easier once you’re in your new home.
Use the right folding techniques
With the right packing technique, you can easily fit as many clothes as you want in your boxes. You’ll also protect your favourite clothing items as they get moved to your new location. There are two kinds of folding techniques you can use to pack clothes. Decide which one suits your clothing items.
Folding: This is considered the most common and most efficient way to fold clothes when putting them into moving boxes. You can easily compress clothes this way allowing you to bring more items in the box. Folding clothes also smoothen out wrinkles and prevents any creases on your clothing. This allows you to save space and have more room for other boxes in the moving truck.
Another type of folding is the “KonMari” method, as popularised by Mari Kondo. This technique focuses on folding and stacking clothes neatly that prevent them from wrinkling. You can research the KonMari method to learn how to fold socks, underwear, and shirts the easiest way.
Rolling: This is a packing technique that’s frequently done by travellers. It’s a good way to pack clothes if you have a small suitcase. Rolling is also a compact and versatile way to stack clothes together. The rule is to roll soft garments (think underwear, socks, and towels) while folding stiffer ones (jeans and jackets. However, rolling may take extra time and can cause creases in shirts.
Tip: When rolling shirts always lay them facedown, fold the sleeves, then roll from the bottom up. For pants, put the leg part together then roll from the waist down.
How to pack clothes for moving in designated boxes
Picking the right packing material for your clothes is the first step to a successful. If you hire a professional removalist company like Herbert Removal Sydney, we can supply you with high-quality moving boxes. But if you want to pack yourself, there are many kinds of clothes boxes you can use. Here are some good examples:
Cardboard boxes: Useful for packing folded clothes. They’re ideal for moving because they can be easily stacked inside a moving truck. This is why many movers pack clothes for moving using these kinds of boxes.
Wardrobe boxes: Good for packing your clothes in hangers as they come with sturdy metal hanging bars. They provide an excellent way to move clothes without wrinkling them. They’re also sturdy enough to hold several clothes. Wardrobe boxes are ideal if you have lots of suits or formal dresses that you can’t fold.
Suitcases: Best for packing folded clothes and shoes. If you don’t have a lot of clothing items, suitcases are a good packing option. You should pack clothes for moving in a suitcase for faster access to these items.
Vacuum bags: Great for bulky clothing items such as coats and jackets. Vacuum bags are thin and more prone to tear so extra care is needed when using them.
How to pack clothes in vacuum storage bags
Vacuum storage bags are sealed bags that resemble most garbage bags. However, they are thicker, sturdier, and less expensive than garbage bags. They often have a special zippered opening that allows you to fill the bag with clothes easily. Plus, they’re very reusable.
Packing your clothes in a vacuum storage bag is good if you’re trying to save as much space as possible. Vacuum sealed bags can compress clothes into a small, manageable package that’s perfect for transit.
It’s also worth mentioning that clothes wrinkle a lot when they are stored in vacuum bags. So, if you have clothes you don’t want to crumple, skip it and use a wardrobe box instead. We recommend putting clothing you won’t need straight away in vacuum storage bags such as coats, suits, or formal dresses.
When packing your clothes in vacuum seal bags, roll or fold your clothes flat. Put large items first so they go in the bottom while smaller ones on top. Once the bag is full, shut it and grab your vacuum. Lift the valve cap and place the nozzle on top. Suck out the air and close it.
How to pack clothes in suitcases
During your moving week, you may still need to have some clothes ready. It’s important to have some clothes stashed in your suitcases so that you can easily access them. Since suitcases are made especially to hold clothes, it’s very easy to pack clothes with them. There are also plenty of pockets to hold other items you may need.
When arranging clothes in a suitcase, follow these rules. Softer, rolled items should go to the bottom. Folded items should go in the middle (skirts, pants, etc.). The next items should be the shorter items such as shirts. Finally, the belts should go around the perimeter of the bag so they take up as little space as possible.
How to pack clothes for moving (delicate and designer items)
Not all clothes are created equal. Let’s face it. We have our favourites. These are our favourite delicate pieces of clothing that we’ll go to great lengths to protect. For example, your designer jeans or your suede jacket. You want them to look as fine as the day you bought them. For these items we recommend investing in special boxes and tools to keep them stored safely in moving boxes. You may want to purchase silica gel packs to repel moisture and mould.
How to pack shoes
Shoes are another wardrobe item you need to pay attention to when packing. Shoes are the dirtiest items in your wardrobe and you don’t want them to stain your nice clothes. Even clean shoes can make clothes dirty! Because of this, shoes should never be packed and placed alongside shirts and nice clothes.
To prevent stains from your clothes, separate them from other items and always pack shoes with their shoeboxes. You should also pack shoes individually with packing paper. This prevents scuffing and preserves your shoes especially if you’re moving long distances. Or if you can, stuff them in a larger moving box with your other shoes.
When packing shoes also stuff them with filling inside to make sure they don’t get squashed during the journey. The filling can be anything from packing paper to small fabrics such as socks, or any kind of stuffing.
Let Us Help You
Packing clothes doesn’t have to be stressful! Herbert Removals Sydney can help you pack clothes, items, and furniture for a smooth moving process. Call us at 0408 269 817 to learn more about our removal and packing services in Sydney’s Inner West, Eastern Suburbs, Northern Beaches or Western Sydney.
