18 Moving Hacks to Make Packing to Move Easy

Slide clothes on hangers directly into garbage bags. Not having to rehang all of your clothes during the unpacking process will save you so much more time and energy than you think.

Put cotton balls in your makeup compacts so they don’t break. They act as a cushion inside of fragile powder cosmetics.

Use toilet paper to organize your cords. Simply wrap each cord up and stuff it inside an empty roll.

Take pictures of your new place before you move in. If you’re a renter, make sure to document exactly how your house looks when you move in. (You want that security deposit back, don’t you?)

Wrap breakable kitchen dishes in your shirts. Not only will you save on bubble wrap, but you’ll be able to pack multiple items at once. Another moving hack: stack plates with paper plates in between one another.

Cover all your bottles of liquid with plastic wrap or tape before putting the top on. Yes, this will help you prevent your expensive shampoo from exploding.

Color code your boxes. Mark boxes blue that belong in the kitchen, mark boxes red that belong in your bedroom, and so on, and so on. This will help you know exactly where everything goes when it’s time to unpack.

Use suitcases for your heaviest items. The handles and wheels are the easiest, best transportation.

If your cardboard boxes don’t have handles, cut some handles into the side of them. All you have to do is cut a rectangular shape on either side of the box for an easy-lifting moving hack.

Pack a separate small bag with all of your basics. Be honest with yourself: there’s no chance you’re going to unpack everything in one day. With this in mind, have a bag with all your essentials so you don’t have to dig through boxes for your toothbrush.

Fill nail holes with toothpaste. It’s the quickest and cheapest way to cover up all of those holes.

Use small boxes when moving books. The best way to pack books for moving is to pack light. Because books get heavy fast, use a small box to avoid making it too heavy to lift.

Defrost your fridge at least one day before moving out. This will ensure you avoid all kinds of leaks and nasty smells.

For all the clothes not on hangers, roll them up. This will save more space than folding your clothes will.

Wrap a rubber band around your doorknob so you don’t get locked out. Wrap around one doorknob, then cross it over to the doorknob on the other side so that the lock is blocked. When you are going in and out of your house, you won’t have to worry about being locked out.

Put towels underneath heavy furniture to avoid scratching floors. This also helps take the weight off of the furniture so it’s easier to carry and slide.

Use sandwich bags for small important items like screws. When you go to put a bed frame or bookshelf back together, they’ll all be in the same place.

Find free moving boxes on the Craigslist “free” section. You can also ask for boxes at your local stores.

Macy Cate Williams is a former content director of commerce at PS. Based in the Bay Area, Macy finds the best fashion, beauty, fitness, and home products that readers should know about. She’s a sucker for bold colors and playful prints, so you’ll see them splashed all over her work.

Taylor Andrews is a Balance editor at PS who specializes in topics relating to sex, relationships, dating, sexual health, mental health, and more.