Packing Week One has concluded at our residence, and I found myself amused by the many new year cleaning and organizing posts; the sheer act of MOVING is the best motivator for both tasks, and my kitchen is exceptionally clean now.
I genuinely enjoy the organizational elements of packing and relocating, so the process has been enjoyable; I chose the kitchen, which I consider the most challenging room for both deep cleaning and packing.
Here are several practical packing strategies that aided my sanity this week:
1. Obtain boxes from the local grocery store; the ones meant for produce and liquor are excellent, and our nearby grocery store stocks a good selection daily.
2. Begin with delicate, infrequently used items; for me, this involved china and inherited dishes, and I handled them with extreme care to prevent breakage during the move.
3. Utilize soft textiles as packing material; I used doilies, aged linens, tablecloths, and quilt batting from my supply to wrap breakables, finding it charming to wrap china in vintage linens; once those ran out, I used fabric from my personal stash for remaining boxes.
4. Label boxes meticulously; a professional mover, who assists seniors with downsizing through her excellent business, shared a brilliant labeling method the day before I started packing.
A Guide to Labeling Moving Boxes:
- First, indicate the intended room for the contents (e.g., kitchen, living room).
- Assign a unique number to every box.
- Include a brief content description on the label.
- Maintain a binder containing a comprehensive inventory for each box.
Even if this seems excessive, it suits our needs perfectly; since this rental home is temporary until October 1st, we will move again in under a year!
This organized method allows me to keep some boxes packed for the next transition while still enabling quick location of any needed item via the book (theoretically!).
Lacking adhesive labels, I cut squares from cardstock scraps; while researching moving advice online, I noted the suggestion of color-coded labels corresponding to rooms, a concept I support as it prevents numerous 'where is this?' inquiries!
5. Thoroughly clean the walls, shelves, drawers, sliding glass door track, and the area behind the fridge.
Despite enjoying packing, I dislike the deep cleaning; I prioritized finishing this task immediately rather than deferring it post-move, tackling small sections at a time; the under the sink area remains surprisingly difficult, but we also filled wall holes and touched up paint, which is a relief.
Now, only essentials remain in the kitchen for cooking and eating, allowing us to utilize existing food; with the amount of frozen fruit, fruit crisp and smoothies will be plentiful!
It is now your turn; do you have any useful packing advice to share? I always appreciate hearing fresh perspectives…
For additional moving advice
Explore the moving section on Bildirimlerim for various tips and tricks, ranging from decluttering to moving day, to ensure a seamless transition.
