Move Less — Purge First
Clothes are the easiest thing to over-pack and the best thing to purge before a move. Here's the method.
The Three Piles
Lay out every piece. Sort into: Keep (you wore it this year), Donate (good condition, didn't wear), Trash (stained, torn). Most people donate a third of their closet.
Wardrobe Boxes for Hanging Clothes
A wardrobe box has a hanging bar. Transfer hanging clothes straight from the closet to the box — they arrive wrinkle-free. One wardrobe box holds ~2 feet of closet.
Folded Clothes in Suitcases
Folded clothes pack into suitcases and duffel bags. Use the luggage you have — it's already the right shape and it wheels. Don't waste boxes on clothes you can suitcase.
Don't Box the Dresser
A dresser full of clothes is a box. Wrap the dresser in a blanket and move it loaded — the clothes pad the drawers and you save boxes. (Remove the drawers if the dresser is too heavy, but keep them loaded.)
Shoes in Pairs
Shoes go in pairs, in a bag or a box, sole-to-sole. A shoe lost in a move is a pair lost. Pack shoes in the bottom of a box — they're heavy and stable.
The Off-Season
Pack the off-season clothes first — you won't need them before the move. Pack the in-season clothes last, in a "Open First" box.
Donate Before, Not After
Schedule a donation pickup (Housing Works, Salvation Army) a week before the move. Donate clothes move free — clothes you move cost labor and boxes.
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