What You Need to Know About Packing Boxes

Packing can be a pain, but you can avoid adding insult to injury by packing the Good Guys way!

THE ESSENTIALS

• TAPE – There are several types of tape, but they’re not all cut from the same cloth. Be sure to use packing tape. It has the proper amount of adhesion and sealant properties to get the job done the first time!
• NEWSPAPER/PACKING PAPER – Packing paper keeps fragile items from breaking in transit. If you have old newspapers lying around, you can save some dough.
• BUBBLE WRAP – Newspaper and packing paper can only offer a limited amount of protection. Use bubble wrap for your most fragile items.
• BOX CUTTER/KNIFE – You’ll most likely only need a box cutter or knife for the unload, however both are useful if you need to modify a box or cut tape.
• SANDWICH BAGS – Plastic bags with zippers are a solid choice for storing smaller, loose items. They also keep containers with liquid from leaking.
• PERMANENT MARKER – A mistake we often see on moves is unlabeled boxes, which creates a real headache when it comes time to unload.

PACKING THE BOX

1. PREP THE BOX: Grab your tape and secure the box. Make sure the tape runs at least half-way up both sides of the box and completely covers the underside of the box where it folds.
2. PAD THE BOTTOM: Line the bottom of the box with a layer of newspaper of packing paper. Crumple it up, otherwise it doesn’t offer much protection. An old towel works too!
3. PACK YOUR ITEMS: 
   • SMALL BOXES – It may seem counter-intuitive, but you want to pack heavy items in small boxes. Because if you load down a large box with heavy stuff, it’s more likely to collapse. Items like books, dishes, and canned goods should definitely go in a small box.
   • MEDIUM BOXES – Bigger items (not necessarily heavy) can go in a medium-sized box. Think of them as a catch-all for things like electronics, cords, remotes, etc.
   • LARGE BOXES – Lighter, bulk items are great for large boxes. For instance, blankets, towels, CD’s, pictures, etc.
   • WARDROBE BOXES – These boxes are designed specifically for your closet. You can line the bottom with shoes, ties, or belts. A bar across the top allows you to store your clothes with ease. You don’t even have to take them off of the hanger!
   • GLASS BOXES – These boxes protect oddly-shape items like TV’s, mirrors, and artwork.
4. LABELING: Take a few seconds to jot down what’s inside the box. Typically, our crews label boxes based on the room where it was found (kitchen, living room, master bedroom, etc.)

If you follow these simple steps, packing will be a breeze! But, if you don’t want the hassle of packing boxes yourself, Good Guys offers packing services! We also have a wide variety of boxes, packing paper, bubble wrap, and tape. So whether you’re going the DIY route or want a more hands-off approach, we have you covered from A to Z!