Whether you have storage in your condo building or a garage, you may find yourself looking at a lot of clutter and items that are odd shapes, heavy, or sharp. Feeling overwhelmed? Don’t worry, we have some tips to get your garage packed up safely and easily. Some of the items will fit nicely into a rental moving box, and others will require a little more preparation or different packing materials.
Tools
To avoid damage to your tools, moving boxes, or your hands, you’ll want to pack your tools carefully. Any tools with sharp edges should be wrapped with old towels and taped to make sure that they are safe. Anything that fits into your existing tool box can be packed in that, but you’ll likely need to add things around it to prevent the box from moving too much inside a larger box. Don’t forget to label any items that are sharp to make sure that unpacking is safe for everyone!
Lawn Furniture
Take as much of this apart as you can, or collapse it to the smallest size. You’ll also want to wipe everything off so that you don’t bring extra dirt to your new home. Cushions or padding for chairs can be used to cushion any fragile outdoor items like small bird baths, outdoor lighting, or small lawn ornaments. If you have a patio umbrella, you can pack this in a large plastic bag with other long handled tools like mops, rakes, or shovels. Just be aware of any sharp edges on other tools to make sure that your umbrella doesn’t get ripped.
Gas Operated Items and Hazardous Materials
Gas operated lawn mowers, hedge trimmers, or snow blowers will need to be emptied before moving them, so do this before you pack them up. Propane tanks, aerosol cans, paints, and pesticides will not be accepted by moving companies, so you will need to properly dispose of these items before you move. If you are unsure of how to do that, contact your municipality, or ask your local hardware store.
Sports Equipment
Sports equipment may seem sturdy, but it can also be expensive to replace if it is damaged in the move. It is worth the time to pack it properly. If you can’t move your bikes on a bike rack, you’ll want to get bike boxes to ensure that they travel safely inside your moving van. Balls, racquets and other small items can easily fit into rental moving boxes, but larger items like hockey sticks or golf clubs many need to be wrapped in bubble wrap before being loaded into your moving truck or your car.
Before you know it, you’ll have your garage or storage space all packed up and ready to go. If there is anything that you don’t want to bring with you, a move is the perfect time for a garage sale to help you reduce clutter. For everything that you decide to bring with you, contact us for information about moving box rentals and renting packing materials like tape, bubble wrap, and labels!