Clothing is light, so it is the easiest thing to pack and the easiest to pack badly. Clothes squeezed into a garbage bag wrinkle, pick up odors and tear on a corner. A little structure at the start saves hours of ironing and washing at the other end.
Sort first, then pack
Pull out the clothes you have not worn this year before you buy a single box. Donation bags taken out now are cartons you never have to carry, and the new closet starts cleaner.
Set aside a week of clothing that stays with you in a suitcase. Packing the rest ahead of time only works when moving day does not leave you without something to wear.
Hanging clothes in wardrobe boxes
A wardrobe box is a tall carton with a metal rail across the top. Lift a handful of hangers straight from the closet rod to the box rail, and the garments stay on their hangers and arrive ready to hang.
Leave a little room between garments so fabric does not crush. A folded sheet over the top of long coats keeps dust off, and a light item such as a belt bag can sit in the bottom of the box.
- Group by season and by person so the new closet fills quickly.
- Keep suit jackets and dresses on padded or wooden hangers.
- Close the box over the hanger hooks so nothing slides out.
Folded clothes in cartons
Fold sweaters, jeans and tees flat and stack them in a small or medium carton. Rolling knits and casual shirts saves space and cuts creases.
Put heavy items such as denim at the bottom and delicate tops on the layer above. Fill any gap with a towel or a pair of pajamas, which doubles as padding.
Drawers, vacuum bags and delicate pieces
Clothes can stay in dresser drawers when the dresser is solid and the drawers are not overloaded. Your estimator can tell you which pieces travel better with the drawers emptied first.
Vacuum-seal bags shrink bulky comforters and coats, and they suit storage. Leather, fur and anything with beading stay in a breathable garment bag, since sealed plastic can trap moisture.
Labeling and the next room
Label each carton by person and room, for example Kim, bedroom closet. When you want the rest of the house in order, packing room by room gives the sequence, and how to pack shoes covers the floor of the closet.