8 Biofriendly Moving Tips

Image by Jason Burrows

Well, the family and I finally got moved! Took quite a bit of determination and dedication but it’s actually done. We already spent a few nights in the new place. Oh, don’t kid yourself, we’ve still got boxes in every single room that haven’t been unpacked yet. That’s okay though. All of our furniture, clothes and the kids’ toys are set up, so we can function.

But, since I just survived the fun of moving, I thought I’d share a few biofriendly tips to help you during your next move:

1 – Go through and get rid of anything you don’t really need. Come on, you know there are things in your closets, in storage, under beds, etc. that you haven’t used in the last few months. If you aren’t using it, get rid of it.

2 – Donate anything that’s in good condition. You don’t have to “toss” things in order to get rid of them. You can donate as well.

3 – Start packing early. Designate a little bit of time every day to work on one room at a time and start packing. This will help you both in getting ready for the move and in seeing what you really have to pack. Sometimes it takes a lot longer than you originally thought, sometimes shorter. But here again, you may find stuff you don’t really want or need, so donate it.

Image by Dan

4 – Be smart about your packing. Instead of buying tons of boxes, see if you can get boxes from local stores. Maybe friends or family have boxes you can borrow. Mine did. We borrowed quite a few boxes and all they asked was that we return them when we were done.

5 – Another smart packing tip is reusable bags. We had a number of “space bags” left over from our last move. So we simply pulled them out and used them again to pack all our clothes, bedding, etc. You can put a LOT of stuff into one of those bags and it takes up a lot less space than a box or other bag.

6 – Be sure to make a list of all the people and businesses you will need to send a change of address card. Many businesses allow you to do this online so there is no need to send the request via mail. If you can’t do it online, then call. It’s faster and more efficient.

7 – Make sure you gather up your cleaning supplies and clean as you go. It will make it easier on you and on your home if you clean room by room as you pack. Remember to use non-toxic cleaners. Vinegar and lemons are personal favorites. Besides, good old fashioned elbow grease works wonders.

8 – I know this may sound cheesy, but you can always ask your friends and family if they’ll help you pack and/or clean. Even a little help can go a long way in getting you ready to move. The more you have packed and ready by the time the movers arrive, the better it will be.

Image by Wade Rockett

Well, I think that about covers the tips I thought of during our latest move. I hope your next move goes as smoothly as ours did. Sometimes it takes just a few biofriendly tips to get things rolling. Also remember that moving doesn’t need to be a chore. It’s a new beginning, a new start at your new home. Make it as enjoyable as possible right from the get-go.