Top Packing Tips for Moving in a Hurry

Sometimes, you have to move in a hurry. Maybe you don't have a choice and a last minute move is necessary. When this is the case, you need the right supplies and you need them in a hurry.

Reusable moving boxes should be rented and the right packing supplies will help, too. However, you still have to pack and move in a hurry. Here are some of the top tips you can use when moving in a hurry.

Downsize Fast

The less you need to pack, the faster you can move. If possible, downsize your things as quickly as you can. Donate or sell anything you don't need immediately. Take a day and get things listed on sites, such as eBay or Craigslist. If it's not something you want to sell, just donate it to the nearest thrift store.

Downsizes will give you fewer things to pack and make the work easier. You can even throw away things not worth donating or selling. Getting rid of anything you don't need or want will make your last minute move much easier.

Start Packing

When you know a move is coming months ahead of time, you can create a good plan and move through the process step-by-step. However, when you need to move in a hurry, you need to think less and pack more. The sooner you get started, the sooner you will be packed and ready for the moving company to pick up your things.

Usually, you want to pack in a way to make unpacking easier, but when you need to move fast, forget about it. Simply pack quickly and worry about sorting things out later. You will likely have more time to deal with unpacking, so worry about sorting things by room later on.

Use What You Already Have

Getting the right supplies can delay the process when you have to move fast. Once your Chicago GreenBoxes arrive, start packing. Use the things you already have, such as clothing and towels to help protect your breakable items.

Ask for Help

Moving in a hurry should be an "all hands on deck" type of situation. You need to pack, but you can ask for help from family and friends. Let them know you're in a hurry and you could really use the help. Even one extra person can make packing easier and faster.

Call a Moving Company ASAP

Moving companies often book up in advance, but may leave some room for a last-minute move. They could also have a cancellation or something else could happen freeing them up to help. As soon as you know you will be moving, call a local moving company to get on their books.

If they can help you with the move, you may also want to ask if they can help with the packing. If so, consider paying them to help as it can be a huge job to do on your own, in a hurry.

Moving is stressful. When you have to move in a hurry, it becomes even more stressful. Make sure you get started as soon as possible and use the tips above to ensure you get packed and moved as fast as possible.

4 Tips to Effectively Pack Your Moving Boxes

Getting your green moving boxes is just the start. Once you have the right boxes for your residential move, you have to effectively pack your moving boxes. The right packing strategy will go a long way in protecting your items.

If you're planning to move, you need to know how to pack your boxes. Here are five of the best tips to ensure you pack your moving boxes properly.

Pack Room-By-Room

An effective method of packing your moving boxes is to do it room-by-room. With this packing method, it's easy to get unpacked when you arrive at your new home.

Start with the bedrooms and move through the house one room at a time. Make sure everything is fully labeled and use a different color marker for each room. Label the boxes with the room and the contents of the box to make sure they end up in the right place when you arrive at your new home.

If you use the room-by-room packing method, you'll be glad you did when you arrive at your new home. It's a great way to ensure your moving boxes are properly packed for a successful move.

Don't Use Large Boxes for Heavy Items

Larger moving boxes can be tempting to use for all kinds of items. However, when you put heavy items in these boxes, you make an awkward box to carry even more awkward. The last thing you need is an injury when moving. Pack lighter things, such as pillows and baskets into larger moving boxes or trash bags and try to put heavier things into your green moving boxes as they are more sturdy.

It's best to consider grouping items by size and weight as you go through each room, too. The other danger of packing larger moving boxes with heavier items is the integrity of the box. If the box breaks, you could be in for all kinds of issues. Imagine a kitchen box filled with dishes breaking under the weight. It could be a huge mess. You won't have to worry about this with our reusable moving boxes!

A good rule of thumb for the weight of your boxes is to keep them under 30 pounds each.

Pack Lighter Items on the Top

Putting heavier items on the bottom of the box is a good start. Then, you want to pack your lighter items on the top of those heavier items. This type of packing will allow your lighter items to survive the move without being crushed.

Wrap Everything That's Fragile

If it could break, wrap it. Use bubble wrap or packing paper to ensure anything fragile is protected from damage. You can even cushion the most fragile items with towels and other soft items you need to pack for the move.

Packing your boxes is important. Use these packing tips to ensure you make moving easier.

Top Common Packing Materials You Already Own & Can Reuse

You may think you need to invest in a ton of packing materials. However, you probably own plenty of things you can use for packing without buying cardboard boxes, bubble wrap, and other supplies.

Before we get into the many common packing materials you already own and can use during your move, it's important to consider how these materials will be used. It's best to use these materials with the green boxes for added eco-friendliness and protection of your things. Renting green boxes will provide a better solution compared to purchasing cardboard boxes.

Here are some of the packing materials you can use that you already own.

Suitcases

You probably already know this, but you can pack up your suitcases for your move. However, don't waste your time using these for just clothing items. Instead, pack heavy electronics, DVDs, books, and games into the suitcases.

The wheels make these easier to move with heavier items. If you have suitcases without wheels, they work great for shoes, boots, and clothing items. You can also pack fragile items between the clothing for added protection.

Plastic Bags

If you're like many people, you have a ton of those plastic bags you get from grocery stores and other stores. These are great for packing up your belongings. They can work to fill in space in boxes or to wrap items up.

In addition, you can use plastic sandwich bags for small items or hardware when taking items apart.

Magazines, Junk Mail, Newspaper, Wrapping Paper

Instead of spending money on bubble wrap or packing paper, use the old magazines, junk mail, newspapers, and gift wrapping paper you already have. All of these items are great for packing and will save you from spending money or creating more waste.

Hampers

You should never pack an empty hamper as it's simply a waste of space. Your hamper can be filled with toys, shoes, boots and other items. You can secure the top by putting a pillowcase over it or with a plastic sheet.

Towels, Linens, Blankets, and Clothing

When you have fragile items needing to be properly packed and protected, consider the soft items you also need to pack. Blankets, towels, linens, and clothing can all be used as packing materials.

Instead of wasting money on cardboard boxes and bubble wrap, you can rent Green Boxes and use your soft items as the packing materials. Not only will this protect your items well, but it will also give you a sturdier box to pack compared to cardboard.

A few other common packing materials you already own and can reuse include:

• Twist ties for cords

• Trash pails

• Beer/Liquor boxes

• Tupperware container

• Baskets

• Duffle bags, trash bags, backpacks, gift bags, and other bags

• Drawers

• Yarn

Anything soft can be used to help protect items, while many of the things you will be packing offer unused space you can use as a "box", such as a hamper or drawers.

These creative solutions, paired with the right Green Boxes will go a long way to making your move more eco-friendly. Make sure you consider what you already own and how you can use it for packing.

3 Tips to Live More Eco-Friendly After Your Move

After moving in an eco-friendly way and using Chicago green moving boxes, why not continue the trend? There is no better time than when you first move into a new house or apartment to live a more eco-friendly life.

You don't need to make massive changes to become more environmentally-friendly, either. Little changes to the things you buy and use can make a big difference, especially over time. Here are three tips to help you live a more eco-friendly life.

Conserve Energy at Every Corner

One of the best things you can do is set up practices in your new homes for energy conservation. For example, if you're not in a room, shut off the light. This may seem easy, but it's not easy if you're not in this habit.

In addition to simply turning off lights and other things you're not using, you can invest in eco-friendly devices and appliances. If you're buying a new house or remodeling the kitchen, buy the highest EnergyStar rated appliances to ensure you'll consume less energy. You can also do this with electronics and many other devices within your home.

Switching to LED light bulbs will also make a difference. LEDs last longer than a conventional bulb and they use less energy. This is one of the easiest and fastest ways to help make your home more eco-friendly.

Not only will conserving energy help you to live a more eco-friendly lifestyle, but it will also help you to save money. With the right energy conservation practices, you may even see a noticeable difference in your monthly energy bills.

Recycle as much as Possible

Recycling is a great way to live a more eco-friendly lifestyle and many things can be recycled. Just about everything made of plastic can be recycled, along with batteries, paper, cars, and so many other things.

Before you decide you're going to throw something out, consider whether it can be recycled. If you live in a condo or apartment building and they don't offer recycling, find your nearest option for dropping off your recycling. You can also lobby the management staff to provide recycling, which would help to make your entire building more eco-friendly.

Along with recycling, be aware of the products you buy and what they are packaged in. Buying less plastic and less Styrofoam make a difference. When you shop, use canvas bags for your fruits and vegetables and bring reusable grocery bags.

Start Shopping Local

When you buy local, you're living a much more eco-friendly lifestyle than you might imagine. Buying local means the products were likely made and bought much closer to home, which means they didn't leave a carbon footprint to arrive in the store. Farmer's markets, local grocery stores, small businesses and artisans carrying goods they made themselves are all good options.

In addition, when you shop local, you'll be supporting the local economy.

These three tips are just the start of becoming more eco-friendly. There are several other small changes you can make in your new home to ensure you're living the most eco-friendly life possible. It started with your eco-friendly move with Chicago Green Boxes and now it can continue with your new home.

5 Tips for Labeling Your Moving Boxes

Moving is one of the most disorganized times in anybody's life. The funny thing, it's one of the times you really need to be organized. For most people, however, this type of transitional period comes with disorganizing.

You don't have to have a disorganized moving day. With the right (green) boxes, the right packing supplies, and plenty of time to work, you can get ready to move in an organized way. One of the keys to moving organization is labeling your moving boxes. Here are five tips to help you label your moving boxes properly.

Create a System

Start by creating your labeling system. Choose a set of quality markers in different colors, specifically bright colors, if possible. Don't use an ordinary pen or something super simple when you can use a much better set of markers. Place tape over the box and write on the tape directly to not ruin the boxes!

Along with markers, you want colored tape and labels to make your life easier. You can use colored tape to help match the boxes and make them easier to spot. In addition, printable moving box labels can be used to make labeling each box easier. You can get labels for fragile boxes and more.

Color Codes Work

Assign a color to each room of the house. For example, you can use the blue marker for the MASTER BEDROOM and the red marker for the KITCHEN. Match your colored tape to the color of the marker and you'll be able to easily spot which box goes with which room when you arrive at your new home.

While you may know the color system, you need to let your movers in on the secret, too. Tape a piece of paper to the doors of your new home matching the color assigned to that room. This, along with communicating to your movers will make it really easy to deliver the boxes into the right rooms in your new home.

Create and Label an "Open First Box"

An open first box should have everything you need for the first night or two in your new home. This box should be labeled in big, bold letters as the OPEN FIRST BOX. It should be very easy to spot and if you need more than one don't be afraid to pack a couple of open first boxes. It's best if you pack these last so they are easy to get to when you arrive and they come out of the truck first.

Use Fragile on Anything Breakable

Labeling a box as fragile tells the person handling it to be careful. Don't just slap one sticker saying fragile on the top. Label the box as fragile on every single side to ensure there is no way the movers or yourself will miss the message.

Label Each Box as Soon as it's Packed

There is no better time than right after you put in the last item to label your box. If you wait, you will likely forget what's in it. Instead, you can label the box before you start packing it with the assigned color and room. Then, you can write down each item on the side of the box, as you put it in the box.

With these five tips for labeling your green moving boxes, you will be far more organized for your move. Organization during a move will help to keep the stress down and make the experience much easier.

How to Keep Your Chicago Move Eco-Friendly Beyond the Boxes

When it's time to move, you want to make sure you do it in the most eco-friendly way possible. Choosing eco-friendly boxes for moving is a start, but there are many things you can do, outside of boxes to make your move friendly for the environment. Here are a few of the ways you can make your move eco-friendly.

Use Eco-Friendly Cleaning Products

Using harmful chemicals is not a good idea. These chemicals are not good for you or whatever you're cleaning. Instead, choose eco-friendly cleaning products to leave your current home clean for the next owner and to clean your new home.

You can also use these products to clean things you need to pack. With the right eco-friendly products, you can clean everything from windows to countertops to furniture to floors.

Reuse Newspapers

Newspapers are great as a packing supply and it will save you money, along with saving the environment. If you have a stack of newspapers sitting around, use them for packing items. This is a great way to reuse something for another purpose and will keep you from buying plastic packing bubbles or Styrofoam peanuts, which are not good for the environment.

If you prefer to keep your items free of the ink from the newspaper, you can purchase packing paper made from recycled materials. Then, when you're done with it, it can be recycled again.

Hire an Efficient Moving Company

The right Chicago moving company won't waste space, gas or any other resources. They will recommend the right size truck to ensure you don't have to make multiple trips to get all your things moved. Make sure you choose a moving company using practices to help ensure the eco-footprint they leave is smaller.

Donate Anything You Don't Want

Moving is a great time to downsize your things. When you move, you can go through everything you own and get rid of things. Instead of throwing things out, however, donate them. You never know what you have that you consider junk that could be someone else's treasure.

Use Proper Planning

While planning your move may not seem like it's an eco-friendly moving practice it is. When you have a great plan, you have the ability to move without making multiple drives to different places, which uses up gas. You will also know exactly where and how to recycle any moving materials you use.

Put together a good plan from the minute you know you're going to move. This will help you to keep your eco-friendly practices in place because you've planned for them.

Along with all of these eco-friendly tips, you want to make sure you rent reusable plastic moving boxes. This is the most eco-friendly way to go as cardboard, while it can be recycled, it cannot really be reused after a move. Rent the right green moving boxes and you'll have completed your eco-friendly move in the best possible way without causing any more harm than absolutely necessary.