Before you move to a new home, take a moment to look at your belongings. Does it seem like you have too many boxes? Does your car look overstuffed?
You can save time, money, and headaches with effective storage hacks!
Don’t know which steps to try out? Not sure which ones work best? Follow our six storage tips here to get a head start:
1. Limiting Items With Vacuum Bags
If you plan to stuff clothes into bags, don’t settle for garbage bags. Yes, you can squeeze them into tight spaces and force a lot of them into your car but there is a better solution: use vacuum bags.
Vacuum bags remove all the extra air, reducing the size of the bag into a thin layer you can easily fit into your car. Use this method for clothes, linen, curtains, and pillowcases.
If possible, don’t stuff everything in your car. You don’t want to put too much weight in your vehicle. This creates a road hazard since they might toss around and hit you while you’re still driving.
Place your items in a portable storage container instead. If you have to put other items in your car, put them in an overhead carrier. This guarantees they won’t toss around in your vehicle.
2. Right Size Boxes
Don’t stack heavy items all into one big box. On the opposite end, don’t fit all the light items into a small box. Switch this around.
Heavy items should go in small boxes, ensuring they don’t get too heavy. Fit all your extra linen and light items into big boxes. Even if you fill them to the brim, they won’t get too heavy or overwhelming to carry.
When you’re done, all the boxes should weigh roughly the same, regardless of size and content. Doing this not only makes it easier to carry them around but it also guarantees movers don’t get surprised with a heavy box.
3. Categorize Items
As much as possible, don’t shove random items into your boxes. If you got books in one box or bag, then don’t add anything else but books. If you got clothes in one vacuum bag, don’t mix things up by adding cable wires and linen.
Of course, this is impossible to follow at all times. There are other ways to categorize, like categorizing according to purpose or room. You can categorize one box solely for items from your home office and one box is only for books or video games.
4. Rent a Storage Unit
Look for portable storage buildings. These look like typical sheds or storage units but with two major differences. First off, you can assemble and disassemble them with ease and the second thing is you can hitch them to your vehicle.
Using a storage unit instantly increases the number of items you can bring with you on the road. If you properly organized items into boxes and vacuum bags then you can optimize the new space you get.
Make sure you know the maximum carry limit for the trailer holding the storage unit. You should also know the maximum towing limit of your vehicle.
If you still got things to bring and they won’t fit into your storage building, you can add another portable solution: overhead carriers.
Overhead Carriers
One of the best storage hacks is to use an overhead carrier. This is crucial because it lets you bring heavy items without the dangers mentioned above.
Another benefit is that you can easily organize your items. You can put all the stuff you don’t immediately need in the portable storage unit or in boxes that go in the car trunk. For the stuff you might need, put them in the carrier since you can easily access them during stops.
More importantly, using a carrier adds visibility. People can and will spot you on the road, even from a far distance.
5. Use Labels
Got too many boxes and bags? Use labels!
Some people prefer to use tape and markers but this is a bad practice. Pen and marker writings can fade. The tape can come off, especially when exposed to air and water for too long.
Instead, use a label maker. These print out clear and easy-to-read labels. They also use more reliable sticker paper that won’t easily come off.
Use the organization tip listed above and label accordingly. Got a box filled with office supplies? Label it “office supplies” to avoid confusion.
6. KonMari Method
Ever seen the show Tidying Up with Marie Kondo? It’s one of the most popular shows on Netflix and the titular character sparked a meme too, but for good reason. Her show focuses on how to declutter and organize your home and this philosophy applies when on the move.
Her method requires you to hold on to an item and take a moment to evaluate its value. Does it spark joy? If it does then you can keep it but if it doesn’t, no matter how sentimental it might seem, you have to let it go.
Don’t immediately throw away the items you didn’t keep.
For the ones you still feel some attachment to, take a picture of them. This guarantees you still get to keep the memories. For the others, place them in “donation” and “sell” piles.
Donating and Selling
Don’t throw anything away!
After decluttering, set aside all the things you don’t need. Decide which items you can sell and which ones to donate. Donate items you know people can still use.
Do you have junk that you know you can’t put up in a garage sale? Sell them to the junkyard or recycle center. The folks there could break these items down and use the raw materials for something else.
Try These Storage Hacks Now!
Don’t hesitate to use these storage hacks if you feel like you’re carrying too much or if you’re struggling with organizing your belongings. With these tips, you can easily reduce the struggle of bringing your things across the country and to a new home.
Of course, these aren’t the only hacks to follow. Check out our other guides now to learn more amazing tips and tricks!
