Tag Archives: moving boxes

Where To Get Moving Boxes

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When you’re finally ready to begin preparing for an upcoming move, it’s important to ensure that you have all of the correct materials needed to help you pack up and haul your belongings. The first step in preparing for any local or long-distance move is to gather your moving boxes and other materials, such as packing tape, bubble wrap, and more. This might sound simple, but ensuring that you have the supplies needed to ensure your belongings arrive safely at your new home can be surprisingly challenging. Wondering where to buy moving boxes and how to begin the process of preparing for an upcoming move? Keep reading to learn a few simple tips from our moving experts!

Where To Get Moving BoxesChoosing the Right Boxes

When selecting the right boxes for your move, it is important to determine what size box is right for the items you need to move. Be sure to reserve large boxes for light objects such as pillows, stuffed animals, lampshades, and other items that will not fill a large box and make it too heavy or dangerous to carry. Smaller boxes are best for heavier items like books, large toys, and small appliances.

1. Buy Them

The easiest way to get moving boxes is to purchase them. Of course, whether you decide to purchase or not depends on your budget and how many boxes you need to pack up your household. The most significant advantage of purchasing boxes is that you know exactly what you are getting and can even buy complete moving kits, saving you time and effort. Individual moving boxes are not expensive, but they can add up fast, especially if you need to buy several dozen.

2. Friends and Family

Around 80% of all products sold in the United States are packaged in boxes. With the popularity of online shopping continuing to rise, your friends and family are very likely to have a stash of shipping boxes. Put the word out a few weeks before your move to let your friends and family members know you need any spare boxes. Also, ask your social media network to keep an eye out for anyone they know that recently moved or is looking for someone to take boxes off their hands.

3. Local Classifieds

Local classifieds are a goldmine for free or low-priced items, especially moving boxes. Some local sources you should browse include Facebook Marketplace, Craigslist, Freecycle and Nextdoor. Do diligent research first and always arrange to meet in a public place or take a partner with you for pickup. Also, pay in cash (if they are charging for the boxes) or pay via Paypal (or similar), so you are not giving away your private information.

4. Retailers

Retail stores are constantly receiving shipments in boxes. Specifically, grocery and liquor stores receive shipments more regularly, and their boxes tend to be more uniform in size. Speak to a manager about getting the boxes once they are empty. Also, keep in mind that retailers do not like to sit and hold boxes because it takes up space. If you are given permission to take the boxes, pick them up promptly on the arranged date.

5. Recycle Centers

Currently, about 70% of cardboard boxes used commercially are recycled. That’s a lot of boxes heading for your local recycling center. Call the recycling center first to find out the rules for getting cardboard boxes before you head over. Most of the boxes will be broken down and flattened to save space. So, if you are going to go the recycling center route, be sure to stock up on extra packaging tape.

Moving Box Size Guide

To better prepare you to make a decision on which boxes you need for your move, check out our simple size guide below.

Standard Box Sizes

  • Small boxes: Measure approximately 16″ x 12″ x 12″ and are great for books, small items and kitchen tools
  • Medium boxes: Measure approximately 18″ x 16″ x 18″ and can hold small home decor items, bigger books, small throws and towels
  • Large boxes: Measure approximately 18″ x 18″ x 24″ and are essential for bedding, curtains, large kitchen tools and small pillows
  • Extra-large boxes: Measure approximately 24″ x 20″ x 24″ and can hold comforters, sheets, bigger pillows, small rugs and more

Free Box Hunting Do’s and Don’ts

Getting free boxes is a great way to cut down on moving costs. However, here are some things to keep in mind before you start collecting free boxes.

Packing Items Safely 

When it comes to packing items for a move, it is important to take the time to ensure that all items are packed correctly to prevent damage from occurring and allow all items to arrive safely at your new home. Be sure to wrap fragile items like glassware and electronics in bubble wrap, and use heavy-duty packing tape to seal boxes so that nothing falls out while in transit.

Moving can be overwhelming on the whole, but the process of packing is probably one of the most stressful parts. Not only do you have to sort, wrap and pack your belongings for transport, but there is also the added expense and hassle of getting boxes to pack. Thankfully, there are ways to source moving boxes, and some won’t cost you a dime. Here’s where to get boxes for your move so that you can have a faster, easier moving process.

Contact Pony Express Moving today to make your local move a seamless and enjoyable process.

 

Packing Books For a Move

Packing Books For a MoveThere are a few predicaments all book lovers can relate to.

One, the overwhelming desire to buy or borrow new books when you already have a huge to-read list at home.

Two, hours at a time vanishing when you don’t realize how long you’ve been reading.

Three, cursing your book-buying habit when it comes time to move.

Moving books is tough! They’re heavy, often fragile, vulnerable to water damage and tough to keep organized. You might own hundreds or even thousands of books. You might be able to appreciate how poetic your favorite habit becoming such an albatross during your new chapter in life would be… if you weren’t in such a bad mood. Luckily, moving books doesn’t have to be frustrating! In fact, packing books and moving your collection efficiently and safely is easier than you think! All you have to do is follow a few of these helpful book-moving guidelines:

Go through your collection.

Moving is the ideal time to take a long, critical look at all the books you have. Culling your book collection means you’ll have fewer things to pack and move. Start this process a month or two before your move is scheduled. Go spine by spine, and look at each book you have. Ask yourself if you’ve read it, if you plan on reading it or if it has sentimental value to you. Be honest. You didn’t read Absalom, Absalom when it was assigned in college, and you probably won’t read it now.

If you can’t answer ‘yes’ to any of these questions about any particular book, it’s time for that book to go. Don’t leave it sitting around so you can go back on your choice, either. Instead, take the books you’re passing on to a used bookstore or one of many other places that take book donations. Seeing those books off may hurt a bit now, but your movers (and your back!) will thank you later. Plus, you’ll have more room to buy new books!

Go for small boxes.

One of the easiest mistakes to make when packing books is packing boxes too full. Books are heavy, and their bulk adds up quickly. Go for boxes that are smaller than 16″ by 12″ by 12″, even if those are the common measurements for small ones from hardware stores.

Re-purpose smaller banana boxes, apple boxes, or old shipping boxes. If you have no choice but to use larger boxes, don’t fill them all the way full. You can fill them halfway with books and use the other half for clothing, linen, or other lighter items. You want to avoid the potential disaster for both you and your books that heavy boxes can cause. Spread out the weight of the books, even if it means packing more boxes.

Take the time to prep each box.

Heavy, overloaded boxes filled with books break more easily than others. If you need to pack boxes full of books, you’ll have to prepare them first. Cover all the seams on the box with a double layer of packing tape. When you tape the center flap on the bottom, make sure the tape runs at least halfway up the box on the sides.

Extra tape crisscrossed across the bottom of the box is never a bad idea. If you want to be especially cautious, cut additional pieces of cardboard to place inside the bottom of the box. This will add additional protection and weight disbursement.

Pay special attention to the way you pack both paperbacks and hardcovers.

There are certain techniques you can take when packing both paperbacks and hardcovers so they remain safe.

Tips for Hardcover Books

  • Hardcover books should be placed upright, with their spines against the side of the box.
  • You want to pack hardcovers tightly, but not so tightly that you won’t be able to get them out of the box.
  • If you’re packing moderately valuable editions, wrap those in packing paper to protect their covers.
  • If they’re especially valuable editions, use cardboard slotted between volumes to keep them from shifting during transport.

Tips for Paperback Books

  • Paperbacks can be packed in multiple ways. You can stack them flat or spine first so that their paper edges face upwards. Don’t pack them so the edges of the pages face down or they’ll bend and warp. If you leave the boxes this way long term, they’ll be permanently damaged.
  • Fill empty spaces with wadded-up paper to help limit any shifting in the box. You want to keep the books from falling onto their sides or bending.

Now that you  know how to pack your books like an expert, you still have to worry about moving them.

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