Laundry rooms are a big necessity in today’s home – especially in the days leading up to a big move. Every piece of clothing that will be taken to the new home must be washed and dried. This is why the laundry room will likely be one of the last rooms you pack up.
Fortunately, laundry rooms are rather easy to pack for a move, as they are small and don’t contain much stuff, compared with, say, a kitchen or bathroom. But when you are taking your washer and dryer with you, the packing process gets a bit more complicated. Here’s how you can pack your laundry room for moving – quickly, properly and efficiently.
Declutter
As always when moving, the first step before packing anything is to declutter the space. You will have to decide what you will bring with you, what you can buy new in the destination home, and what you will get rid of beforehand.
Start with the large items:
- Do you own the washer and dryer? If so, will you take them to the new place?
- Do you plan to move the cabinetry, shelving, or other furniture such as tables for folding clothes, to the new place?
Think about what is worth taking when it comes to the smaller items:
- Laundry baskets
- Hangers
- Ironing boards
- Lint brushes
- Wall décor
It’s safe to say you can probably leave behind damaged or worn-out items, and those bottles of detergent. Many movers won’t take hazardous items anyway, and detergents and bleaches fall into this category.
Next, go through everything that’s stored in your laundry room and weed it out, such as old or-rarely used clothes, extra towels and linens, clothing accessories, sewing and cleaning supplies, and miscellaneous items.
Consider using laundry baskets, hampers and bins as free packing containers that can hold all your non-breakable, lightweight items such as pillows, clothes, linens, and stuffed animals, suggests Moving Tips. Use the laundry room trash bin to transport laundry supplies, dryer sheet packs, mesh bags, etc.
Organize
Pack all your smaller laundry room items first. Here are some more tips:
- Pack similar items together.
- Put heavier items in small boxes.
- Add cushioning inside moving boxes to prevent items from shifting during transit.
- Seal the boxes securely and label them with their contents, along with handling instructions.
- Place tiny items such as clothespins in sealable plastic bags before putting them in boxes.
- Stack hangers on top of each other, securing them with rubber bands, and wrapping them in old sheets.
- Properly seal sewing kits, packing them in small moving boxes with other non-breakable items.
While your movers won’t take the detergents and other cleaning supplies, this doesn’t mean you can’t take them with you in your car if you so desire. In this case, pack laundry detergent, soap, fabric softener, spray starch, stain remover, and other laundry essentials with the utmost care to prevent spillage during transit.
Put each container in a sealable bag, then put them all in a plastic bin. Make sure they are snug and upright at all times. Don’t move products that you have already opened. Just prepare to buy those things once you get to the new place.
Prepare Your Washing Machine
If you plan to take your washing machine with you, you need to prep it for shipping.
- Empty and clean it. Run a wash cycle with an empty load, using no detergent.
- Drain the water.
- Turn it off and unplug it; tape the electrical cord to the machine’s back.
- Disconnect the hoses from the water supply.
- Using plastic wrap, secure the drain hose to the washer.
- Leave the door to your washing machine open for 24 hours to allow for drying.
- Install transit bolts for stabilized, safe transit.
- Secure the door with plastic wrap.
- Wrap the machine in moving blankets.
Prepare Your Dryer
Clothes dryers are lighter and much easier to pack and move but you still have to be careful.
- With an electric dryer, unplug it and secure the cord to the machine’s back.
- With a gas dryer, turn off the gas, securing the gas line with a cap, disconnecting the hose and storing it inside the drum.
- Disconnect the dryer vent house and put it inside the drum.
- Wrap the machine in moving blankets.
These aren’t easy tasks, so you may be better off hiring your movers to do this for you.
Contact Best Fit Movers
With an upcoming San Diego move, you are likely very busy organizing, packing and planning. Why not let us help? Contact us at 858-429-0097 for a free quote. We can even help with the packing.
