What Do I Pack?

A brief guide on what to pack into each size box, and how to use your materials from your David Gilkes Moving Pack effectively and efficiently.

Packing for a move can be a bit daunting, but with the right approach and a positive mindset, you can make it easier and more organised. Here's a step-by-step guide on how to pack your boxes. 

General Rules of Thumb:

• If it fits in a box, put it in a box
• This makes the loading and unloading of your van much more efficient as you will make less trips to the van and back
• If in doubt, wrap it
• Don't take anything to chance. If you think there is even the slightest possibility something could be damaged, wrap it! Or ask your removal company about what protective, specialist materials they have available
• If you can't lift the box, it's too heavy
• For the most part, if you can't lift a box you have packed then it may be too heavy. Packing boxes usually withstand about 20kg worth of items.
• Always make sure your box shuts completely
• If your box isn't shut properly, it can make them more difficult to stack and may result in breakages.
• Don't pack anything important or valuable
• Whether you're packing yourself or have a company packing for you, always pack medication, passports and other important documents, family heirlooms and jewellery separately and easily accessible. It should be on your person at all times.

1. Small Boxes

• Pack heavier items into small boxes such as cans of food or books
• Fragile and breakable items - make sure you wrap them well and pad out the box using bubble wrap or packing paper
• Small, table lamps 
• Kitchen items
• Picture frames

2. Large Boxes 

• Larger, lighter items
• Bedding
• Non-fragile kitchenware, such as pots and pans, baking trays or chopping boards
• Shoes

3. Tall Boxes

• Taller items such as lamps or children's toys 
• Linens and bedding

4. Packing Paper

• Use scrunched packing paper to fill in any gaps in your boxes that would allow items to hit each other or fall over
• Use scrunched paper on the bottom and top of your box to ensure anything stacked below or above will not break the items of the box
• Wrap breakable, fragile items in paper to protect them
• Wrap loose utensils and cutlery in paper so they don't become loose in your box

5. Bubble Wrap

• Wrap large, breakable items such as pictures, mirrors and standing lamps
• Wrap anything fragile or breakable if you would rather use bubble wrap than packing paper

6. Packing Tape

• Build your boxes from the bottom, and make sure they are sealed securely with strong packing tape
• Make your box is sealed at the top strongly and securely
• Make sure your box is sealed flat, and not wonky or uneven, or with anything poking out of it

7. Marker Pen

• Label all of your boxes in clear writing
• Label the room they are going to (not necessarily where they came from)
• Label the box with the contents clearly, so you know which box to unpack when you need something