Getting Ready to Move? 18 Packing Hacks You Need to Know

This article originally appeared on the Springs "You're Home Blog."

Have you ever noticed how you seem to magically gain more possessions when you're preparing to move? Packing is normally as pleasant as getting a root canal, but it doesn't have to be quite so painful. We've assembled a list of some easy and surprising hacks to smooth the way as you get ready to move into one of our luxury Springs Apartments homes.

Kitchen

• The kitchen is the hardest room to pack, so start there. Once that's done, it will be easier to face the rest of the job
• Kill two birds with one stone by using sheets and towels to wrap dishes. Another option is to separate them with styrofoam plates
• Empty wine boxes make great containers for glassware
• Pack cleaning supplies and other liquids together to avoid disaster in case of spills or leaks
• Defrost the refrigerator a day or two ahead so you don't have to deal with last-minute leaks or nasty odors

Clothes and Accessories

• Get more clothes into less space by rolling them up instead of folding them
• Pack hanging clothes in seconds by zip-tying a group of hangers and placing a trash bag over them
• Move dressers intact by using plastic wrap to seal the drawers closed

Bedroom

• Keep mattresses clean by covering each side with a fitted sheet
• Place pillows and blankets in trash bags. Use them as a buffer around fragile items in the moving truck

Electronics

• Take pictures of equipment so you can get everything hooked up quickly in your new home
• Pack cords in empty toilet paper cores
• If you don't have the original box for your big-screen TV, cover the screen with towels or bubble wrap and secure with packing tape. Use more tape and a box cutter to build a custom-sized box

General Tips

• Stay organized with free apps like MoveAdvisor and State Farm's MoveTools. Both are available for Android and iOS and include features like checklists, timelines and household inventories
• Pack books and other heavy items in suitcases
• Use adhesive dots or duct tape to color-code boxes. It's quicker than writing and easier to identify at a glance. Be sure to mark boxes on the side instead of the top so they're visible when stacked up
• Cut triangles or rectangles out of the sides of boxes for makeshift handles
• Fill a basket with box knives, labels, tape, scissors and any other packing supplies you need so it's convenient to carry with you

Do you have a clever moving hack to share? Let us know in the comments!