Packing your clothes for a move sounds easy until you’re staring at a closet full of stuff and have no idea where to start. Whether you have a huge wardrobe or just the basics, it can feel overwhelming fast.
The good news is that with a little planning, you can pack your clothes without losing your mind or ruining your favorite items. The team at Cardinal Moving Company has helped thousands of Ohio families move, and we’re sharing the exact tips we give our customers every day.
Start With a Plan
Before you grab a single box, take a few minutes to think through your approach. If you just start throwing things into boxes, you’ll regret it when you’re digging through a mystery box at your new place, trying to find your work clothes on Monday morning.
Go Through Everything You Own
Pull out all of your clothes, shoes, handbags, hats, and accessories. Hang what you can and lay the rest out on your bed so you can actually see what you have. Then ask yourself these four questions about each item:
- Have I worn this in the last year?
- Does it still fit and is it in good shape?
- Does it match how I dress now?
- Is it worth packing and moving?
If the answer is yes, it’s a keeper. If not, it goes into one of two piles: donate or sell.
Donate, Sell, or Store What You Don’t Need
Donating is one of the easiest ways to get rid of clothes you no longer wear. Ohio has tons of options, including Goodwill, Salvation Army, local churches, and shelters in cities like Columbus, Cleveland, and Cincinnati. A lot of charities will even come pick up your donations for free and give you a receipt you can use on your taxes.
Selling makes sense for trendier or more expensive pieces. Apps like Poshmark, Facebook Marketplace, and eBay make it simple to list items from your phone. You can also do a garage sale or drop things off at a consignment shop.
Storing is a good option if you have seasonal clothes or sentimental items you’re just not ready to deal with right now. A climate-controlled storage unit in Ohio will keep everything in good condition until you figure out what to do with it.
Get Your Clothes Ready Before You Pack
Once you know what you’re keeping, wash everything before it goes into a box. You don’t want to unpack at your new home and find that your clothes smell musty from sitting in boxes for days.
If anything needs dry cleaning, drop it off early so you have it back before moving day. That way it’s ready to pack with everything else and you’re not scrambling at the last minute.
Gather Your Supplies
Having the right stuff on hand makes packing so much easier. Here’s what you’ll want to pull together before you start:
- Moving boxes (small to medium sizes)
- Wardrobe boxes (more on these in a minute)
- Garment bags (your dry cleaner might give you extras for free)
- Luggage, duffel bags, and gym bags you already own
- Vacuum or compression bags for bulky winter items
- Hat boxes
- Plastic bins
- Shoe boxes
- Packing paper
- Plastic zip bags for jewelry and small accessories
- Packing tape
- Labels and markers
You can find free cardboard boxes at grocery stores or recycling centers, but if you want boxes that are in perfect condition for your nicer clothes, it’s worth spending a few bucks on new ones.
And if packing feels like too much, Cardinal Moving Company offers professional packing services. We can handle everything or just the parts you’d rather hand off to someone else.
Sort Your Clothes Before You Pack Them
If you have a lot of clothes, sorting them first will save you a ton of time when you’re unpacking. Here are a few ways to do it:
By season: Ohio winters are cold, and summers are hot, so there’s a good chance you won’t need your heavy coat in July or your shorts in January. Pack off-season items together so you can store them until the weather calls for them.
By clothing type: Pack all your pants together, all your shirts together, and so on. It makes finding things so much easier when you arrive.
By family member: If you’re packing for the whole household, keep everyone’s clothes in separate boxes. Label each box with the person’s name and which room it’s going to. This is especially important when boxes are being sent to different rooms in your new home.
How to Actually Pack Your Clothes
Using Regular Moving Boxes
Regular cardboard boxes work great for folded clothes like t-shirts, jeans, and sweaters. Here’s how to pack them the right way:
- Use small to medium boxes so they don’t get too heavy to carry.
- Tape the bottom firmly before you put anything in.
- Put a layer of packing paper on the bottom to protect your clothes.
- Fold and stack your clothes neatly inside.
- Add another layer of packing paper on top before you seal it.
- Tape it shut and label it clearly so you know what’s inside and where it goes.
Using Wardrobe Boxes
Wardrobe boxes are one of the best moving investments you can make. They have a metal rod inside so your hanging clothes go straight from your closet into the box without ever being folded. No wrinkles, no mess.
Use garment bags with your wardrobe boxes for extra protection, especially for suits, dresses, or anything delicate. Ask your dry cleaner if they have spare plastic bags you can use.
A Few Tricks That Make a Big Difference
Leave lightweight clothes in your dresser drawers. Ask your residential moving crew if it’s okay to move the dresser with the lighter stuff still inside. It can save a lot of time. Just make sure you don’t leave anything heavy in there.
Use bags you already have. Duffel bags, gym bags, and suitcases are perfect for everyday clothes. No need to waste a moving box on something a bag can handle.
Compression bags are a game-changer for winter coats and heavy sweaters. They shrink down to a fraction of their size and free up a lot of space in your boxes.
Use small zip bags for jewelry and accessories. They keep everything organized, easy to see, and tangle-free.
Don’t Forget About Your Shoes
Shoes are easy to overlook when packing. Just tossing them into a garbage bag leads to scuffed leather, crushed toes, and pairs that somehow end up separated. Here’s a better approach:
Use the original shoeboxes if you still have them. They fit perfectly, and the lid stays on with a little tape or a rubber band. If you don’t have the original boxes, clear plastic shoe boxes from Target or Walmart cost just a few dollars each and work great.
Wrap each pair in packing paper before putting them in the box to prevent scratches. Fill any extra space in the box with newspaper, packing paper, or a small towel to prevent the shoes from shifting during the move.
Let Cardinal Moving Company Handle the Heavy Lifting
Once your wardrobe is packed and ready to go, the hard work is behind you. But there’s still the furniture, appliances, and everything else that comes with a full move. That’s where we come in.
Cardinal Moving Company helps homeowners, renters, and businesses all across Ohio move with less stress and more confidence. Our crew brings the experience and equipment to get the job done right so you can focus on the exciting part of settling into your new home.
Get your free moving estimate today. Give us a call or request a quote online, and let’s get your Ohio move on the calendar.
Download our printable moving checklist and explore our blog for more Ohio moving tips!
