9 Apartment Moving Hacks

Moving to a new apartment can be an exciting new chapter in a person’s life. But moving day itself can also be incredibly stressful. As anyone who's moved can tell you, little tips to make the process easier are greatly appreciated.

So, with that in mind, we've provided you with some of the most useful tips and tricks to use next time you move to a new apartment.

1. Find Free Moving Boxes

Moving can include a lot of unexpected costs, some of which are completely unnecessary. One of these is buying moving boxes. Clothing and grocery stores, as well as the Craigslist free section, are good places to find perfectly good boxes at no cost.

2. Pack Clothes on Hangers

Plastic wrap is your best friend. To save the time it would take you to remove clothes from hangers and fold them, only to move, unfold and rehang them later, all you have to do is zip-tie the hangers together and wrap the whole lot in plastic wrap.

3. Load Furniture with Drawers

If your drawers have handles that stick out, unscrew the hardware and place the handles on the inside; this will help to prevent them from scratching other items in the move. You can also use your drawers to store other items in the move.

4. Color-Code

One of the hardest things when moving is to keep all your boxes organized. It's never easy to find things when you arrive at your new apartment. This can be made simpler through a color-coding system that'll let you glance at each box and immediately know which room the contents belong in.

5. Pack Plates

A moving disaster that you definitely want to avoid is broken dishes. If you pack your plates vertically, like records, they'll be less likely to break in transit.

6. Pack Mirrors and Pictures

If you thought plates were difficult to keep intact, wait until you have to pack some mirrors and glass picture frames. In these instances, you'll have to pack each item separately, wrapping it in bubble wrap or packing paper like a present. Make sure you label the outside of the box “fragile.”

7. Use Your Towels and Sheets

Linens take up a lot of space in boxes that could be used for other things, but they can be put to good use when moving. Wrap your more fragile objects in your towels and sheets; this way, you can pack everything and save yourself some bubble wrap. Two birds with one stone!

8. A Quick Way to Fill Holes in the Wall

Small holes in your apartment walls, though seemingly insignificant, can cost you some money upon moving out. To prevent this, fill them in using a bar of soap. Just rub the hole with the bar until it's filled.

9. Pack a TV

Televisions are another tricky customer when it comes to moving. Luckily, there are a few tricks you can use, such as covering the screen with a towel and building a custom box for it. Always remember to keep your flat screen sitting upright. Next time you buy a TV, keep the original packing material and you can use it next time you move.