Packing is the part of a move most likely to go wrong if it’s rushed. Start early, work room by room, label everything clearly, and use the right materials. This is the system our removals crews recommend to every customer.
Before you start packing
Get your materials together first. You’ll need: double-walled packing boxes in various sizes, packing tape, packing paper or newsprint, bubble wrap for fragile items, wardrobe cartons for hanging clothes, and a marker pen for labelling. Buying cheap single-walled boxes to save a few pounds is a false economy: they collapse under weight and the bottom falls out on a staircase.
Declutter before you pack. Every box you don’t fill is money and effort saved. Work through each room honestly: if you haven’t used something in a year and can’t think of a reason you will, it’s probably not worth moving.
Start with items you use least: books, out-of-season clothes, ornaments, spare linen. Leave daily essentials, the kettle, your phone charger and bathroom basics until last. Pack your essentials box separately and keep it out of the van.
Kitchen
The kitchen takes longer than any other room. Give yourself at least half a day. Start with appliances and gadgets you rarely use: the bread maker, the stand mixer, the blender. Work towards the everyday items last.
Plates pack best on edge, not flat. Wrap each plate individually in packing paper before stacking. Glasses need individual wrapping and small, sturdy boxes: they’re heavy when grouped and vulnerable if the box is too large. Pots and pans nest inside each other with paper between them to prevent scratching.
Use small boxes for heavy items like tins, jars and bottled goods. A large box full of tins is too heavy to lift safely. Medium boxes for plates and cookware. Larger boxes for lighter items like cereal boxes, plastic containers and bulky but light kitchen items.
Living room
Books are among the heaviest things you’l pack. Use small boxes and fill them only two-thirds full. A box of books that’s too heavy to carry safely is a risk to the crew and a risk to the box itself.
Wrap ornaments, picture frames and decorative items individually. Use plenty of paper and bubble wrap for anything fragile. Mark boxes containing fragile items clearly on the top and on all four sides: “FRAGILE” and “THIS WAY UP” if relevant.
Flat-screen TVs should travel in their original box if you have it. If not, wrap the screen in bubble wrap and place it in an upright position. Never lay a flat-screen TV flat in a van: the panel can crack under its own weight on an uneven road.
Bedroom
Wardrobe cartons are one of the best investments in a house move. They let hanging clothes travel upright on a rail inside the box, arriving at the new place crease-free and ready to rehang. Pack shoes in their original boxes if you have them, or wrap pairs together in paper.
Fold and pack clothes you don’t need to hang. Fill cases, holdalls and bags with clothes before you start on boxes: it saves space and uses luggage you’d be moving anyway.
Dismantle the bed on the morning of the move, or ask the crew to do it. Keep all fixings, bolts and screws in a labelled bag taped to the headboard. A bed that arrives at the new place with all its hardware takes ten minutes to reassemble. One that arrives with missing screws takes a trip to the hardware shop.
Bathroom
The bathroom is usually the last room to pack and the first you need on arrival. Pack it the night before rather than the morning of the move. Use a waterproof bag or plastic box for toiletries: shampoo bottles leak under pressure in a van.
Check every cupboard, the medicine cabinet and under the sink. It’s easy to leave things behind in a bathroom because the room stays in use until the last minute. Towels pack well around fragile items in other boxes.
Labelling and loading
Label every box with two things: the room it’s going to and a brief note of the contents. “Kitchen: pots and pans” is more useful than just ”Kitchen”. Label the top and at least one side so you can read the box without rotating it in a stack.
Heavy boxes load first, at the bottom. Lighter boxes go on top. Fragile boxes travel in a clear space where they won’t be crushed. Tell the crew which boxes are fragile so they can load accordingly. If you’ve used our professional packing service, the team handles all of this and everything is labelled, wrapped and loaded in the right order.
Frequently asked questions
How many boxes will I need for a two-bedroom flat?
A reasonable estimate for a two-bedroom flat is 40 to 60 boxes, depending on how much you own and how much decluttering you do. It’s better to have too many than too few: unused boxes can be broken down and recycled. Your removals company can advise based on a survey of your property.
Can I use bin bags instead of boxes?
For clothes and soft furnishings only. Bin bags are fine for bedding, pillows and clothing, but they offer no protection for anything breakable or structured. Boxes stack safely; bin bags don’t. Don’t use bin bags for books, kitchenware or anything fragile.
How early should I start packing?
Start at least three to four weeks before moving day for a two-bedroom flat or house. Begin with storage rooms, loft items and non-essentials, and work towards the rooms you use daily in the final week. Leaving it all to the last few days is the most common cause of a stressful, rushed move.
What should I not pack myself?
Pianos, antiques, large mirrors and high-value artwork are best left to specialists. Just Removals London handles specialist and high-value items with the right equipment and insurance. Don’t risk wrapping something irreplaceable yourself if you’re not confident in the result.