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I bought 2 50 gallon rubbermaid containers on wheels. I used towels and was able to pack my kitchen, linens and paper items. When I moved into the house I knew exactly where I stored towels, wash cloths, hand soap, toilet paper. In a small tote I packed cleaning supplies. Bedding was in a separate container. Within an hour I had my beds made, bathrooms cleaned and a functional kitchen. Everything else could wait.
I had pets, too. Their dishes and food were packed separately in 33gallon container with tools and non-essentials. Their food a water went to a quiet place where they could eat and rest away from the moving of furniture and appliances and not be disturbed.
The washer and dryer were packed with smaller light weight items like paper plates, toilet paper, shampoo, and a clean change of clothes. It was easy to jump in the shower and change clothes before we went to eat.
I did not employ dresser drawers. Personal and valuable oems were placed in the car. Of all the times I moved I broke one item. I forgot I wrapped a small porcelain statue in a crocheted throw. The large containers saved a lot of space.
I also wrapped mattresses and box springs because moving vans and DYI trucks are notoriously dirty. I is amazing what you use to pack, save space, and save money while moving across country.
I just had an on-site quote from Allied Van Lines, and they guy said the totes are fine, and that they will shrink-wrap them to keep the lids on. He recollended NOT taping them, because that gets ugly tape residue on the totes.
This is so true. On my move 10 years ago, I taped the lids of the totes. I've never been able to get that tape totally off.
Last (and hopefully final) time we moved we were told the best time to get boxes at liquor stores is early on Monday morning. For some reason liquor stores are pretty busy on weekends. lol
Vellamint, one of the handiest products we used for moving was Space Bags. Pack what you need in the bags, zip them up and use the vacuum cleaner to suck all the air out of the bags. With a lot of clothes and towels, when the bags are shrunk, you can put them between the totes and/or boxes to keep everything packed tight. Get the Space Cubes for things like winter clothes that you won't need right away.
This is so true. On my move 10 years ago, I taped the lids of the totes. I've never been able to get that tape totally off.
Try either fingernail polish remover containing acetone (the Dollar Stores have it), actual acetone (paint department at Lowe's or Home Depot), or "Crud Cutter" (Walmart) for tape (look at the label - there are several formulas).
Warning! Wear rubber chemical gloves and work outside, if possible. Do not smoke or work around an open flame. Acetone is nasty stuff but it will take off the tape. Crud Cutter is safer but doesn't work as quickly.
I just had an on-site quote from Allied Van Lines, and they guy said the totes are fine, and that they will shrink-wrap them to keep the lids on. He recollended NOT taping them, because that gets ugly tape residue on the totes.
UPDATE! Allied did not shrink wrap my totes...the driver said no one told him about this, and they didn't have enough shrink wrap to do it. I ended up taping with wide blue masking tape, and the lids stayed on. The tape pulled right off.
We moved ourselves with a U-Haul and all of my Christmas decorations were in the totes (about 40 of them) We had our boxes staged in our garage before we packed up the truck and if we stacked them taller than about 4 high they collapsed....The totes were heavy though and many a day I went to the garage only to see another stack had fallen....Once in the moving van though they held each other up.....I too am sorry I taped the totes shut with masking tape...It didn't come off easily and when I used chemicals to remove it, it discolored my totes..
If you have them use them, but I wouldn't go out and buy specifically for the move. You have to pack them very full or they will squash (I learned this the hard way, despite thinking I had packed some of them as full as they'd get). They also are less space-efficient than stacked cardboard boxes, although that may not be an issue if you're paying by weight and not linear foot in the truck.
I try to keep as much stuff as possible in totes as a permanent storage arrangement. For example, all of our holiday decorations are stored in plastic bins that can be stacked in the garage. I like the bins that can fit under beds too. If you move a lot, like I do, it makes the move a bit easier. ;-)
I'm a big fan of using garbage bags for towels and blankets etc when moving; they fit into the small/awkward spaces of the truck easily.
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Tape on Totes
