10 Packing Tips for Moving to San Diego

With blue skies, umbrella drinks, and sandy shores as far as the eye can see, moving to San Diego can be one of the best decisions you ever make. But before you can start sunbathing, you’ll need to pack up your old life to prepare for the new one.

If you’ve ever moved before, you know this is tougher than it sounds, especially if you’re moving long distance. How are you supposed to protect grandma’s fine china with boxes you picked up at the dollar store? Is there any way to haul around couches and chairs without scuffing up their ends?

For those planning a move to San Diego, here are a few packing tips for moving to help you get the job done quickly and efficiently. These hacks will get your wheels turning in the right direction.

1. Roll Your Clothes

This is a common airline stewardess hack since they are often trying to fit everything they need into a small carry-on bag. If you roll your clothes instead of folding them, you can pack a lot more into your bags without wasting any space.

Not only will the rolling method cut down on the amount of luggage and boxes you have to move, but it will also leave your clothes wrinkle-free when you finally reach San Diego. You’ll be able to pop them out and wear them right away instead of hunting down the box with your iron in it.

Need boxes for your move? Move Central provides quality moving boxes ranging from small to large, as well as dish pack cartons and wardrobe boxes.

2. Use Socks for Padding

You probably won’t need a lot of warm socks after moving to San Diego, but before you toss them out in anticipation of sunshine and palm trees, there is one last way to use them. They make great padding for fragile items and keeping other belongings separated.

You can wrap your wine and shot glasses in socks, use them as liners for boxes filled with collectibles, or even ball them up as makeshift packing peanuts. They’ll be able to hold things in place without getting chipped or cracked. There are loads of ways you can use socks when getting packed. Just make sure to run them through the washing machine first.

3. Wrap Sharp Objects in Linens

You can always buy things like knife sheaths and blade guards for each of your sharp-edged objects. But if you don’t have the time or money to do so, there are simpler ways to protect your fingers and other possessions. Here are just a few ideas:

• Put your kitchen knives in oven mitts.
• Wrap your razors in old rags with the handles sticking out.
• Use a tablecloth or blanket to cover the edges of furniture you don’t want to scratch or dull.

Thin bed sheets don’t always provide the necessary protection for larger pieces of furniture. Be sure to use thick furniture pads or blankets to avoid scratches on your bookshelves, pianos, and other pieces.

4. Everything is a Container

Moving to San Diego doesn’t have to involve hundreds of bags and boxes. You can save a a great deal of space by re-purposing everyday items as storage containers.

Put your spice bottles inside your cast-iron pots, stuff your extra sheets and pillowcases in your laundry baskets, and put fresh liners in your trash cans so you can fill them with cleaning supplies. If it can be used to hold something, don’t hesitate to use it as a moving container.

5. Color Code Your Boxes

Have you ever dropped or tipped over a box while trying to catch a peek at the black marker label you scribbled on the side? We often try to make it easier on ourselves by writing which room or area of the house the box goes on, but depending on the box, they aren’t always easy to see. Using colored packing tape can be a quick and easy way to keep track of where everything is supposed to go.

Colored packing tape will function just like the regular clear kind, but it will allow you to closely monitor which boxes belong in which rooms. Red tape boxes might go into the living room, while yellow tape boxes are meant for the kitchen. Buy tape in a few bright hues to make your unloading coordination that much faster.

6. Take Pictures of Your Cords and Wires

If you have dozens of cords running behind your home entertainment center, don’t untangle them just yet. Snap a picture of what they look like when everything is plugged into its proper place. Then, you can easily recreate the photo when you’re at your new place in San Diego.

Another tip for tricky, tangled cables is to label them with masking tape tags. You can write “TV” or “Xbox” on the tags after taping them to the cords in question. You can even leave them on after moving to San Diego. This way, you’ll never get confused when you peek behind the furniture and see a mass of unruly cables.

7. Cover Open Containers in Plastic Wrap

Unfortunately, not everything comes with a lid, leaving plenty of opportunities for your items to go flying about in your boxes. Perfect for makeup kits, utensil organizers, and flat-bottomed drawers, using plastic wrap is one of best packing tips for moving.

Instead of taking everything out of the tray and packing it into a separate container, simply cover the whole thing with plastic wrap. It’s a quick way to save yourself some time and leaves you with less boxes to lug around.

8. Divide and Conquer

When it comes to moving things like lamps, it’s not usually a safe idea to leave the light bulbs in during the transfer. You may also want to avoid big disorganized piles of shoes and other items that can take up more space than necessary. If you’re prefer to keep things tidy as you move, you’ll have a few different options:

• Use egg cartons to organize small objects.
• Sort items by category.
• Get rid of things you no longer need.
• Use the dividers in wine boxes for glass ornaments and/or light bulbs.
• Drawer separators can be purchased to group specific items.

9. Mobilize Your Heavy Objects

If you cringe at the thought of hauling all seven of your hardback Harry Potter books in a flimsy-bottomed box, there’s an easier way to get the wizard’s story to San Diego. Instead of over-taping a box to keep it secure, try putting your books in a rolling suitcase. You can secure them with the straps inside and you won’t have to strain your back as you roll them to your new room.

The same concept works for anything you have with wheels. Stash your heavy belongings inside rolling desks, tool chests, or even laundry baskets. As long as the container has wheels, you can glide it into your new home instead of exerting extra energy to lift it from place to place.

If you need a dolly or hand truck to carry heavier items, be sure to check out the moving supplies we provide our customers.

10. Cover Bottle Openings

Few things are worse than opening a box and seeing all your soaps and shampoos in a mushy pile. Fortunately, there’s an easy fix with our good friend, plastic wrap.

To avoid leaks with your toiletries, stretch a piece of plastic wrap or a plastic baggie over the open lid of the bottle and simply screw the top back into place to seal it. The extra protection will prevent liquid from getting through, even if the top is loosened during transit. You can enjoy moving to San Diego without the fear of a soggy mess soaking through your luggage or boxes.

Need Moving Supplies for Moving to San Diego?

These are just a few tips for moving to San Diego without suffering any major packing-related mishaps. It may not be easy to transport all your possessions to a new city, but if you’re careful, it shouldn’t be overly difficult.

There are plenty of household items you can use to pack your belongings. But if you want more protection, be sure to take a look at our list of San Diego moving supplies and let us know what you need.

If you need packing materials or want help with your upcoming move, feel free to give us a call at (858) 230-8281 for details about our San Diego moving services.

To learn more packing tips for moving to San Diego and things to do there, you can also check out our blog.