How to pack appliances for relocation

So, you’re moving. Congratulations! There are a lot of things to consider when you’re moving. Everyone always focuses on packing, and for good reason. After all, many people fear and avoid packing until the last moment. There’s just so much to do! There’s a reason people seek out various guides on packing, or even packing services. Everyone focuses mostly on clothes and utensils, maybe furniture, that kind of thing. But, in all your packing of clothes and furniture, do you think about how to pack appliances for relocation? Appliances can be surprisingly fragile. After all, you basically need to do a mountain of prep work just to move a washing machine! Not only that, but they cost a lot to replace, and don’t fetch a high price used. So, what do you do? How do you tackle that problem?

A Washing Machine
A washing machine is notoriously difficult to move.

Get the appliances you’re gonna pack

The first thing you have to do is gather up all of the appliances. You can’t start packing without proper organization – how are you gonna pack an appliance if you don’t know it’s there? You have to look at all of your things, and decide if they’re good enough to move. Does the busted iron deserve to hitch a ride with your long distance movers? Or is it cheaper to just buy a new one and toss the junk out. You only want to pack appliances for relocation if you want them in your new house! Of course, once you test them all, you have to clean them. You don’t want to carry dirty appliances around, right? You’re going to have to take them apart anyway – might as well clean them while you’re at it. Plus, you’ll get to see preexisting damage.

A Vacuum Cleaner
Make sure to pack up your vacuum cleaner last – you’ll be needing it to clean your house before you move!

Disassemble the appliances for moving

You have to disassemble your appliances. You can’t just move them with all the fragile bits and expect everything to be fine! Of course, you might have to look up a tutorial for some things, like disconnecting a washing machine. But don’t be discouraged! With enough time and patience, you’re sure to pack appliances for relocation like a pro! You’ll have to gently take your appliances apart, and pack them separately. This is especially important for things that contain glass parts – like a mixer with a glass bowl. Glass is fragile, and you have to transport it separately. Plus, when you remove the loose or fragile parts, they won’t be in your appliance to cause damage when they’re moved around.

Get the right supplies to pack your appliances with

Getting a box that’s sized just right is very important, and so is figuring out what kind of moving box do you need. And making sure that said box has enough padding in it is just as important as securing all the fiddly parts of your appliances. You’d be surprised how destructive a sharp bend in a road can be if you haven’t packed your things right! Sliding around in boxes is a prime way to get damaged. Of course, getting moving supplies that are quality is no easy feat – that’s why many people choose to have packing services instead. And, of course, have to get enough padding – no matter if it’s packing peanuts or newspapers or crumpled paper.

A Pink Kitchenaid Mixer
You have to take into account how expensive your appliances are. You paid a lot of money for that Kitchenaid stand mixer, now imagine it all going to waste because it broke!

Original moving boxes are preferable

When you are about to prepare your appliances for moving, check out whether you still have original moving boxes. They are perfect for your appliances, no matter how small or large they are. But, if you don`t have the original packaging, don`t worry. You can even order custom moving boxes from your moving company.

Prepare large appliance for relocation easily

Refrigerator

You may think that preparing large appliances for a move is hard or impossible to achieve. However, it is pretty easy with the right tools and equipment. First of all, you should take out all the food from the fridge and then clean it thoroughly. This is to avoid any mildew or odors from forming. A mild detergent will do the trick. Then, 24 hours before the relocation unplug the fridge so that it can defrost completely. After you pack it, you should use a furniture dolly to get it to the moving truck.

Washer and dryer machines

It is important to prepare your washer and dryer machine properly, as you don`t want anything to happen to them. Cleaning these machines is fairly easy because you can just run a cycle of water while they are empty. The dryer machine can be cleaned from the inside using mild detergent and a cloth. Unplug the hoses from the machines, and wrap them into the packing paper. You can place the hoses inside the machines. Another option is to tape them at the sides of the machines. The same rules apply to the dishwasher machine as well. Just don`t forget to let them completely dry after you have cleaned them.

Stove

When it comes to preparing a stove for relocation, it is essential to know whether you have a gas stove. If this is the case, you need a professional to disconnect the gas line. There is no need to risk any injury when there are professionals that can do this in a safe manner. Remove all the racks and dishes from the stove. Clean the stove thoroughly as you want to avoid the unpleasant smells from forming.

Prepare small appliances for relocation easily

Smaller appliances are fairly easy to pack and prepare for relocation. They also don`t pose a threat from moving injuries like larger appliances do. If you have original packaging from them, it would be great, but regular moving boxes will serve as well. The trick is to choose moving boxes of the right size. They should be slightly bigger than the appliance itself so that you can cushion the moving box with padding material.

Clean the appliances and dust them off thoroughly. Unplug them and disconnect any cables you can. Place a towel, or packing paper at the bottom of the moving box. Wrap the appliance in the packing paper, and carefully place it into the moving box. Then, place another piece of crumpled packing paper on top of the box to cushion it. You are ready to move your small appliances.

How do you pack your appliances?

Well, you have to use copious amounts of packing paper in order to secure your appliances. No matter if you’re moving local or long distance, using Boro Park movers or Williamsburg movers, you need to take care in packing your appliances. So, you have to wrap your appliance in packing paper – but try not to tape your actual appliance, just the paper. Scotch tape or duct tape is really sticky, and it’s a right bother to remove. You want to use at least two layers, just in case. Of course, plastic wrap is also very helpful. Don’t forget to remove any batteries! And, of course, try to dig out the box your appliances came in, because that box was designed for transportation. You’ll have a way easier time relocating your appliance in its original box!

Tricks to make packing up appliances for relocation easier

Of course, there are a lot of tricks that will make your relocation a success. The correct packing of appliances is definitely one of them. They won’t make or break your move, but they’ll certainly help you have an easier time! And, in a way, save money. Everything you’re not spending on replacing your microwave you can spend on Brooklyn moving quotes. Of course, some of these tricks are for when you pack appliances for relocation, and others will help more with unpacking.

Lalbe Electronics Fragile
Learn how to properly label your moving boxes with appliances to make your move easier
  • Do you have the owner`s manual? If so, find it! There you’ll find the way to disassemble and reassemble your appliance, and if you put it in the box with the said appliance you won’t lose it. That will save you a lot of time on unpacking! Some people actually tape it to the box, but that makes it difficult to store it afterward. If you don`t have it, don`t worry. You can contact the manufacturer over the phone, or find the manual online.
  • Lining your boxes with towels will help you cushion the appliances. Plus, you’ll save some space on transporting towels.
  • Fill the small bits of your boxes with packing peanuts or crumpled paper to lower your chance of damage. Test whether your moving box is packed properly by rattling it back and forth. If you can hear a clinging sound coming out of the box, this means that it was not properly packed. You need to add more packing peanuts and crumpled paper.
  • Label your boxes! This will help you unpack later, and will help your moving team put the boxes exactly where you need them.
  • Label anything fragile. This ensures it doesn’t get put on the bottom of the truck. Plus, the movers will handle your items with velvet gloves. Make sure to write Fragile on at least three sides of the box, so that there is absolutely no room for mistakes.

 

How to Deal with Moving in Bad Weather

Moving day is here, and everything is ready to be packed in the truck. Suddenly you can feel a raindrop, despite all the weather forecast you have been checking online days before, that said there will be a sunny day. Anyhow, with Mother Nature, there is no negotiation, and the show goes on because work needs to come to an end. So what can we do in these moments to make this situation less stressful? We prepared for you some tips to learn how to deal with moving in bad weather. Follow these guidelines and you should be settled into your new home in no time.

Wait for a while

We cannot influence the weather conditions, so if the light rain starts, you can wait for a short time until the rain stops without affecting your moving process. Plus, this will be a great time to take a break, buy some coffee or tea, and give it to your Brooklyn movers or friends who came to help.

If it’s one of the long rainy days

During the autumn or winter season, this can occur very often. For that reason, if your moving date is in this interval of time, then you need to prepare a stock of the necessary items for rough weather.

Keep broken dishes or glass put in the box for safety, concept Keeping broken items safe for children.

Things to have in case it rains

First of all, you will need a lot of plastic or bubble wrap to protect your belongings inside and to keep them dry. Collect tarps, garbage bags to protect your clothes, an old and dry blanket to cover more of your bulky stuff. Also, you may use them as water protection or for cleaning off excess water.

Steps to take if it starts snowing

The rain is not the only weather disaster. What should we do when it starts to snow? Moving during cold weather is making things more difficult in many ways. Imagine you are in the middle of your destination when a snowstorm starts. If you are well-prepared for this kind of condition, that is great! If you are not, then there will be some trouble on your way. Thereby it will be better to do proper preparation before leaving your old town.

Let it snow, let it snow

One of the most beautiful things is when you watch the snowfall while you are in a safe and warm place, surrounded by the people you love. However, when you are in the middle of the road, this can be an unpleasant experience. Particularly if you do not have proper packing supplies for winter resettlement, that way, you should have one survival kit as a reserve in your car. Every survival kit should contain:

  • thermal blanket
  • flashlight
  • high-calorie, non-perishable snacks
  • water
  • snow shovel
  • ice scraper and brush 
  • jumper cables
  • emergency flares
  • road salt (kitty litter works fine too)
  • extra pair of cold-weather clothes and gear
  • first aid kit
  • a whistle.

Dress to impress? Not this time.

When you are going on a long voyage where you may expect cold winter weather, the priority will be to keep yourself warm. Therefore, choose your clothes according to season and circumstance, not because of the stile. What is the best material to keep us warm?

A Person Wearing Snow Boots

  • Jacket; the best material which will keep you warm all the time is 100% wool. Even the jacket with 60% wool will keep you warm and cozy. When looking for a good winter jacket, always choose waterproof material to keep you dry during cold and rainy weather.
  • Sweaters, sweatshirts; When you are dressing for cold weather, everything is about layers, and always choose to wear clothes which will be comfortable- not too tight, in which way you can move or carry your boxes very easily.
  • Boots; when you are buying boots, do not take only nice-looking shoes. Take one that will keep your feet warm and dry. One more tip, always buys a bigger size of shoes, because you will have thicker socks for extremely cold weather.
  • Hats and gloves; this is one of the necessary things. Especially if you didn’t hire professional movers and you should offload your property alone. Balaclava looks similar to a ski mask, which is the right option in real cold weather. Depending on how you like to wear it, a balaclava is a headgear made to expose your eyes, mouth, and nose. If you prefer material like wool or synthetic winter caps, they will be a very convenient alternative for this weather too.
  • Gloves: there are different types of gloves that you can use, from fleece to mittens, depending on which one is more suitable for you.

Consider taking insurance for your belongings

Moving is always risky. Especially when you are moving to another state or country, and the accident are possible at every moment. That way, you should consider taking insurance from your moving company.

Home Insurance Dorothy & Martha Moving NYC

Keep in mind that moving coverage and moving insurance are technically two different things. What do moving companies cover?

  • Moving companies cover loss or damage caused while items are under the consideration of the moving company, up to a particular dollar limit.
  • Third-party insurance covers: Damage from acts out of the moving company control or behind the obligation limit.

Every company has its rules and regulations about coverage options, above all covering damage in case of a natural disaster. Therefore it will be better to ask them for more details and information before hiring them.

Hire professional movers

Movers

When moving for the first time, it will be better to hire professional movers that have more skills in these situations. Besides, you will feel less stressed, too. If you are looking for reliable professionals, our moving company Dorothy and Martha is here to help you with their exceptional customer service, moving quotes Brooklyn and professional staff at the start of your new journey. Good luck!

Room-by-room packing guidelines from professionals

As much as you wish to continue prolonging it, the time has come for you to pack your belongings. Your upcoming relocation is only getting closer by the minute, and you need to start dealing with it. Unless you hire reliable moving companies in NYC and opt for their packing services (which is always advisable), you’ll have to pack on your own. And this is where it would usually get tricky. Luckily, you have us to distribute some room-by-room packing guidelines we’ve gathered over the years. Pack like a professional and always keep our article at hand – it will come in handy. Continue reading “Room-by-room packing guidelines from professionals”

8 Tips for Dealing with a Last Minute Move

Over the past few decades, time has become the most valuable thing as we never seem to have enough of it. The pace of life has become much faster, and we frequently find ourselves just chasing around, finishing our chores. It is not strange for us to learn that we need to move last minute due to work or our family. It is also not strange to procrastinate long enough just to realize you have a few days before your movers arrive. We completely understand this, and this is precisely why we have composed the most valuable tips and tricks on how to deal with a last-minute move.

Make a to-do list

If you have more than 24 hours at your disposal, you have the time to write a to-do list for your relocation. A last-minute move demands a to-do list even more than a relocation with plenty of time on your hands. The first thing you need to put on your list is to stop saying you wish you had more time for everything. It is what it is. A carefully written to-do list will keep you organized and will give you guidance as to how to proceed. It will not take you longer than 20 minutes to write it, but you will gain a lot by having it by your side all the time.

Making An Inventory List
Make a to-do list for your last-minute move

Take care of utilities early in the process

As soon as you learn that you have to move, deal with utilities. It is so easy to forget to cancel the utilities in your old home and set them up in your new home. You should have everything on in your old house for at least a day after you have moved out. This is because you don`t want to spend the last night without electricity, water, or A/C. Similarly, the utilities in your new house should start working at least a day before you move in. You don`t want to enter a freezing house just because you forgot to set up utilities.

Pro-tip: Cancel all the subscriptions to magazines you currently have. Also, your gym membership, and any other membership you won`t be using anymore. Change your address in the post office so that your mail does not get lost. Inform everybody at work about your new address as well.

Get help

If you are moving on your own, or if you are moving with your entire family, chances are you will need some help. Depending on the size of your relocation, you can decide whether you need to hire professional movers or a friend or two who can help you out.

Hire professional movers for your last-minute relocation

One of the best tips for dealing with the last-minute relocation is definitely to hire reliable Brooklyn movers. Did you know that movers can pack anywhere between 100 and 150 moving boxes a day? They know what they are doing, and they don`t need much time to do it. Just make sure that they are reliable, as rouge movers will only make everything worse.

Call some friends to help you

If you are moving on a tight budget, or if you don`t need the help of a moving company, you can call some of your friends to help you. At least two more people will speed up the process a lot, just make sure they will show up to help you. They can help you with packing, loading, unloading, and will not ask for money which is great. It is a great idea to buy pizza and have some cold beverages, as they will appreciate it a lot.

Unpacking Dorothy & Martha Moving NYC
Call friends to help you with packing for your move

Pro-tip: Can you ask a family member or a friend to babysit your kids and pets? This will give you enough time to go out and finish all the errands needed. Also, relocation is not the most pleasant thing for your youngest ones, as they cannot fully understand what is going on. If you have someone that can take them to the park, both you and them would benefit from it.

Pack an essentials bag

An essentials bag is what you will truly need during and after your relocation. Clean clothes, phone chargers, medicines, important documents, keys to your new house. Not to mention the day-to-day toiletries. This bag should contain everything you will need 24 to 48 hours after your relocation begins. It will save you time, as everything important will be within your hand reach. Also, it will provide you peace of mind. Just make sure the movers don`t pack it in the moving truck. This bag should go with you in the car.

family member essentials
Do not forget to pack an essential bag

Get packing supplies all at once

If you are not hiring professional movers for your relocation, you need to get the packing supplies. Our advice is to make a list of all the items you will need for this. If you can buy everything by making one trip to the store, you will save a lot of time. This is why you should pick an improvement store or a DIY store that has most of the things you need. Don`t forget that you will need packing paper, moving boxes, bubble wrap, a permanent marker, and moving blankets. Only after you have all that you need, you should get down to the packing business.

A Woman With Packing Supplies
Get the packing supplies on time for your upcoming move

Don`t worry if everything is not perfect

If you are a perfectionist, a last-minute move can be quite stressful for you. There will not be enough time to do everything perfectly, but there is no reason to feel sorry about it. Think about the final goal, and focus on your new house. You need to relocate and that is all that is important. If you strive for perfection constantly, you will just end up being tired all the time. And when you are tired, you are more likely to make mistakes. So, keep your eyes on the prize, which in this case is a successful relocation.

Pro-tip: Although perfection is not desirable with last-minute relocations, you should never be sloppy. Don`t forget to label the moving boxes, for example, because if you do all the effort may go to waste. Good luck!

How to Pack and Move Oddly-Shaped Items

As if the packing of regular items is not hard enough as it is, you need to know how to pack and move oddly-shaped items. Luckily, neither packing regular nor non-regular items is hard if you are careful and patient. We will show you how to safely pack and move all of your items that are oddly-shaped, so you will not have to worry about it at all. As always, the key to success is in knowing the right information and organizing everything like a pro. So, don`t give up on packing these items and never feel frustrated as with a few tips and tricks you will be packing them like a pro.

Make an inventory list of your oddly-shaped items

As we already mentioned, the organization is the key element to success. So, go through every room in your house and make an inventory of all oddly-shaped items you need to relocate. Whether it is furniture, toys, tools, sculptures, figurines, you will be able to pack it properly. Put all of those items on the inventory list and you will easily determine how many packing supplies will you need for this type of item. This brings us to step two of this guide.

An Inventory List of Oddly-Shaped Items

Get all the right packing supplies for your oddly-shaped items

Heading off to the improvement store or the DIY store is your next move. If you can get everything you need in one go, you will save yourself time. But do not worry if you realize that you forgot something only after you have come back from the store. You have plenty of time to finish everything. Here is what you will need in order to successfully pack and move oddly-shaped items:

  • Moving boxes – Get the moving boxes of the right size. It may easily happen that your oddly-shaped items will not fit into regular moving boxes. In this case, you can order custom sized moving boxes Brooklyn from a professional moving company.
  • Moving blankets – Large oddly-shaped items may not even fit in a moving box. For example, if you are moving a grand piano, you will need moving blankets to protect it during the transport.
  • Bubble wrap – Usually your oddly-shaped items are fragile as well. There is nothing better to use as protection for these items than bubble wrap. Of course, you can use newspaper, towels, and linen that you no longer need or use.
  • Duct tape – It is really important to have high-quality tape to seal the moving boxes or ensure the moving blankets won`t move.
  • Furniture dolly – If your items are heavy, we highly recommend that you rent the furniture dolly for easier transportation.

Packing Supplies for Packing Oddly-Shaped Items

Protect your oddly-shaped items before packing them

All of your items must be well protected before you place them inside the moving boxes. For this purpose, you can use the moving blankets, packing paper, or old newspaper. Make sure to cover each item in some of this protective material. Then, tape the material with duct tape and ensure it won`t move during transport.

Make sure your belongings will fit inside the moving box

Oddly-shaped items require special care during relocation and packing. The moving boxes that you are using for their transport must be in excellent condition. Forget about free and used moving boxes as they won`t provide enough protection. It is better to buy new, high-quality moving boxes and enjoy your belongings once you move to your new home. Otherwise, your items just might get damaged. Another important thing that you should do is to check whether the items will fit into a moving box. The best way to do this is to measure all the items. Note that the moving box should be a couple of inches bigger than the item itself. If the box is too small for the item, you will just risk breaking both the box and the item during the relocation.

Furniture Dolly for Moving Heavy and Oddly-Shaped Items

Prepare the moving boxes

Once you have chosen the right-sized moving boxes for your items, it is time to increase the odds for the items you will move to your new house. You should fill the bottom with protective materials. A crumpled old newspaper will do the trick just fine. Just make sure to provide a solid amount of padding. You can also use towels or packing paper for this purpose. Only then will you be able to place your oddly-shaped items inside the moving box. It would be ideal to leave some space for padding the bottom of the box, as well. Also, check to see whether there are any empty spaces in a box and fill them up with protective padding as well.

Seal and label the boxes

You are near the end of the packing process. All that is left to do now is to properly seal the moving boxes with duct tape. We suggest that you seal all edges of the box, as well as the middle of it, twice. If your items did not fit inside a moving box, then just make sure to tape the moving blankets properly to the item. Of course, you should not forget to label the moving boxes properly, as this is half the work. Write fragile on at least three sides of the box, in case your items are fragile. That’s the best way to protect fragile items.

Labeling Fragile Items

Hire the pros to help you pack and move your oddly-shaped items

Sometimes we just don`t have enough time or nerves to pack everything properly. This is often the case with oddly-shaped items. Luckily, professional Brooklyn movers are at your disposal at all times in case you want to give them a ring. They know the right packing and moving techniques, and they make it all seem so easy and joyous. Let them do the work instead of you, while you don`t even have to lift a finger. Another great advantage of this type of relocation is that you will have moving insurance in case your items get lost or damaged. Dorothy and Martha movers wish you good luck!

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