How to Pack Liquids for Moving

So how do you pack liquids for moving? Well, as we mentioned in our packing your household like a pro article, packing is a really complex event. In summary, the key to a successful pack and move lies in the organization. Knowing how to pack various items and how to move them is crucial. That is, if you want to save your items from destruction during relocation. Packing strategically will save you money because you’ll pay less for moving services. But, it will also save you time later on when you start unpacking.

While preparing for relocation and packing up your household items, you’ll come across some oddly shaped, bulky, fragile, extremely heavy, or even hazardous items. Knowing how to pack those items is a must for a safe and efficient move. However, among the most dangerous items you can pack, liquids are pretty high up that list. The reason for that is because most of them are combustible. Also, they are prone to spill and that can cause unnecessary damage to your other items. So if you are thinking of packing your liquids for the move, make sure you know all the tips and tricks to combat avoidable mistakes. Thankfully for you, that’s exactly why we wrote this article! Carry on reading to find simple tips on packing liquids for moving.

DIY or Hire Movers

Here’s a fair warning before we start − you can approach moving in two ways. The first way is that you do everything by yourself − from packing to moving and relocating. This has its perks such as knowing exactly what you packed, where you packed it, and just exactly how you are going to move those items. Performing a DIY move may be more affordable in some cases and it gives you control over your move. DIY relocation also gives you a certain amount of freedom and flexibility because you can plan based on your own schedule and do things your way. However, and this comes at a very high price − that being stress.

Simply put, if you hire professional movers, all of the complexities of relocation will be taken care of. There is no need to worry whether item A is in the proper box with item B and whether it was packed properly − all of that is taken care of.

Do not pack hazardous liquids for moving

One important thing to keep in mind is that if you do decide to hire movers to help you with your relocation, a word of warning − they will not transport combustible, toxic, and other dangerous materials. These are best either transported by your own volition or not at all. The reason being is that the likelihood of them reacting and causing damage to your other belongings, vehicle as well as the surrounding is quite high… So they are best not to transport. However, if you must – make sure you keep a close eye on them. Remember that each moving company has a specific list of non-allowables so it’s best to reach out to your movers and ask them to provide their list to you.

When not to pack liquids for moving?

On that note, sometimes it’s better not to pack liquids at all. There are a few reasons not to do this. Firstly, the risk of them spilling during the move and causing unnecessary damage to other belongings being transported is high. Especially if you are transporting something valuable like art. Secondly, it might be actually cheaper not to transport these items. Since moving cross country you pay the weight of the box by the pound. And if you are shipping art cross country which by itself is very bulky and heavy, this will only cause unnecessary weight that you will have to pay for.

So what’s the alternative? Well simply put, give them away (or throw them away) and buy new ones once you arrive at your new place.

How to pack liquids for moving?

On that note, sometimes it’s better not to pack liquids at all. There are a few reasons not to do this. Firstly, the risk of them spilling during the move and causing unnecessary damage to other belongings being transported is high. Especially if you are transporting something valuable like art. Secondly, it might be actually cheaper not to transport these items since moving cross country you pay the weight of the box by the pound. This also depends on the moving company, as some will charge based on the overall weight of the shipment while others will do so based on the space your items take up in the moving truck. Whichever system your movers use to calculate the cost of their services, some items will cost a lot to be relocated.

For example, if you are shipping art cross country which by itself is very bulky and heavy, this will only cause unnecessary weight that you will have to pay for. So what’s the alternative? Well, simply put, give them away (or throw them away) and buy new ones once you arrive at your new place. You can also make a yard sale or even an online sale and make some extra cash for your move or you can donate some of your goods to local charities.

How to pack liquids for moving?

Okay so, hopefully, you have minimized the number of items that you need to pack by following the tips above. Now all that is left is to pack the remaining liquids. Well, it’s really not rocket science and there are just a few things you should keep in mind that are considered big no-no’s when packing and moving liquids.

Check the lids on your liquids

Firstly you want to make sure that all of the caps on the liquids are sealed tight. You may oversee the fact that some of your containers are not closing properly and spilling is something you certainly want to avoid. You can, but do not necessarily need to, pack the liquids in packing paper because, as you will see, how the liquids are packed is not as important as where those liquids are placed. However, whatever you decide, make sure you place the liquids vertically. One helpful tip, in case you don’t have the lids or they’re not tight enough, is to use stretch tape. Just use some stretch tape to cover the opening and the entire bottle and it’ll prevent the liquid from spilling. You do not want to place your liquids horizontally as they can spill this way.

On a side note, you can also leave your liquids and other items at storage Brooklyn and pick them up any time you want.

Where to pack your liquids for moving?

Secondly, as mentioned previously, it is important where you pack your liquids. Packing them in cardboard boxes is generally not advisable. The reason being is that the cardboard box will not hold any spillage if it occurs. However, if you pack them in plastic containers, that is a different scenario altogether. Plastic containers can withhold any liquid spillage. Plastic storage containers are also a convenient option because you can rent instead of buying them. Plus, they’re usually made of recycled plastic making them a solid choice for people wanting their relocation to be as eco-friendly as possible. They’re sturdy enough, so you don’t have to worry that your container will break in the middle of moving.

If you’re planning to store some of the liquids for a while and rent a storage unit, plastic containers make it easy for you to organize the space neatly. For more information on the types of boxes or containers, you can use for packing liquids during a move check out moving boxes Brooklyn.

Label it!

Lastly, make sure you label the box or at least leave it open, so when moving day comes and movers arrive, they know what’s in the box. If you do not do this step, you are risking the possibility of the movers placing the box, during transport, horizontally, which encourages spilling. So be smart, don’t forget to label your boxes and or containers! Get a sharpie or a tape designed for labeling boxes and make sure that the content of the box is clearly visible on its label.

In summary

We know that now is the time most people move to new homes. However, packing and consequently moving is a hard task that requires a lot of planning and organization, especially if you’re planning on moving liquids, valuables, or heavy and bulky items that make it difficult to pack and move. That’s why hiring a moving company like Dorothy & Martha Moving NYC is a smart decision. By doing this you are outsourcing all of the heavy lifting to a company that loves doing what it does – relocate people in a fast, reliable, and affordable manner.

However, when packing liquids you should first make a risk-benefit analysis. That means you should check to see if there’s a risk of liquids spilling on your items, outweighs the benefit of not transporting these items, and buying them when you arrive at your new place. Secondly, make sure that you pack your liquids horizontally so they don’t spill. And lastly, label the boxes so the movers know how to place the boxes on the truck.

Hopefully, this article helped you make the decision on whether to pack liquids and if so, how to pack them. If you’re looking for a trustworthy moving company, get in touch with us today and we’ll provide a free moving quote for your move.