How to Pack a Bedroom and Bathroom

When packing bedrooms and bathrooms for a move, it’s good practice to start with your less-used rooms first -- so begin with any guest bedrooms and guest bathrooms you may have before moving on to family members’ own bedrooms and bathrooms.

Packing Children’s Rooms for a Move

Young kids can make a move that much more frustrating sometimes, but try to let them be involved -- after all, it’s a big change for them! Even young children can help by choosing the books and toys they want to bring with them in the car and those they don’t mind going on the truck. Place colorful stickers on the outside of kids’ bedroom moving boxes so their belongings are clearly marked and they can spot them quickly when the moving truck is unloaded at your new home.

Clothing

Wardrobe cartons are a great help when moving, because clothes can be placed inside them still on the hangers. You might want to purchase several wardrobe cartons from the moving company to simplify your closet packing. If you opt not to use wardrobe cartons, you can remove each garment from the hanger, fold it neatly, and place it in a suitcase or moving carton that you’ve lined with clean paper.

Hats

Pack hats by themselves. If you can leave them in their hat boxes, that is ideal, but you can also stuff the crown with wadded up tissue paper, wrap more tissue paper loosely around the outside and pack it in a carton that has been lined with clean paper, labeled “FRAGILE” and only contains hats.

Jewelry

Never pack fine jewelry or other valuables with your other household goods that will be loaded on the truck -- it’s safer to keep them in your possession during the move. You can also consider hiring a third party armored vehicle service to transport your jewelry, coin or stamp collections, or other valuables to your new home.

Toiletries

Take toiletries that are in aerosol cans -- such as spray deodorant or hairspray -- along with you, or throw them away and buy new ones at your destination. Non-aerosol bottles are safer, so you can wrap them and tape them shut to prevent them from leaking on your other items, and then pack them in small cartons. Be sure to look over our list of Items That Cannot Be Shipped.

Towels, Linens and Bedding

Linens such as tablecloths, towels, sheets, pillowcases and blankets may be safely moved by placing them in a large plastic bag that is then packed in a moving carton lined with clean paper. However, towels and bedding also make great padding when you’re packing other items.

You might want to wash some linens before packing them, but be sure they dry completely. Also, you should wrap your most valuable or delicate linen items in tissue.

Packing Mattresses & Pillows

To keep your mattresses clean and in good shape, transport them in mattress moving cartons. Pillows make great padding when packing other items, or you can place them in dresser drawers or pack them in their own carton.

Moving with Mirrors

Glass mirrors are tricky to move, which is why we recommend using special mirror cartons. For mirrors that are extra heavy, we recommend crating. Your Relocation Consultant can tell you more about our crating services.

Curtains and Drapes

To move curtains and draperies with a minimum of wrinkles, we recommend using wardrobe cartons. Fold the curtains lengthwise and place them over a padded hanger, and then pin them securely to the hanger before hanging them in the wardrobe box. Alternatively, you can fold your curtains and drapes and pack them in cartons lined with plastic wrap or clean paper.

Area Rugs

Right before a move is a great time to have your area rugs professionally cleaned -- they come back from the cleaners already rolled, wrapped and ready for the moving van. If you don’t want to have them cleaned, you can leave your area rugs on the floor for your professional movers to handle.

Area rugs should be loaded on the van last and unloaded first, so that the furniture can go right on top of them as it is unloaded at your new home.