Moving house is not usually the top of the list when it comes to favourite things to do but there are a few things that you can do to make the process go more smoothly and, in this article, we’re going to be talking about wardrobe boxes. 

What are wardrobe boxes?

Unless you live a very simple lifestyle, there’s a good chance that you have a huge amount of clothes, jackets, coats and shoes – and moving these out of your old home and into the new can be a major hassle. 

Wardrobe boxes are usually constructed from reinforced cardboard and are tall enough to allow you to pack up your clothing without too many wrinkles. In fact, many of these boxes also include handy rails to keep your togs looking their best. 

Wardrobe boxes are reasonably cheap and can be bought from homeware stores, online or even from your moving company. 

See how to go about moving boxes for glasses as well!

Choosing your wardrobe boxes

Moving house can be an expensive business, especially abroad (check out the best places to live in Poland) – and you may be tempted to cut costs by buying cheap moving boxes. Don’t. You’re expecting your wardrobe boxes to transport and protect your precious clothing and cheap versions will tend to be flimsy and / or badly made which can leave your clothes vulnerable to damage including water damage.

What to look for

In this section, we’ll be taking you through what to look for when buying your moving wardrobe boxes: 

– Brand – Once you begin your search for moving wardrobe boxes, you’ll come across a mahoosive amount of options. It’s a good idea to sort these options by reviews in order to create a shortlist.

– Construction – When choosing your boxes, double walled is always a winner. As the name suggests, these boxes have two layers of cardboard to give added protection to your possessions. 

– Grade – When it comes to cardboard, not all items are created equal. Where possible, look for boxes which are constructed from 150 grade or 200 grade board as these are the king of cardboard and will not only protect your clothes but will allow you to reuse the boxes over and over again.

Use and dispose

While purchasing boxes is, of course, an option, you might want to ask your moving company if they offer the option to rent them. Not only is this usually cheaper but it also means that you don’t have to worry about where you’re going to store them once your move is complete. 

Think outside the box

If you do buy your moving wardrobe boxes but don’t want to keep them, you may be able to sell them on (if they’re in good condition) on local social media selling groups. Alternatively, its best to recycle them and there are a couple of different ways that you can do this: 

– Recycling bins – These are usually found in supermarket car parks and other public venues. While many of these accept cardboard, you may have to break your boxes down first.

– Collection – In most UK counties, the council is able to collect and dispose of bulky items for you. There may, however, be a charge for this so your best bet is to check on your local council’s website. 

Packing your moving wardrobe boxes

OK, so you’ve got your shiny new wardrobe boxes (well done you!) and you’re getting ready for your move. In this section, let’s talk about packing your moving boxes: 

Quality over quantity

The point of using wardrobe boxes is to keep your clothing looking its best – and this won’t happen if you try to cram as much into each box as you can. Each box should state on the side a guide to how much to store but, as a general rule of thumb, your clothes should not be crammed into one another to the point that they are being creased or bent out of shape. 

Fabrics

Where possible, it’s a good idea to pack similar fabrics together in your boxes. Why? Some fabrics can damage others – for example, if you pack a delicate silk dress next to a rough woolen coat, you should not expect a favourable result !

Added protection

For expensive items such as suits and occasion dresses, it’s a sensible idea to invest in some garment bags for extra protection. You can usually pick these up for next to nothing online and most can be reused a number of times. 

Moving your wardrobe boxes

Obviously the entire point of having wardrobe boxes is to use them for your house move and when doing this: 

– Mark each box clearly – i.e. Sally’s dresses or Bob’s coats

– Mark any boxes with specialist or expensive items inside and alert your moving company to these

– Instruct your moving company to store these upright during transportation

At the other end

Once you reach your new home, you will want to have easy access to your clothing without too much fuss and so these boxes should be prioritised. It’s a good idea to ask your moving company to place these in a spare room to allow you to get to them while you sort out your other rooms.

Ironing out the moving process

When you’ve been through the stresses and strains of moving house, the last thing you want to be faced with is a pile of ironing. Because of this, moving wardrobe boxes are a brilliant investment to help to prevent this – and to make sure that your favourite shirt or dress is looking its best for that all-important housewarming party !

Moving wardrobe boxes

When packing up your moving van, you will need to pay close attention to your wardrobe boxes. 

It’s usually best to load up your wardrobe boxes after your heavy items of furniture are already in the van to ensure that they don’t get squashed in and risk damage to the box and the contents. 

Always ensure that your wardrobe boxes are stored upright when in the van to keep your clothes wrinkle free. 

Finally, always secure your moving wardrobe boxes securely in the van to prevent them tipping over during the journey to your new home. 

Keeping your clothing safe, secure and wrinkle free

Moving house is something that most of us will do at least once in our lifetime and the number one priority is to make it to the other side without damage to any of your precious possessions. 

Because of this, it’s really important to buy good quality moving wardrobe boxes – and to pack and load them properly to make sure that your wardrobe is ready for your new home.