Express Movers in Seattle can do all of your packing for you. Our experienced employees will bring all necessary materials to pack your belongings securely for safe moving. We are focused on building a great team and delivering a great experience for the ultimate customer-centric moving company in Seattle. Please ask us about this convenient Seattle movers service.

If you wish to pack yourself, here are some tips to make the job go more smoothly.

Moving Tips for Homeowners

Before actually packing, have a game plan. For example:

• Pack one room at a time. This will make unpacking easier.
• Starting well in advance, pack a couple of cartons a day so you are not overwhelmed.
• Mark all boxes, designating room and box number. Keep a log showing the number of boxes packed per room, and the total number of cartons packed. Have a special comments section to note carton conditions or location of fragile or high value goods. (Notify your mover of any high value items.)
• Be sure to have plenty of “filling” material available.
• Secure the bottoms of all cartons. Be certain they will hold the weight of the contents.
• Use packing tape, masking tape is not strong enough for this job.
• Pack heavier items toward the bottom of the box and lighter items toward the top. Limit per-box weight to 50 pounds or less. A general rule to remember for carton size: the heavier the item, the smaller the carton.

Packing Materials

Use only strong, corrugated cartons that can be securely sealed. We can supply you with specially made cartons, for everything from books and dishes to clothing and mirrors. The added protection of mover-provided cartons may prevent damage that can result from poor-quality packing materials. Please ask us about this service.

An alternative is to collect boxes discarded by your grocery or liquor store. *WARNING: remember that Insect eggs and insects such as roaches can travel in food boxes.

No matter what you’re packing, use crumpled packing paper between each layer to assure a snug fit and fill any gaps. Old newspapers may be used, but ink may rub off and stain clothing or other items. You may prefer to purchase sheets of packing paper from Express Movers, Inc.Some of the packing supplies that will come in handy include:

• Plastic bags and labels for easy identification.
• Foam peanuts, Styrofoam pellets or “popcorn”.
• Tissue or craft paper for delicate packing jobs.
• Corrugated paper rolls or bubble wrap for figurines and fragile items.
• Clear or reinforced packing tape (1 1/2 to 2 inches wide) for sealing cartons.
• Markers and labels for identifying contents of cartons.
• Notebook and pencil for carton identification log.
• Scissors and/or a sharp knife.

Special Tips:

Fragile – All boxes with “fragile” items should be clearly marked accordingly.

Heavy Furniture – Ask for help when wanting to move furniture. If this is not an option, learn how to move heavy furniture by yourself.

Dresser Drawers – Leave your clothing in them but don’t overload. Too heavy a load can cause damage to the piece. Remove firearms, medicines and any items that might break or leak.

Canned Goods and Other Non-Frozen Food – Place no more than 24-30 cans upright per carton. Do not move perishables. Wrap glass containers and boxed foods individually and place in small cartons.

Clocks – Remove or secure pendulum in large clocks. Grandfather clocks should be prepared for moving by expert servicemen.

Drapes and Curtains – Hang drapes over crossbars in wardrobe cartons, or pack folded in clean cartons. Remove curtains from rods, fold and pack in cartons or bureau drawers.

Flammables and Combustibles – Flammable liquids and aerosol cans must not be packed!. Changes in temperature and pressure can cause them to leak, or even explode. For your own protection, you should know that if you pack these items and they cause damage to your shipment we are not responsible. If they cause injury to our movers, you may be held liable.

Lamps and Lampshades – Remove bulbs, harps and shades. Roll up cord. Pack lamps with bedding or wrap separately and place upright in clean, tissue-lined carton. Wrap harp and finial (decorative knob) with packing paper and tape to inside wall of carton that contains shade. Wrap shades in tissue, not newspaper. Place upright in large, tissue lined cartons. Fill gaps with crumpled paper.

Mirrors, Paintings and Pictures – Tell your agent about valuable paintings for special care. Wrap small mirrors, pictures, paintings, and frames and place on edge in cartons. Place large pictures and paintings on edge in heavy cardboard containers. Large wall or dresser mirrors will be taken down by the movers and placed in special cartons. For added safety, place tape diagonally across mirror to protect better against damage. Do not place newspaper directly against paintings.

Personal Computers and Video Recorders – Pack valuable electronic equipment in original cartons when available. Otherwise, use strong, corrugated cartons and place protective padding on the bottom of the carton. Wrap an old blanket or protective pad around the item and place it in its carton. Place additional padding between the carton and the computer or video recorder. Wrap cords separately, label to identify usage and place in a plastic bag away from delicate surfaces. Non-detachable cords should also be wrapped. Place cords between the padded computer or video recorder and the carton.

Silverware – Wrap each piece in cloth or low sulfur content paper to prevent tarnishing. Use an old blanket or moving pad as a wrap to prevent scratching the silverware chest.

Tools – Drain fuel from power tools (do not ship Flammables under any circumstances). Pack tools in small, strong cartons. Wrap separately if valuable.

Waterbed Mattresses – Drain all water from the waterbed and, grasping internal baffle systems with external vinyl, fold mattress 20 inches at a time. Adjust folds to avoid making creases across individual baffles. Consult your owner’s manual for special instructions concerning the care and transportation of your mattress. Do not place your mattress in a carton with sharp or pointed objects.

Barbecue Grills and Propane Tanks – Wrap grates and briquettes separately in a newspaper (or place all briquettes into a grocery bag) and place parts in carton. Pad carton with paper to reduce movement of contents. Propane tanks must be drained before the move. Consult your local gas grill distributor for the safest method.