Plan, Box, Label: Tips for an Organized Move

Advice From the Infantry Van Lines Moving Crew

A whole house can look impossible to box up until you have a method. Our movers at Infantry Van Lines see it on job after job: a tidy pack means fewer breaks and a calmer day. Below is our checklist and the supplies to buy first, for DIY packers and for customers who leave the boxing to us.

Start with Preparation: Declutter and Plan Ahead

Good moves start with planning. Give yourself 4-6 weeks so nothing piles up at the end.

Purge Before You Pack: Give every item a verdict: keep, donate, sell, or toss. Fewer boxes, smaller bill. Anything untouched for a year can probably go.
Pack on a Timeline: Seasonal clothing, books, and decor can be boxed early; daily essentials wait until the end. Moving as a family? Split the jobs on one checklist.
Keep an Inventory: Paper or app, either works. A complete record supports insurance claims and flags anything missing at delivery.
Measure First: Run a tape over the big furniture and every door frame at both homes. Anything that comes apart, take apart early.

Starting early keeps the final days calm and in order. No time for it? Hand this step to the packers at Infantry Van Lines.

Essential Packing Items: What You’ll Need

Buy supplies before taping the first box; the right materials protect your things and save extra store runs.

Mixed Box Sizes: Heavy books go in small sturdy boxes, kitchenware in medium, linens in large. Clothes hang in wardrobe boxes and arrive unwrinkled.
Tape and a Dispenser: Heavy-duty tape on every seam; a handheld dispenser makes quick work of it.
Protective Materials: Bubble-wrap the breakables. Paper and foam peanuts fill gaps; old towels or blankets cover mirrors and art.
Markers and Labels: A permanent marker or colored stickers show room and contents at a glance.
Specialty Items: Mattress bags, plastic bins for liquids, and stretch wrap that keeps drawers shut and loose pieces together.
Tools: Screwdrivers and zip ties for taking furniture apart, sliders for pushing heavy pieces safely.

Infantry Van Lines can drop off a full packing kit at your door with everything a pro would use.

Room-by-Room Packing Strategies

Every room holds different things, so pack each one its own way.

Kitchen: Each dish and glass gets its own sheet of paper. Plates ride upright, like records; glasses go in divided cartons. Nest pots with padding, mark those boxes “Fragile,” and don’t let them get heavy.
Living Room and Bedrooms: Clothes that are rolled, not folded, pack tighter and crease less. Books lie flat in small cartons. Electronics go in factory boxes if you kept them; if not, tag and wrap each cord.
Bathroom and Garage: Liquids go in sealed plastic bags; tools stay in their cases or divided boxes. Paint and other chemicals may be off-limits for the truck, so dispose of them properly.
Fragile and Valuable Items: Give art, mirrors, and antiques extra padding. Your most valuable pieces may deserve a custom crate, which Infantry Van Lines builds.
Essentials Box: Set aside one box for the first night, with toiletries, medicine, a change of clothes, snacks and key documents, and open it first.

Load each box bottom-heavy, lighter things above, and stuff any empty space with padding so the contents can’t shift on the road.

Organization Tips: Labeling and Tracking

A well-labeled pack makes unpacking quick.

Color by Room: One color per room (blue kitchen, green bedroom) on every box lets movers drop each box in the right spot.
Clear Labels: Mark two or more sides with specifics, like “Kitchen: pots and pans” or “Fragile: glassware.”
Number Each Box: Matching numbers on your inventory make checks quick.
Digital Tools: A phone app with QR labels can track each box.
Last On, First Off: Clearly marked essentials boxes get loaded last and come off first.

Moving day goes faster this way, and so does settling in.

Final Thoughts: Making Your Move Stress-Free

Work through this checklist with good materials on hand, and packing turns predictable instead of exhausting. Our team at Infantry Van Lines can also pack the whole house, drop off supplies, or simply answer questions. Organized moves waste less time and money and keep everyone saner.