Finding Good Moving Boxes and What to Do With Them When the Moving Is Over

In order to make ready for a move, many items will need to be put into cartons or otherwise packaged to be moved safely and without damages. If you choose you may elect to have your moving company take care of the packing; most moving companies will provide that fee based service. However, many people are unwilling or unable to bear the cost of that service, and elect to take care of packing themselves.

This is a great idea, especially when one understands the basic principles of moving boxes and how to procure the proper materials. Mover's boxes are available from a variety of sources. Moving companies are a great place to obtain them, but they are also available at rental truck facilities, packaging store locations, office supply stores, big box stores, and corrugated outlets. Used movers boxes are acceptable and provide financial savings as well as help us stay green.

Many do-it-yourselfers go to retail stores, the liquor store or the grocery store for used boxes. The boxes obtained in this manner are seldom as useful or usable as mover's boxes. When movers pack a truck properly, they load the goods in tiers laterally across the truck. These tiers are usually either 18" or 24" wide, with an occasional double tier being 36" or 48" wide. Mover's boxes are cut to fit these dimensions and are built to withstand the weight which they are expected to transport, provided they are packed properly.

Boxes from retail stores and the liquor store are seldom sized properly. They are usually small and inconsistently sized, which make it difficult for the movers to pack a truck efficiently. Grocery store boxes again are inconsistently sized and usually less able to sustain the loads as well as mover's boxes. In addition, since some grocery store boxes have had food in them, there is a possibility of contamination by insect or other vermin.

One good used box which is not a mover's box is the cartons used to ship copy or printer paper, the ones with the slip on lid. These boxes are strong, durable, and sized properly and can help making packing a truck fast and efficient.

When your move is complete, you will have to dispose of your boxes. If you have space, and you think you might move again, you could store them for future use. Simply flatten them out by slicing the tape. It is possible, but time consuming, to reuse old newsprint as well.

If you choose not to store your cartons, there are a couple of other options. If you flatten the cartons, it is fairly easy to have a moving company come by and remove the old cartons. They will only be interested in the mover's boxes, so don't mix in other cartons.

Some folks sell them, others give them away. Either way, it is better than discarding them. Finally, if all else fails, you can recycle them. Some cities will pick up cardboard for recycling, while in other places you must deliver it out yourself. There are also companies that will purchase used cardboard for recycling, although the price is very low.