apartment therapy changing the world, one room at a time

I started our move with the intent to avoid as many boxes as possible (since we were also moving across town - Seattle in this case) - but by the end of the month we had degenerated into a last-minute shopping spree of boxes at Lowe's. It seems everyone else we know is moving next month, so at least all the packing material will get reused.

Now, if I could only find the box that holds all my pants...

Use boxes and packing supplies you already have! If you make multiple trips in the car you can reuse the same 10 boxes over and over, use packing materials you already have! Wrap your breakables in t-shirts or towels or bedding! If you need other packing material, use what comes out of your paper shredder!

I've always worked in a big office where I could take as many empty copy paper boxes as I've needed. If you start collecting them early enough (and if your office is big enough) you'll be able to gather a nice size to work with.

This next tip isn't as much a green tip as a general moving tip, but if you're not going to hire movers you might want to consider packing your boxes with a mix of heavy light to balance the load. I used to pack each box with books or something similarly heavy on the bottom, then top off with clothes or linens. I'm not a very strong girl and this method has helped me during moves where it's just me and a girlfriend. It's not the most efficient use of boxes, but if you have time you could possibly pack and unpack to reuse what boxes you have. Whew. that could end up being a bit of a nightmare, eh?

Good luck!

Moving boxes and supplies show up (and immediately get taken) on my local Freecycle list all the time. Try to find label solutions (colored ribbon, labels placed over or written on tape that can be removed with a minimum of damage, etc) that are less than permanent so the boxes will stay in circulation longer.

We used a "buy-sell used boxes" store when we moved last year, since I couldn't get my timing right on Freecycle. Same principle, mostly.

Whichever way you go, you could buy carbon offsets through native energy. Enterprise also supposedly rents hybrids, maybe they have Ford Escape hybrid that you could rent and cut out a few trips that it would take with a car...Later, you could also do a review of the Escape...

Or maybe you could get together some friends with bike trailers and do a mostly bike move -- akin to Green as a Thistle!

If you are like me (meaning a renter) you will probably move again sooner than later, so I invested in some reusable Rubbermaid totes that I have used in at least 3 moves now and are holding up great. And the added benefit is that I can store things in them when I am not moving, like extra blankets and sports stuff in the basement and I don't have to worry about them getting wet or damp.

A lot of ppl feel guilty about just throwing away their moving boxes after they've unpacked and list them on craigslist for you to pick up -- great place to look, and i've even gotten those expensive wardrobe boxes that way. Also, Uhaul has a whole section of its website dedicated to sharing your used moving boxes. The liquor/wine store is a great place to look, although the boxes tend to be on the small/med end of things, while grocery stores have huge boxes. As for packing material, use towels/tshirts or raid your recycling bin for newspapers, which you can recycle once you get to your new place! And when its all said and done, try to find a good home for the boxes you did use (craigslist anyone?) :)

If you're looking for good sturdy boxes check out small to mid sized businesses near you in that non-descript business park. Manufacturing companies, resellers of anything many times have large shipments come in and have quantites of the same size box--makes for easier u-haul packing.

Do you have any friends who work retail? When I worked at an electronics store, we constantly provided boxes for friends and employees. Like smsintl said above, these boxes tended to be the same size - it made moving much easier. Find out what days they get the large shipments in and see if they can save the boxes for you.

I'm in the Bay Area and have a bunch of moving boxes from my last move. If you're interested in lightly used moving boxes, let me know. I'll check this thread later so just comment.

I'm in SF, and I got all of our boxes free through Craigslist. You do have to start hording ahead of time, but we had a lot of stuff and got great boxes. Also, what I loved is that I reposted when I moved, and was able to get rid of them all within a few hours. I also got a bunch of bubble wrap through CL. It also helps to email everyone you know and see if they have any boxes or moving supplies.

We also used these fantastic boxes that do not need any tape. They fold and unfold really easily, and the top flaps fold into each other. It was great to have them open so easily so that you could keep stuffing things in that you forgot. None of them came open during the move, and I highly recommend these kind of boxes.

I highly recommend hiring movers as well. The lack of stress and physical strain was well worth the money.

We've moved four times in the past two years and have never bought boxes. I worked in retail for a while, so we would save those when a shipment came in - they worked great for dishes, books, and other heavier stuff. Also, when friends move, we just shuffle supplies from one to the next. Other things we do is use bags (I am truly a bag person) for hauling just about anything that will fit. Same is true for suitcases - we put clothes, shoes, anything in them. If nobody we know is moving, there's always freecycle and craig's list.

As mentioned in the Boston post, it's a good idea before you move to reassess what you have and ask yourself whether or not you need it.

We have Revolution Rickshaws here in New York City. Maybe there's a similar company in the Bay Area that will help you move by cargo bike!

Other strategies I've used:
-Throwing my books into several backpacks so I don't have to wrestle with one heavily loaded box of books.
-Putting my clothes into suitcases, with the hangers still on.
-Cleaning supplies, broom, mop, plunger, and anything else I don't really want to touch go into an empty kitchen trash can.
-Brown paper bags with handles are great for those light, last items I pack for a move: plates, cups, utensils.

- When possible, fold up the tops of your boxes so that each flap is under another flap, instead of using tape to seal them. This is probably better if you're self-moving rather than hiring people.

- Use your clothes, towels, etc. as soft padding for breakable stuff. I think t-shirts and towels work best since they can survive getting a little scrunched.

And, since you are moving within the same city, you don't have to throw out all the half-used salad dressing and stuff in your fridge like you would for moving cross-country! That's green! ;)

this is the best for boxes! they are reusable and you don't have to deal with them afterwards. and no need for tape and these are way sturdier!

http://www.earthfriendlymoving.com/

they also have recycled packing material.

When moving framed pictures, use blankets to wrap them up and then put them on the top of the pile. You can usually get a couple of pictures in each blanket

Unless you are getting it used from a friend, using cardboard boxes for your move simply is NOT a good option. The typical move uses over 100 lbs of cardboard which is typically disposed of after just one use. This is bad for our trees and bad for our environment because the cardboard boxes will end up at the landfill. Our company, ZippGo, delivers a reusable moving box made from 100% post consumer recycled plastic to people's homes just before they move, and then we pick them up from their new address after they move. We use trucks powered by biodiesel made from 100% recycled waste vegetable oil and it costs you less to get reusable boxes from ZippGo then it does to buy cardboard. We are thrilled about launching our service in the San Francisco Bay Area and passionate about our plans to expand around the country. Get additional details on our website at: http://www.ZippGo.com

Thank you,

Ash Sud
Founder of ZippGo
http://www.ZippGo.com
(800) 723-7017