The idea of moving can be stressful, but it also brings forward an exciting time of transition and new beginnings. Whether you’re moving across town or to another state, there are bound to be new opportunities. However, before you can enjoy any of that, you’ll need to organize, pack, clean, and move all your possessions. This is where many people start to stress and feel the anxiety associated with moving. Fortunately, there are a few simple solutions to help make the move as seamless as possible.
One of the best—yet often overlooked—options is creating a moving essentials kit. This is simply a bin, bag, or box that’s filled with a few strategic items that you’ll need on the big day. By taking some time to prepare, you’ll have all the moving essentials you need at your fingertips, allowing you to stay calm and focused during the transition and once you’ve arrived at your new home.
Although the specific items that you may choose to include in your moving essentials kit will depend on your individual needs and preferences, there are a few non-negotiable items. To help you stay organized and prepare, consider the following nine moving essentials to have on hand for move-in day.
Moving Essential #1: Cleaning Supplies
Depending on the location of your new home, you may be able to easily visit it before moving day. This gives you the opportunity to clean it before you move, so you can get right to unpacking when your belongings arrive. If possible, take some time the week before your move to clean. Trust us, you’ll be glad you did later. However, if you’re not able to get this done, don’t stress too much. Just make sure that you have a few basic cleaning supplies on hand and ready for when you arrive. This gives you the opportunity to clean certain areas you unpack and eradicate dirt and grime that’s tracked into your new home by movers.
You don’t have to perform a deep clean, but a few basic cleaning tasks can make a world of a difference. Some of the best cleaning supplies to keep in your moving essentials kit include the following:
- Dish soap
- Sponges or dish towels
- Hand soap
- Hand towels
- Dusters
- Paper towels
- Multi-purpose cleaner
- A broom and dustpan
- A Swiffer or mop
- Toilet paper
Moving Essential #2: Clean Linens
There’s nothing like sleeping in your own bed at the end of a long day, but the task of moving can complicate this. You don’t want to keep linens on your bed during the move, and trying to dig through boxes to find them once you’ve arrived can lead to some unpredictable chaos. That’s why we recommend including a fresh set of linens, pillowcases, and blankets, in your moving essentials kit. This way, when you arrive, you can make the bed and spend the first night in your new home comfortable and clean.
Not only will you relish in the comfort, but a freshly made bed can also transform a space, making it feel more welcoming and orderly amidst the chaos of moving. There’s nothing quite like taking a hot shower and collapsing into fresh sheets after a long day.
Moving Essential #3: Comfortable Pillows
In addition to your clean linens, don’t forget to put aside a few of your favorite pillows. You might want to keep these, alongside your linens, in a clearly marked moving box that’s easily accessible. This will make sure they remain clean during the move, so you can put them on your freshly made bed and settle in for a great night’s sleep.
Moving Essential #4: Some Basic Tools
Although it’s not likely that you’re going to start hanging décor or building furniture as soon as you walk through the door, having some basic tools on hand will be helpful. This is especially important if you had to disassemble any furniture to keep it safe during transit. With a basic toolkit on hand, you can resemble what you need without having to spend hours searching for a screwdriver. To cover all your bases, consider keeping a pair of pliers, a hammer, a few screwdrivers, and an Allen key in a small toolbox or bag.
Moving Essential #5: Supplies for Labeling
You might be tempted to pack away any office supplies, pens, markers, etc., but these items can be a valuable part of your moving day essentials kits. If you hire movers, labeling boxes can provide direction as to which room they go in. You can also write a few details as to what’s inside each box to make it easier to unpack strategically once you arrive. So, put aside a Sharpie, some paper, and moving tape to make sure you have everything you need for optimal labeling.
Moving Essential #6: Electronics and Chargers
Your phone battery never dies faster than when you need it the most. Make sure that you can easily recharge it throughout the day by setting aside a phone charger, and any other chargers you may need (i.e., computer, speaker, tablet, Wi-Fi, etc.). We also recommend having a speaker nearby so you can play your favorite music while you pack and unpack on your big day. Having all your electronics at hand is extremely beneficial, especially if you work remotely and need to jump on your computer. Put them into your overnight bag or a small box that stays with you throughout the day.
Moving Essential #7: Light Snacks and a Cooler
Even if you hire professionals, moving can be physically demanding work. Since you’ve likely already packed up your kitchen, make it easy to replenish throughout the day by packing a few light snacks and a cooler. This gives you easy access to cold drinks, a few perishable snacks, and the fuel you need to power through the day. Some great options for easy, nourishing snacks on moving day include protein bars, apples, bananas, grapes, trail mix, beef jerky, and nuts.
Moving Essential #8: Kitchen Essentials
If you’d prefer to have a nice home-cooked meal before and after your move, that’s okay too. All you need to do is take some time to think about what you want before you pack things away so you can keep a few kitchen essentials handy during your move. This might include a skillet and spatula, a pot, and a few bowls, plates, and utensils. Try to keep the meals simple to avoid having a huge box of kitchen essentials that you need to clean and re-pack or consider getting takeout instead.
Moving Essential #9: An Overnight Bag
Finally, your moving essentials aren’t complete without your overnight bag. The process of relocating can be extremely disorienting, and as much as you’d like to think that you’ll be ready to unpack all your necessities when you arrive to your new home, it doesn’t always happen. To help you stay comfortable during the days surrounding your move, pack an overnight bag as if you were going away for a weekend.
Your overnight bag should include anything you’ll need to stay comfortable during your transition. This might include things like a pair of pajamas, a few changes of clothes for the following days, and any toiletry essentials such as toothpaste, toothbrush, a hairbrush, soap, shampoo, conditioner, etc. You may also want to include a book or something that helps you wind down at the end of the night. Don’t forget to include any medications that you always take and keep sensitive documents with you.
To help make the move even smoother, consider using short-term self-storage from The Lock Up Self Storage. The Lock Up offers temperature controlled self-storage units in various sizes to supplement your home storage and give you more freedom and flexibility during your move. Our flexible leasing options allow for short-term rentals that can aid in move-in day with the option to extend into long-term solutions if your new home’s storage isn’t sufficient. All our units are climate controlled with stable humidity levels to keep your belongings in great condition, regardless of how long you need to keep them in storage. As an added bonus, our facilities are protected with top-of-the-line security features such as perimeter alarms, gated access codes, and 24/7 CCTV. For more information about our available self-storage units and sizing options, contact us at 1-866-327-LOCK or visit one of our locations for a tour.
