Alex is the founder of 9Kilo Moving, which he started to help people easily find and choose the right moving company to make their move as stress-free and seamless as possible. He has spent over 20 years working in the moving industry, so he knows every aspect of the business and uses his knowledge to write about the industry and give moving advice. More on about us page
Packing paper and cardboard boxes are the bread and butter of packing supplies. They both are staples without which the packing process doesn’t really begin. Just like there’s no wedding without the bride and groom present!
If you’ve taken up the project of safeguarding your belongings on yourself, it’s absolutely essential to get your hands on stacks of packing paper. It’s a vital item that’s cost-friendly, easy to find, and plays a fundamental role in keeping your items intact. Let’s look at how you can use packing paper for moving and why you shouldn’t make do without it.
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Packing paper prevents items from bashing into each other and breaking. It’s a protective cushioning for fragile items. When you fill the box with packing paper you won’t hear any rattling sounds or the contents of the box moving and shifting.
Before you pack items like kitchenware, toys, or decor into a box, it’s necessary to wrap them with packing paper for its own safety. It’s like wearing a life jacket to keep yourself afloat but in this case, it saves the item you pack from breaking into pieces.
When you fill the gaps in a box with packing paper, you’re practically taking a precautionary measure to ensure it’s the same pristine condition post transit. You basically immobilize the products you’ve packed from moving around by filling all the empty spaces.
Packing paper does less damage than bubble wrap to the environment and is a more sustainable approach to take as it’s also reusable. Trust us, styrofoam packing peanuts or bubble wrap can wreak havoc for Mother Nature but packing paper won’t. It can be recycled and even repurposed in several ways.
When you buy packing peanuts, bubble wrap or foam sheets, they can take up ample space but that isn’t the case with packing paper. It’s lightweight, thin, and flexible so you can crumple it to take up less space too. With the use of packing paper, you’re maximizing the space in the box.
Once you wrap an item in packing paper, it’s protected from attaining scratches. It also keeps out dust, so you can unpack with ease instead of wiping the surface of the item all over again.
Sometimes you think it’s okay to make do with newspapers when you run out of packing paper but trust us, avoid doing that at all costs. The reason is that newspapers can leave ink marks and stains on the things you pack while packing paper won’t.
Be it Walmart, HomeDepot, or Amazon, you should easily be able to get packing paper at any home improvement store. You can also ask your move for it if they happen to sell it. There’s no chase or hunt for packing paper so you don’t have to worry about finding it.
There’s no matter of debate here but you’d find the cost of packing paper the most humble from the lot of packing supplies you purchase. It’s truly inexpensive so you stock up on as much as you need for the move.
Let’s look at costs in detail so you have a fair idea of the amounts you’d need to budget for.
Like we mentioned earlier, the good news is that packing paper is affordable. Here is a breakdown of costs based on quantity:
All in all, expect to spend somewhere between $22 to $33 for 300 to 640 sheets of packing paper from big retailers like Amazon, Walmart, and Home Depot. You can also try local home improvement stores to check if you’re getting a better deal.
Do note this applies to smaller-sized paper that’s ideal for kitchenware and small decor. If you purchase the large sizes for large items then the cost range bumps up to $45. To get a better deal with the retailer, we suggest that you club your order with other packing essentials.
Another tip is to ask your moving company if they sell packing supplies, you can probably ask for a discounted offer since you’ll even be using their moving services. Also, if you want to strike a really worthwhile deal on packing paper, we suggest trying your luck at a local newspaper printing press. It’s a long shot but they could have a ton of unprinted paper that didn’t make the cut for printing but these rolls of unused paper could be super handy for you.
Also See: How To Find Free Packing Supplies
Kitchens are filled with the most oddly-shaped items and because packing paper is so flexible to use, you can actually put the paper to work in the kitchen. Items like plates, crockery, bowls, or spoons can be secured with a sheet of packing paper.
It’s ideal for small items and we’re sure there are plenty of pieces that will benefit from the security of packing before. Wrap the items in packing paper or bubble wrap (if it’s very fragile) before you place kitchen items into a box so that the surfaces of the pieces are not damaged in transit. We suggest cocooning the more precious items in an additional layer of packing paper.
Also Read: How to Pack Your Kitchen For Moving
Before you begin to load a corrugated box with items you’re taking to your new home, ensure that you create a bed at the bottom of the box with packing paper. This acts as a cushion for the item you are packing.
Post that individually wrap items with the paper and fill any void in the box with some crumpled paper. Before you shut the lid of the box, place some more crumpled paper at the top. This is just a precautionary step so that the bowls or plates packed don’t feel the weight of another box.
At the time of packing your house, you’re bound to find small pieces of home decor like frames, candle stands, or a souvenir from when you traveled across the country. The easiest way to secure such pieces is to mummify them with some wrapping paper.
Even if these pieces are oddly shaped, you can tear the wrapping paper and place it accordingly so it covers the entire item. Wrapping paper works perfectly to pack Christmas, Fall, or Halloween decor as its use is flexible.
If you have a bunch of bowls or similar-sized plates, you can individually wrap them in packing paper so that you can stack them all into a box. It helps you efficiently use up all the space inside a box because it’s not as thick as bubble wrap.
After you’re done using the packing paper it can seem like you over purchased and there’s just too much of it everywhere. But don’t worry, you can always reuse the packing paper for small tasks around the house. To reuse the packing paper the first thing you should do is straighten it out. This makes it easier to store it neatly in a stack. Here are ways in which you can reuse the paper:
Use it to clean mirrors and glass items in your house - Packing paper does wonders to a dirty mirror that has fingerprints on it. Just use some cleaning spray and then wipe it down with packing paper. You can also apply the same trick when you need to wipe the windows and mirrors of your car.
Use the excess paper to line drawers - You can place sheets of packing paper in drawers and shelves since this would make cleaning much easier. If you have pets like birds, you can line their cage with packing paper. This also applies to picking poop when you walk your dog.
Protect your floors during a renovation project with packing paper - Whether you're painting your walls or simply drilling a hole in the wall, use the packing paper as a layer of protection for the floor. The cleaning process will also become easier and you end up reusing the paper.
Stuff shoes and bags with crumpled packing paper - Stuff your shoes, boots, most loved bags, and even clutches with packing paper so that they retain the shape you bought them in. This is an easy way to use up the packing paper that’s torn or way too crumpled to be straightened out.
Packing paper probably does just 80% of the job of securing the item you pack. But in order to make sure there’s 100% effort in wrapping the item properly, you’d have to do a little more planning. To have success with the packing process we suggest the following:
Also See: How to Pack Your Bathroom for a Move
You can use packing paper to secure kitchen items like bowls and plates from attaining scratches. Cocoon the item with enough paper and place sufficient tape to keep the paper intact. You can also use crumpled paper to fill the void in the box.
Try starting the packing process like sorting out the rooms you’ll pack first and booking movers 3-4 weeks in advance. You can begin the minute tasks even earlier if you have the time for them.
If you’re looking for cheap packing paper your best bet is Amazon. You can also browse on Facebook Marketplace for someone giving up stacks of packing paper for a low price. We suggest asking your moving company for it at a discounted price.
The main purpose of packing paper is to protect your items from dirt, dust or any kind of scratches during the move. It can either be used to wrap your items before placing them in your box or for creating a soft cushioning inside your moving box. People often crumple it and use it as a padding material as well to make sure things don’t shift and get damaged inside the box.
Newspaper is good for packing only if you use it for padding your items or to create a cushioning inside your moving box. You should avoid using newspaper for packing your items as its ink can stain your items during the move.
Both bubble wrap and paper are good for packing items. Packing paper is cheaper than bubble wrap and can be used to pack different items. But if you need to pack any of your antiques or fragile items like expensive china or glasses, then bubble wrap is your best option.
You can use your old towels, sweaters, sheets or magazines instead of packing paper. But if you’re using newspapers or magazines, make sure you don’t use them for wrapping your items to avoid any ink stains on them.
Packing paper is somewhat like newspaper, the only difference is that it is not printed. You can use both newspaper and packing paper for packing your items. But we suggest you avoid newspapers as initial protective layers because of the risk of its ink staining your items.
You can get free newspapers for packing from Craigslist, all you have to do is browse and select ‘free’. Other than that you can approach local supplies and exporters, libraries or newspaper factories for free newspapers.
No packing paper will not scratch glass. If you use packing paper for wrapping your glasses, it will protect them from any scratches during the move.
Conclusion
The uses of packing paper are endless and it’s presence is a must for any move. Besides, it won’t really feel like you’re moving homes without the sight of packing paper and corrugated cardboard boxes. Especially if you’ve taken the DIY approach, make sure you have your own stash of packing paper before you dive into the process of packing.
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