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 and moving your entire home surely is a difficult and time-consuming task. You have to pack all your furniture, wardrobe, appliances, etc. and it just doesn’t seem to get any better when you step into your kitchen or other bigger rooms. After packing all your belongings inside the house, you may feel like your job is done. But what about your garage and storage? Don’t you want to take a small tour there?
Although sorting and packing your belongings in the garage and storage seems like a nightmare, it still has to be done. Behind those spider webs and unused bottles of paints, there will be certain tools and equipment that you may want to move. Need help in packing your garage and storage for a move? We acknowledge that garages can be dirty and packing them can get really complicated. To help you with that, we’ve listed down some tips that can help you pack your garage and storage for a move, so let’s get started!
CALCULATE MY MOVE
Your garage is probably that one place where you store all your tools along with unwanted items from your house. It won’t come to you as a surprise that many people think of their garage as their dumping ground where all the unused paints, cans, and broken appliances, find their home. That’s why the first thing you need to do is sort out all your stuff in the garage or storage unit.
There will be different kinds of odd objects, appliances, and tools that you must have stored in your garage. So it’s best if you make an inventory of all of your items in the garage as it will help you decide what all things you want to take along with you. Right from the smallest items like your screwdrivers to your large items like sports equipment, every single item stored in the garage has to be mentioned on the inventory. Make a checklist of what items you will be using in the future and what to discard.
Once you’ve made your inventory, it’s time to categorize your items according to their usage and need. First and foremost, you need to sort out all your items by grouping similar items together. For example, all your sports equipment can be kept together, make a separate pile of your camping equipment, paints can be kept together, garden tools can be grouped together and automobile parts can be kept separately. That way, you can segregate your junk from each category and declutter unwanted items. Just make sure you check every nook and corner of your garage and sort out all your items depending on their need and usage.
Tip: You can use your old appliance boxes or cardboard boxes to categorize your garage items. That will help you in sorting out your items and separating things you want to from the unnecessary junk that needs to be discarded.
After you’ve categorized and sorted your items, it’s time that you dispose of the unnecessary items stored up in your garage. There will be some old furniture, picture frames, dishes, fishing rods, artwork, or camping supplies that you may not want to take along with you. Instead of throwing them all away, you can donate these items which can be of use to someone else. You can approach The Salvation Army, Habitat for Humanity ReStore, etc. for donating your garage items. Otherwise, just check your local charities and see if they accept any donations.
There will be certain automobile parts, pesticides, old furniture, etc. that can be recycled and reused. Just get in touch with your local municipality and ask them if they can recycle these items. Another way of getting rid of unused and unwanted items in your garage is by organizing a garage sale. That way you can sell your items that are in a good condition and also earn a few extra bucks which you can use for your moving expenses.
Just so you know, you’ll have plenty of items stored in your garage which moving companies don’t allow for transportation. That’s why you'll have to keep these hazardous and dangerous items separately from the rest of your items. Here’s a list of some of the items that are hazardous for moving and not moved by most moving companies:
Do keep in mind that these items are dangerous and may ruin your other items or cause an unforeseen accident during your move. So it’s best that you dispose of them right away. You can approach your local municipality or waste management centers and let them take care of these hazardous items.
Also See: Things to Never Store in Your Garage
Before you get started with packing your garage, you first need to check whether you have all the essential supplies which can assist you in packing. Keep in mind that not all the items in your garage can be packed in moving boxes. You’ll need the right kind of packing materials to pack and move different types and sizes of items. Here’s what you’ll need to purchase before packing your garage and storage:
Now that you’ve sorted and organized all the items in your garage or storage unit, it’s time you roll up your sleeves and start with the packing process. Before you undertake the task by yourself, we want to remind you that this is not going to be an easy task and may also take up a lot of time. That’s why it’s best if you seek help from professional movers who have experience in packing garage tools and equipment.
In case you’re on a tight budget and can’t afford to hire movers, you can approach your friends and neighbors to help you with the packing. But don’t forget to inform them beforehand; you surely don’t want anyone to bail out on you at the last minute.
Once you have all your things sorted, it’s time to do one of the most important things, packing! Before you get started, make sure that all your packing materials are handy. Here are some tips to pack different types of garage tools and equipment:
There will be certain power tools in your garage and storage that will need careful handling. Your drill machines, welding machines, and other electrical equipment are power tools that need to be packed individually. First of all, detach any removable parts like the electrical batteries. Also, don't forget to drain these tools off any oil or gas as it can get risky while transporting them. Make sure that the electrical power cord of these power tools is coiled around the tool’s body.
You’ll need furniture blankets to wrap your tools before you place them in the box. Don’t forget to secure the wrapping with packing tape. Once you’re done with that, you can prepare your moving boxes by placing some crumpled paper balls or bubble wrap at the bottom as soft padding for your tools. Keep the tools carefully in the boxes and fill in the empty spaces with crumpled paper or packing peanuts. Once that’s done, secure the flaps of the box with packing tape and label the boxes ‘Power Tools’. That will make your unpacking easier when you reach your new house.
Tip: It’s best if you use the original boxes to pack and move your power tools. In case you don’t have them, you can check your local hardware stores and see whether they can lend you boxes for free.
When you’re packing your garage or storage unit for a move, it’s important that you dig in every corner of the place to figure out what all you want to move along with you. It may not strike you, but behind your old furniture, motor vehicle, or those tiny little spider webs, there may be some hand tools that you might need in the future. So make sure you find out all the important hand tools like your screwdrivers, wrenches, hammers, nuts and bolts, etc. that may be scattered in your garage.
Wrap all these individual hand tools in bubble wrap and secure them using packing tape. You can use a toolbox to accommodate items like screwdrivers, nuts and bolts, etc. If you have any garden tools or sharp items like spades, scythes, shovels, etc, you’ll have to wrap them in furniture blankets and then secure the wrapping using packing tape. These items can be accommodated in moving boxes. Just don’t forget to create a soft base at the bottom of each box and seal them with packing tape.
Tip: Keep important hand tools like your screwdrivers handy while you’re packing your garage. You might need such tools to disassemble certain appliances or large items in your garage.
We want to remind you that not all moving companies will transport your gas-powered tools like your lawnmowers, leaf blowers, chainsaws, snowblowers, etc. That’s why you first need to check with your moving company and ask whether they move these kinds of gas-powered tools. Since packing and moving them is a huge risk, it has to be done carefully. So consider getting help from movers or friends when you’re packing such tools.
First and foremost, you need to drain the fuel out of these gas tools before you start packing them. One of the best ways of draining the gas out of your tools is by using a hand pump. After disconnecting the spark plugs of your gas tools, you can start packing them. You can use moving blankets to wrap these tools and for any sharp edges, bubble wrap is a must.
Tip: For packing a barbeque grill, empty the propane tank first. Clean the grill off any grease, oil, or ash and pack it separately from your other tools and belongings.
Your furniture may be one of your heavy and large items stored in your garage and so you might need some help from your movers or friends. Disassemble the removable parts of your furniture like drawers, cushions, etc. first. These items need to be packed separately.
Speaking of your huge furniture items like sofas or chairs, you first need to wrap them with furniture blankets and secure them with packing tape. You can cover them with shrink wrap or plastic wrap to give an extra layer of protection. Don’t put the plastic or shrink wrap over the surface of your furniture as it can get damaged. You can approach professional movers who are experienced in furniture packing.
Your bicycle may be one of the most difficult things to pack and move along with you, especially if yours is a long distance move. Firstly, make sure that you clean your bicycle at least a day prior to your packing day. There will be certain parts that you’d need to disassemble before you start packing your bicycle. Here’s what all you need to remove:
Tip: Keep your bicycle flat on the ground when you’re disassembling or packing it for a move. That reduces the chances of any kind of injuries and you can easily remove the detachable parts.
Disassembling your bicycle parts can be a nightmare as it’s really time-consuming and requires careful handling. These disassembled parts of the bicycle can be wrapped in bubble wrap and accommodated in small or medium-sized boxes.
Now that you’ve disassembled all the removable parts of your bike, you can start packing your bicycle. This is a task that needs professional guidance and so it’s best if you ask your movers to do it. If you are well-versed with bicycles and their parts, you can do it, but make sure you have someone to help you. Here are some tips to pack your bicycle for a move:
Also See: How to Organize Garage?
Conclusion
Packing your garage and storage surely doesn’t seem like a fun activity, especially if you have a lot of junk stored up there. Having said that, with proper planning and organization, you can surely do it in no time. It’s natural to get overwhelmed when you have to pack up an entire garage. But you needn’t worry about that if you’ve read our tips for packing a garage and storage for a move, you are ready to carry out the task. We wish you all the best!
How Do I Pack My Garage For A Move?
First and foremost, you need to sort and organize your items and give away your unwanted items for recycling or donation. Next, wrap all your tools, appliances, and other equipment using appropriate packing supplies like moving blankets and specialty moving boxes for certain items. Since packing up an entire garage can be a really tedious task, you should consider getting help from professional movers for the job.
How Do You Pack Mops And Brooms For Moving?
Make sure that your mops and brooms are clean before you start packing them. You can first wrap them in moving blankets and secure them using packing tape, ropes, or strings.
How Do You Pack A Workshop For Moving?
The first thing you need to do is categorize and sort all the tools and equipment in your workshop. Make sure you discard your unwanted items by giving them for recycling or donation. Always disassemble whichever parts can be removed from your items and pack them separately. When it comes to packing your tools and equipment, use moving blankets to wrap them and then place them in their respective boxes. For tools with sharp edges, use bubble wrap for securing them. If you have any odd-shaped items, tote bags can be your best option to pack them up.
Fill Out the Form and Get 100% Free Moving Quote!
Quick Response
Satisfaction Guarantee
Expert & Professional
Professional Approach
High Quality Work
24/7 Emergency
Complete the form to get instant quotes! Its that easy!
Privacy Policy Terms Of Use
We will send you a text with a short verification code
9Kilo brings the movers directly to you! We'll find the top moving companies for your needs and have them call you right away. Search no more. Just sit back and relax!
This is your estimated moving cost. Professional movers will contact you within one business day.
We're sorry, but we are unable to service this move because it is considered a local move.