Confessions of a Shopaholic: How to Pack Clothes for Moving in LA

By Alex Rogers

July 19, 2021

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Contents

Reading Time: 9 minutes

If you are about to move, one of your worries must be the task that awaits you – packing clothes for moving. How to pack clothes for moving and keep them in the perfect condition until they are unpacked in your new home? There is no reason to worry – many techniques and tips can be of use here, and we will teach you the best ones.

What is the best way to pack clothes for a move? There’s not only one correct answer to that question. The methods significantly vary depending on the number of items you have, the types of materials, and the time you have at your disposal to wrap up everything. Keeping all that in mind, we’ve gathered the best and most proven methods that are efficient in most situations. Let’s figure out how to move clothes, shall we?

How to Pack Clothes for Moving Like a Pro – Tips and Tricks You Need to Know

Wondering how to pack clothing and the possibility of damaging your favorite items can make you feel a lot of relocation stress. But, fashion lovers can relax – it doesn’t have to be a dreadful task if you follow some guidelines that are proven to be effective and will help you move efficiently and keep your clothing intact. We will share the most common tips and tricks, and you can choose which ones are suitable for you. You’ll figure out what is the best way to move clothes in no time.

How to Pack Clothes When Moving and When to Start?

The critical point we want to make here is that you should be well-organized. Having a relocation to-do list is the ultimate solution to keep up with all of your tasks. Experts suggest that you should start to pack your household items, including clothing, about a month before the move. That will give you enough time to handle everything properly and protect your belongings adequately. In the following text, we will explain in detail every step you have to do before it’s finally time to place garments in boxes.

Rack of clothes in front of a white wall
Starting on time is essential if you want to avoid the pressure

The First Step Is Deciding What to Take With You

If you have a passion for clothing and shoes, we fear that this will be the most challenging part of the relocation process. You have plenty of clothes, and who can blame you? It’s so easy to let yourself lose control in the best mall in California and buy some new stuff you may not even need. But hey – it was cute, so it’s worth it. However, now that you have to move, the question is, how will you take it all with you.

If we’re honest, you shouldn’t even consider taking everything you own. One of the essential relocation tips says that you should always declutter before the move, and that goes for clothing as well. We know it will be hard to decide which items to keep, but you should be brave enough to do this. Just start, piece by piece, and divide your things into two piles – keep and donate.

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Where Can You Donate Clothes in Los Angeles?

Keep in mind that, although it’s hard to give away your stuff, it will mean a lot to someone. We can’t all be living in Beverly Hills and enjoy the best life, can we? You are doing a good thing here – let’s see where you can head to donate garments:

  • The Salvation Army Thrift Store & Donation Center, 1940 W Pico Blvd.
  • Goodwill Southern California Store & Donation Center, 817 South La Brea Ave.
  • Pick Up Please (they come to your address)
  • The Good Shepherd Center, 1671 Beverly Blvd.
  • Los Angeles Mission Donation Drop Off, 316 East Winston St.
  • The Union Rescue Mission, 545 S. San Pedro St.
Shirts on the rack
You can hardly take it all with you. Donation is the best option for decluttering

Wash and Dry All of Your Clothing Before You Wrap Them

One of the things to do before relocating includes washing all of the garments you plan on wrapping up and taking to the new home. It’s tedious, we know, but it would be worse to find yourself exhausted after the move and then have to wash your shirts because you have nothing clean to wear. It’s always better to do all the washing before you find yourself in your shiny new home in the best suburb of Los Angeles.

Since we’re talking about cleaning, don’t forget to pick up your dry cleaning – things from dry cleaning are some of the most commonly forgotten things to pack. Of course, you can always come back for that, as you’re only relocating locally, but it will surely be an annoyance.

Mom and baby, sitting in front of the washing machine
Your washing machine will have a lot of work to do before the move

Gather Adequate Supplies – Bags and Boxes Are a Must-Have

The part of the relocation process after choosing where to live in Los Angeles with the help of your real estate agent is preparing everything for the move, and a considerable part of that is getting enough supplies for all of your belongings. Although you can get free boxes in many places, buying all the materials you’ll require to protect your belongings will affect your relocation expenses checklist, and you should keep track of your spending.

What Kind of Boxes Should You Use for Packing Garments?

Standard cardboard boxes (those you can find for free) are great for folded garments, and if you layer them with paper (or bubble wrap) before placing stuff inside, it will be perfect protection for your favorite pieces. For things that must stay on hangers and are easily wrinkled, we recommend you use wardrobe boxes – they are specially designed to carry garments on hangers and keep them safe during transport. The only downside to a box like this is the higher price than the regular box.

You’ll Need a Few Bags as Well

Which moving bags for clothes are the optimal choice? No reason to spend a lot of dollars on fancy bags. Honestly, simple garbage bags will do just fine. It’s one of the most famous relocation hacks – pulling them over piles of clothes on hangers and tying them together. It works like magic. Additionally, we can recommend a vacuum bag. It’s a great way to store off-season garments, as they can stay packed like that long, and you won’t have to unpack them immediately after you get to your new home.

Man placing a sweater in the package
Quality cardboard packages will be essential for folded garment

Sorting and Folding Methods to Keep in Mind

It’s up to you to choose a sorting method based on your preferences. We’ll tell you which sorting methods are the most efficient:

  • By the type of pieces,
  • By the season,
  • By the material,
  • By owner (for those who are relocating with family members).

We recommend sorting by the type and dividing stuff that belongs to each family member, so the unpacking process goes smoothly. You can apply all these rules for packing shoes as well. Shoes are simple and don’t require much time. When it comes to folding, you should know that it’s not all about rolling stuff carelessly. Sure, it’s not as tricky as relocating a piano, but it requires a bit of concentration. Of course, garments can’t break as fragile things can. Still, that doesn’t mean you can throw them in the box without a second thought.

Most Common Folding Techniques Can Be of Use to You

So, what are you going to do with stuff that must be folded? What is the most efficient folding technique? The best one hasn’t been decided yet, but experts suggest trying one of the following three. Whichever you choose, your things will be fine during the move.

  • The flat fold – This is the most straightforward method, and if you have to move in a hurry, we suggest you go with this one, as it is the quickest but still quite effective. You lay a shirt face down on the surface, fold both sides towards the middle, and fold the bottom half over the upper one. Make sure you smooth any wrinkles, and you’re done.
  • The KonMari method – Marie Kondo, a famous organizer, has her technique for folding that is especially useful if you wish to save some space. It consists of folding both sides, then folding a piece in half, and rolling the item.
  • Military rolling method – It’s one of the best folding techniques out there, but it’s also a bit more complicated than your regular folding. It saves space and prevents wrinkles. If you want to try it out, check the video below to see how it’s done.
https://youtube.com/watch?v=fuD-ZZydsVg%3Ffeature%3Doembed

What Is the Best Way to Pack Clothes for Moving? Tips and Tricks to Make Packing Easy

Now it’s finally time to put things in a box and head to the new home. Usually, it’s the best idea to start with the off-season pieces, as you won’t be wearing them any time soon – be sure you put them in a vacuum bag to keep them secure longer, as you maybe won’t unpack them right away.

As for other pieces – before anything goes in the box, you must make sure that you have a solid layer of paper or bubble wrap to protect your belongings during transport, just like you would do when packing dishes. If you get bored, we recommend you ask your friends to come over and help – why not turn this into a going-away party?

Clever Hacks That Will Help You Save Space

Of course, you will lay folded pieces into the box – no reason to explain that. All you should know is that it’s essential to use medium or small packages and not overpack them. But, if you want to save yourself the trouble, consider simply keeping things in the drawer and wrapping them with plastic wrap to secure garments in place. And how do you pack bulky clothes for moving?

Well, pretty much the same as the rest of the garments, but keep in mind that bulky ones should always be at the bottom of the package. If you run out of packages, consider using some garments for wrapping up plates – it’s one of the oldest hacks in the book. Now that we’ve mentioned books, you likely know that people usually wrap up books in suitcases, but if you end up requiring more space for your garments, don’t be afraid to fill your suitcases with them. Check out how Marie Kondo does it in the video below.

https://youtube.com/watch?v=NWCmeklWJug%3Ffeature%3Doembed

Be Extra Careful With Your Most Valuable Pieces

If you own some designer outfits (or expensive shoes) that you genuinely cherish, maybe you would feel anxious placing them in the simple cardboard package and throwing them onto the truck. In that case, one possible solution is to transport them in your car. How do you pack clothes for moving by car? It’s up to you, but using a duffel bag or a simple plastic one is the best option if you want to save space. Naturally, with important pieces (like your wedding dress, for example), you should trust your gut and do whatever you feel is the best solution.

Wedding dresses on the rack
Pro tip – move valuables, such as your wedding dress, by your car

You’ll Need a Few Garments for the Relocation Day

Don’t forget that you’ll require something to wear on the relocation day. It should be something comfy, of course, as you’ll be wearing it until you unpack your pajamas after the long, hard day. So, be sure to leave something unpacked – maybe your favorite tracksuit. It should be something that will be comfortable for driving in LA. After all, you must move all those valuables by car, right? Additionally, it’s wise to have an essentials bag by your side. You can put a few spare garments in there, just in case.

Woman wearing a black backpack
A bag with essentials is a must-have for the relocation day

Let Our Local Movers in Los Angeles Transport Your Garments and Other Belongings Safely to Your New Home

Now that you know how to pack clothes for a move, another essential task ahead of you is choosing the right moving company in Los Angeles. You know that garments aren’t on the list of items movers won’t move, so you’ll require movers you can entrust with your favorite belongings. If you decide to move with our movers, you can be sure you will have the best movers in Los Angeles.

Our company is known as a reputable business that works transparently and honestly cares about its customers. With us, your residential relocation is going to be effortless. Also, if you need a commercial relocation, we are here to help. We are one of the top choices for that type of service – not all moving companies in Los Angeles can do it as professionally as we can.

We Can Pack or Transport Your Clothing Efficiently

The best thing is that our work is affordable and won’t burden your budget significantly. Our professional movers in Los Angeles are here for anything you require, whether it’s labor-only relocation or for those who are not sure they can do it all on their own – packing services provided by our fully-trained Los Angeles movers. In case you have a few extra items you wish to store, our in- and-out-of storage relocation sounds like the perfect solution for you. We genuinely believe that our Los Angeles moving company is the best choice for your move, and we will work hard to show you that we are worthy of your trust. All you have to do is contact us to book our relocation services!

Alex Rogers

Written by

Alex Rogers

Alex Rogers, a seasoned expert in the moving industry, brings a wealth of knowledge and firsthand experience to her writing, offering practical tips, insightful advice, and in-depth guides to make your moving journey as smooth and stress-free as possible.

Alex Rogers

Alex Rogers

Alex Rogers, a seasoned expert in the moving industry, brings a wealth of knowledge and firsthand experience to her writing, offering practical tips, insightful advice, and in-depth guides to make your moving journey as smooth and stress-free as possible.

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