Interstate Moving Packing Hacks

Packing for a move, especially an interstate one, can be the difference between a smooth transition and a logistical nightmare. The condition of your belongings relies heavily on careful planning, the right materials, and proper loading techniques. How you approach each step will determine whether your cargo arrives safely or suffers damage along the way

Getting it right takes time and effort – but there are things you can do to make the job more efficient, and your cargo safer. So, if you’re facing down an interstate move, these interstate packing hacks will take away some of the stress.

At A Glance:

Your packing materials can make or break a move. Invest in good quality boxes, tape, labels, wrapping, padding, and tools.
Go room by room. By taking a logical and systematic approach, you’ll make unloading and unpacking a much easier task.
Take the time for fragile items. Use original packaging, double up on padding, watch temperatures, and label boxes accordingly.
Pack furniture the smart way. Disassemble where possible, store screws and nails, use padding for corners, tape up draws and other moving parts.
Labelling is everything. Use colour codes and detailed inventory to keep track of your cargo, and make unpacking a breeze.
Save space where you can: Nestle items together, store items in furniture draws, fill gaps in boxes with bedding, roll up clothes.
Pack a first-night box: Set aside essential items such as bedding, toiletries, chargers, snacks, medication, and anything else you’ll need during the first few nights.
Make yourself comfortable: Set up your entertainment, adjust temperatures, eat, drink, and make your new home comfortable for the duration of unpacking.
You can be environmental: Use recycled and biodegradable materials where possible, request boxes from your removalists, and re-use padding wherever you can.

A Quick Guide On Packing Materials

Before we get into techniques and tips, you’re going to need to know all about the materials we’ll be mentioning. The below covers just about everything you need to safeguard your cargo and can be bought from post offices, specialist stores, or from your removalists.

Boxes

Small (1.5-2 cubic feet): Best used for heavy items such as books, small appliances, and canned food
Medium (3 cubic feet): Kitchenware, toys, ornaments
Large (4.5 cubic feet): Lightweight, bulky items such as blankets, pillows, duvets, and clothing

Specialty boxes

Wardrobe boxes: Which contain a bar for hanging clothes.
Dish packs: Have dividers inside to secure dishes, glasses, and other fragile kitchen items.
Picture/mirror boxes: Which are used for mirrors, artwork, and other flat items.

Packing paper

Newspapers: Unprinted if possible (to prevent ink staining), and perfect for wrapping and cushioning fragile items .
Bubble wrap: Effective cushioning for fragile and valuable bits such glassware, ceramics, ornaments, and electronics.

Tape

Packing tape: Tough, waterproof, and strong tape for securely sealing boxes.
Masking tape: Helpful for labelling boxes and securing bubble wrap or wrapping paper.

Markers and labels

Permanent markers: To label boxes with contents, arrows, and destination room.
Pre-printed labels or coloured stickers: To further help categorise boxes by room and cargo type

Furniture protection

Furniture pads and moving blankets: To safeguard against scratches and dings.
Stretch wrap: Secures items like furniture drawers or fridge doors, preventing them from opening at any point during the move
Mattress bags: To protect mattresses from dirt and damage.

Cushioning materials

Packing peanuts: Handy for filling gaps in boxes and preventing items from shifting.
Foam sheets: Used as layers between fragile items such as electronics and plates.

Misc.

Ziplock bags: Ideal for keeping small parts like screws and bolts together after disassembling furniture.
Scissors/box cutter: For opening and closing boxes, as well as the packaging for your materials.
Hand truck/dolly: If you’re not working with removalists, having equipment like this will make loading and unloading large, heavy items much easier.

Going Room By Room

Now that we know all about the materials need, it’s time to start applying some real strategy. The most effective thing you can do is to go room by room, as you’ll be able to group boxes and containers for easier unloading on the other side.

Kitchen

Dishes and glassware: User dish packing boxes, which are specially designed for plates and kitchenware. Bubble wrap each item individually, and if using regular boxes, stack plates vertically to reduce the risk of breakage. Then, use packing peanuts or scrunched-up paper to fill in any gaps.

Appliances: Clean or defrost any appliances that you’re going to be taking with you, leaving at least 24 hours for freezers and fridges. Secure loose or detachable parts such as microwave plates with masking tape or shrink wrap. If possible, use original boxes as these will likely still have their fitted foam inserts.

Smaller items: Group and wrap utensils together, and seal up pantry items within zip lock bags to avoid spillage and spoilage of foods.

Living room

Electronics – Use original boxes for TV and audio equipment, or buy special TV boxes with the correct support. Detach all cords and label them, and include in the same box as the equipment. Ensure that your electronics are not put into extreme temperatures of any kind. And, pad, pad, pad.

Furniture: Disassemble furniture as much as reasonably possible to make the items easier to manage, with screws and smaller parts in labelled bags taped to the main sections. Use moving blankets and furniture pads to protect against scuffs, and make sure that draws can’t open while being carried. Finally, use cardboard to cover and protect sharp edges on tables or shelves.

Décor: Wrap up all framed art in bubble wrap and place vertically in boxes. Wrap all ornaments and decorations individually, and be generous with the materials.

Bedroom

Clothes – This is where your wardrobe boxes come in handy. Keep dresses, shirts and suits on their hangers and make the transfer. For everything else, consider using vacuum bags for off-seasons or less fragile clothing. For everything else, duffel bags and suitcases will do the job.

Bedding – Again, vacuum bags will be your friend here, as duvets, pillows and sheets can take up a lot of space if left in a box. If taking your mattress, get a mattress cover to protect from dirt and damage.

Jewellery – Put jewellery into secure, padded containers, and keep with you throughout the move.

Bathroom

Toiletries – Use tape or plastic wrap under caps to seal up bottles which have already been opened. Then, pack liquids separately to minimise spillages, and use small bags or boxes for toothbrushes and razors.

Medication – Keep important meds with you and don’t pack them away, and for those which can wait, pack up in their original boxes and keep out of extreme temperatures.

Cleaning supplies – We recommend you dispose of cleaning supplies, as these often contain chemicals that could spill or spoil during a long-distance relocation. For those that you do want to bring, make sure they are fully sealed and packed away in sturdy boxes.

Important: Download our interstate moving checklist for a full list of what you’ll need to pack. Trust us when we say, this thing is a lifesaver.

Advanced Tips For Handling Fragile Items

We’ve already touched up on the basics of using bubble wrap and paper for fragile items, but we think it’s worth looking a little close at how you can pack up fragile items for an interstate move.

Create custom cates for particularly delicate or valuable items such as artwork or antiques. You can find businesses online that will scan and create containers purpose-built for ultimate protection. You can also use shock shock-absorbing materials like foam padding, airbags, or high-density foam inserts that are cut to fit the exact shape of the item.
Double-boxing takes up more materials but can give you peace of mind. Use an inner box with cushioning, before placing into a larger box with its own layer of protection.
Control temperatures for instruments, artwork or electronics with insulation materials such as thermal bubble wrap, or insulated panels. You can also use desiccants such as silica gel packets to absorb any moisture that may accumulate.
Tilt & shock indicators can be fitted to the outside of your container to alert you or your team that that cargo has been tilted too far, or has endured too much force. This will help you with any insurance claims in the event of breakage.
If shipping multiple fragile items in one go, consider palatalising them so that they are kept together, which will then reduce the chances of individual boxes being mishandled. Remember to distribute weight evenly o prevent tipping.
Use stickers, labels, and arrows all over the boxes that contain fragile items. Then, let your moving team know which ones to pay extra attention to,
Use professional packing services. Your interstate removalists can provide packing services, which is always the best way to make sure your cargo is well protected throughout the move. Your team will have the experience and materials needed to keep fragile items secure and in-place from loading and transit through to unloading.

How To Pack Your Furniture

Furniture might seem easier to pack and transport since it usually involves just a few large pieces rather than many small items. However, there are some tricks that can make the process even more manageable

Take apart large pieces from beds, tables, and desks. This will reduce overall weight, and makes carrying them more manageable. Keep the small parts and screws in small bags, and tape to the main piece to keep it all together.
Stretch wrap is effective for preventing shallow scratches and scuffs on your furniture. More importantly, it can be used to secure loose parts, like chair legs or bed frames, keeping them firmly together during the move.
Moving blankets provide thick padding for even more protection and can easily be sealed up with strong tape. Plus, when a piece of furniture is wrapped in a moving blanket, it’s less likely to slide around in the moving vehicle.
Protect corners with cardboard or foam corner protectors, which will prevent damage to the furniture, and anything else it might bump into. You can make your own corner protectors by cutting cardboard into squares and folding them into a triangular shape to fit over the corners.
Furniture sliders can be put under the legs of extra heavy items such as dressers or sofas, letting you slide them across the floor without risking injury. This will also protect the floors from scratches.
If your furniture has glass or mirrored parts, wrap and pack these separately in bubble wrap or moving blankets, with clear labelling as to which piece they belong to. You can also remove any protruding hardware or knobs.
Keep clothes and lighter items in drawers to save space and reduce packing time. Secure the drawers with stretch wrap to prevent them from opening during transport. Bear in mind that this will naturally increase the weight of the furniture.
If dealing with more complex pieces, consider filming or taking pictures during the process so that you know what to do for when the time comes to put them back together again.
Wrap furniture feet or legs in bubble wrap or foam padding to protect them, and any floors from getting damaged.
When loaded into the vehicle, put the heaviest and largest items first, with lighter ones on top. Secure everything with straps to prevent shifting.

Labelling And Inventory Tips

You may think you’ll be able to remember everything, but after all the stress of moving, you won’t want to dig through boxes to find what you need. Instead, a simple labelling and inventory will make sure your belongings are organised, easily accessed, and accounted for.

Colour-code by room

Assign a specific colour for each room in your new home (for instance blue for the kitchen, red for the living room) and use coloured labels, tape, or stickers on each box that corresponds to the room where it belongs.
Stay consistent and make sure that every box, regardless of size, is marked with the corresponding colour.

Numbering

Number each box sequentially (Box 1, Box 2), which will help keep track of the total number of boxes to be checked upon arrival.
For a more detailed approach use a combo of the room code and box number (e.g., B-01 for Bedroom Box, or L-01 for Living Room Box 1).

Inventory list

Create a detailed inventory that includes each box number, the corresponding room, and a brief description of its contents. For example:
- K-01: Kitchen – Pots, pans, and spoons
- L-01: Living Room – Books, speakers, tv cables
For valuable or fragile items, make a note of their condition before packing, and even taking pictures if needed.
Keep a physical copy to check off on the day, and an online one which can be easily updated.

Signpost fragile items

Label boxes containing fragile items with “Fragile” stickers or tape, and a clear arrow to indicate which way the container should be held and stored.
Mark certain boxes as “Unpack First” for essential items such as kitchen essentials, bedding, or toiletries.

QR codes and barcodes

Consider using a moving app such as Sortly that lets you generate QR codes or barcodes for each box – which can then be scanned with a smartphone to check off.

Understand room layouts

Draw up simple diagrams of each room in your new home, writing down where large furniture can go. You can also write down the box numbers or codes you created earlier to tell your removalists where to unload.

The Essentials box

As previously mention, pack up an “Essentials Box” for each room, containing items you’ll need immediately upon arrival (basic toiletries, kitchen items, bedding, medication). Label these boxes clearly and keep them easily accessible in the moving truck.
In the same vein, prepare a separate box or bag for overnight essentials, like clothes, medications, chargers, and important documents to keep with you during the move.

10 Superb Space-Saving Tips

If you’re limited for space, there are some clever little things you can do to make sure you’re making the most with the space you have. We’ve already mentioned vacuum-sealed bags, but what else can you do?

The best thing you can do: is declutter. Donate, sell, or dispose of old clothes, electronics, artwork, and anything else that’s been stuffed into a draw or cupboard for years. Moving is a great chance to shed all the useless stuff, and save on money and space during the move. Read more about how to successfully declutter before a move.
Pack inside furniture and maximise drawer space by keeping lightweight and non-breakable items (like clothes) in dresser drawers. You can also use hollow spaces in laundry baskets and anything else you can think of to maximise space.
Similar to above, you can nest small items inside larger ones to save on space. For instance, small kitchen appliances may fit within larger ones, or smaller boxes within larger boxes. This works really well with bowls and pots.
Roll clothes instead of folding them, which allows for tighter packing into gaps between other items. This also goes for towels and linens.
Your cargo can double up as packing materials, such as towels and blankets – killing two birds with one stone.
If possible, you can turn furniture into flat packs, which can then go against the sides of the moving truck, or on the floor.
Use uniform box-sizes where possible, as they will stack together better and save space in the moving van. Your moving company might supply stackable moving boxes for free, so always ask them first!
Bundle cords, wires, and cables with Velcro straps or twist ties to keep them organised and tangle-free. They will take up less space than if tangled up into a ball.
You can even use your shoes for packing! Stuff socks, belts, or other small and non-fragile items into boots and shoes. This comes with the added bonus of maintaining the shape of the shoe during the move. Read more about how to pack shoes for a move.
Use trash bags for soft items such as clothes and bedding as they can be stuffed into tight spaces to save room for boxes and harder cargo.

Packing A First-Night Box

There are certain things you’re going to want as soon as you get into your new home, which is why a first-night box is a good idea. Instead of digging through all your cargo and searching inventory, you’ll have everything you need to feel comfortable immediately upon arrival.

Toiletries and personal hygiene: Toothbrushes, toothpaste, soap, shampoo, conditioner, deodorant.
Towels and washcloths: A full set, enough for each person. You won’t want to share a wet towel!
Toilet paper: Goes without saying, but we need to mention it.
Bedding and sleep essentials: Bed linens, pillow cases, comfort items such as pillows, and sleepwear.
Basic kitchen supplies: A pan or pot, utensils, a couple of mugs and glasses, plat, bowl, and dish soap. Also, it’s a good idea to have non-perishable snacks.
Important documents: Moving-in paperwork, IDs, passport.
Chargers and electronics: your smartphones, tablets, and laptop – and their chargers.
Cleaning: A few trash bags, paper towels, and hand soap.
Medication: Any prescription or over-the-counter medications you take regularly. Aside from that, first-aid items such as band-aids, pain relievers, and any other first-aid supplies.
Basic tools: A small toolkit with screwdrivers, a hammer, and tape for any immediate assembly or adjustments needed. A good flashlight can help too, although your smartphone can serve as one.

Quick Ways To Make Your New Home Comfortable

This guide isn’t so much about the unpacking side of things, but we do want you to be comfortable for when it starts! Here are the first things you can do to make your new home ready for living.

Set up the essentials first – Start by unpacking the bedding and setting up the beds—you’ll be thankful when the day winds down. Also, take a moment to organize the bathroom, making sure toiletries and essentials are easily accessible.
Don’t forget to eat and drink – Cook something quick and easy, or try out the local takeaway. Have a beer (if you’re into that), or a cup of tea.
Set the atmosphere – Sort out the lighting to make a calmer ambience, and set up your entertainment. Plug in your TV and speakers and have them on while you get on with other tasks.
Take your time – you’ve had a long day, so don’t go crazy. Only unpack what you need and leave the rest for tomorrow. It’s not going anywhere!

Eco-Friendly Packing Options

There are a few things you can do to minimise your effect on the environment when packing, and as fans of green practices where possible, we wanted to share some of those tips.

Sustainable boxes: You should ask your removalist about free moving boxes – as these are supplied by your team, and are used again and again. If you’re handling the move yourself, you can buy moving boxes made from recycled cardboard.
Biodegradable packing peanuts: You can actually buy packing peanuts which are made from cornstarch and can dissolve in water instead of having to be thrown away.
Recycled padding: Just like with your boxes, you can use recycled paper for your padding, which can then be recycled again after all is said and done.
Green tape: You can buy paper-based packing tape that includes a natural rubber adhesive. You can also use plant-based tape, which is biodegradable.
Use your own materials: Use clothes, towels, and bedsheets when wrapping and filling up box space. That way you won’t need to buy or dispose of any unnecessary materials.
Plastic storage bins: These are super stackable and reusable, both for the move and when you need storage in your new home.
Reusable wrapping: Check out silicone stretch lids which are a great replacement for single-use plastic wraps, or check out Bee’s Wax Wrap, which uses natural materials that can be used again and again.

Summing Up

As you can see, packing up for an interstate move doesn’t have to be a nightmare. The above tips come from years of experience, so you can be sure they’ll go a long way to reducing your moving stresses. One of the best things we can recommend is to use the packing services of experienced interstate removalists, as they’ll be able to do a professional job in half the time, using strong and sturdy materials.

For more on making your interstate move easier, take a look at our tips on how to reduce stress during a move, our artwork transport guide, and how to pack books for a move.

Experienced Interstate Removalists

ZOOM-Removals-Guarantees

ZOOM Removals is a leading interstate removalist service provider for homes and offices. Our five-star rated relocation services are renowned across Australia not only for its quality but also for the best prices when compared to other interstate moving companies. Our attentive furniture removalists can move your belongings from Brisbane to all major Australian cities for added peace of mind and a worry-free relocation, including:

Interstate Packing Hacks For Peace Of Mind