Everybody knows that no house move is possible without the use of packing boxes. In fact, cardboard boxes have become synonymous with the process of moving from one place to another.
But a house move also seems like Mission Impossible without the use of packing paper – the uniquely versatile packing material that is used to protect almost all sorts of household items – from the most delicate and fragile objects to seemingly indestructible things that you may still feel uneasy about simply boxing them without any protection whatsoever.
Luckily, the advantages of using packing paper when packing up your things by yourself are so many that it’s not really a question of whether you should do it, but rather how you should do it in the best possible way.
And once you learn where to get packing paper, it’s time for the main course – how to use packing paper for packing.
Advantages of using packing paper: SEVEN benefits
Soft unprinted packing paper has too many advantages to count.
Using packing paper during your house move will be inevitable thanks to its versatility, accessibility, and affordability.
If it weren’t for bubble wrap, wrapping paper would easily be considered the best wrapping and padding material when moving from one home to another.
You may be thinking that packing paper and bubble wrap have some sort of rivalry for the said distinction, but the reality shows that those two excellent packing materials are not competing – rather, they are completing each other.
During the house packing task, the use of wrapping paper is very advantageous – oftentimes more beneficial than you realize.
Have you ever wondered why professional packers swear by packing paper? Moving experts know the indisputable advantages of moving paper and use the packing material in their work all the time.
And here’s why:
1. Packing paper is SOFT
Packing paper can’t possibly scratch delicate surfaces or damage them in any other way.
As you’ll see below, soft wrapping paper is used exclusively for protecting extra-delicate items in your home – anything made out of glass or fine china that runs a risk of getting broken during the move unless it’s bundled well in paper.
2. Packing paper is CLEAN
Packing paper won’t stain or smudge the delicate surfaces it is meant to protect simply because it is ink-free.
NEVER use newsprint paper for wrapping your valuable items as it can leave bad ink stains on their surfaces.
Instead, ALWAYS use clean, blank wrapping paper as the first layer of protection – the layer that gets to touch those delicate surfaces.
3. Packing paper is ROBUST
Surprisingly, a few sheets of packing paper wrapped around an item form a strong bundle that proves to be quite durable.
Yes, you can easily tear up a single sheet of wrapping paper, but take a few sheets, twist them into a bundle, and the seemingly easy task turns into a struggle.
4. Packing paper takes LITTLE SPACE
You will be able to fit more paper-wrapped items into a single box simply because packing paper is much thinner than bubble wrap and other thick padding materials – bath towels, for example.
And because it this, using packing paper when packing for a move will let you save space in the boxes.
5. Packing paper WRAPS WELL
Wrapping paper offers unrivaled flexibility to conform to the items you are packing and wraps tight around objects of any shape.
Because of this, high-quality wrapping paper protects items extremely well against dirt, dust, scratches, and – in certain cases – even against moisture (dampness).
6. Packing paper is AFFORDABLE
One of the best things about using packing paper for moving is its affordability. You should expect to pay roughly $10 for a big pack of wrapping paper (usually 200 sheets) that is both acid-free and ink-free.
7. Packing paper is ECO-FRIENDLY
Packing paper is 100% biodegradable, easily making it the most environmentally-friendly packing material you can use during your move – together with cardboard boxes, of course.
After the move is over, you can just recycle all the packing paper you don’t wish to keep for some reason or another.
Where to get packing paper for moving: FOUR options
Now that you are aware of all the advantages of using packing paper to protect your fragile and breakable items when packing for a move, there isn’t a single reason why you shouldn’t take advantage of the high level of protection of that specific packing material.
The only thing that may be stopping you now is the uncertainty about where to buy packing paper, or even better – where to get packing paper for free.
The good news is that you’ve got plenty of options to get hold of quality wrapping paper for your DIY home packing project.
Option 1: Buy packing paper from home improvement stores
The importance of using packing paper when packing for a move can’t be stressed enough.
The easiest way to acquire white, soft, acid- and ink-free wrapping paper for your packing needs is to get it from a good home improvement store in your town or city.
It’s as easy as walking into the store, grabbing a couple of big packs of paper (at least), and placing them into your shopping cart.
Walmart. Arguably, the most convenient way to buy packing paper is to visit a Walmart store near you. One pack of recycled, unprinted packing paper costs around $16 (240 sheets) or around $29 (500 sheets). The sheets are pre-cut, measuring 24 inches by x 30 inches each.
The Home Depot. One 200-sheet pack of packing paper costs $17, while a pack of 500 sheets goes for $30. All paper sheets are pre-cut, measuring 24 inches by x 30 inches each.
Lowe’s. A 100-sheet pack of white, non-marking packing paper costs $10. Each pre-cut sheet is 30 inches wide and 2 feet long.
Option 2: Buy packing paper from local moving companies or truck rental companies
Another good option to get all the moving paper you need for your packing needs is to purchase it from local moving companies or local truck rental companies such as U-Haul, Penske, Budget, and so on. Just visit the office that’s closest to you and see what they have to offer you in terms of wrapping paper of good quality.
Now that you know the cost of wrapping paper at the best home improvement stores, you will be able to figure out whether it’s worth buying packing paper from a mover or a truck rental place. It’s that simple.
Option 3: Buy packing paper online
Ordering packing paper online is pretty easy.
Yes, you’ll need to cover the shipping costs as well, but if you order other packing materials as well – moving boxes, bubble wrap, packing tape, and so on – the extra expense should be negligible. Besides, most websites offer free delivery within the country for orders above a certain amount.
For your convenience, all major hardware stores and home improvement stores have websites – just visit them, compare the prices, and make an order from the one that best suits you. The best moving companies in the country and the principal truck rental companies also offer packing paper through their respective web pages.
Option 4: Get free packing paper online or from friends
Although that looks like a mess, it’s just good packing paper you can use when packing.
Packing paper may be affordable but it’s still a packing expense that you could try to avoid.
Provided that you have enough time before having to start packing up your things, you can choose to look for free wrapping paper for your DIY moving needs.
So, where can you get packing paper for free?
Online. Try searching for free packing paper on websites such as Craigslist and Freecycle. Craigslist has a Free Stuff section, so it won’t hurt to check whether someone in your vicinity offers packing supplies, including wrapping paper, for free. Also, Freecycle is a non-profit organization dedicated to making sure fewer items end up in city landfills, so each and every item there is offered for free.
Friends. Some of your friends may have plenty of packing paper they have no use for anymore, especially if they have moved house recently. A quick Facebook or Twitter post (Guys, I need packing paper. Anyone?) can resolve your dilemma and save you a bunch of dollars at the same time.
Recycling center. If you happen to know a good recycling center near you, you can give them a call and ask if they have packing paper that’s usable. You’ve got nothing to lose either way – even if you don’t like what you see when you visit the recycling place, you’re not obligated in any way to take anything from there.
It’s important to note that if you opt for professional packing services, the packers who arrive at your home to pack up your things will also bring all the necessary packing supplies as well, including quality packing paper.
The bonus in such cases is that the cost of the packing supplies that are required for the successful completion of the job will be included in the quoted price for the extra service of packing for a move.
Wrapping breakable items in packing paper is the best way to protect them when moving house.
Packing paper is best used to protect fragile and easily breakable items during the transportation stage of a house move.
As mentioned above, a single sheet of paper may not offer great protection for a delicate object, but a few paper sheets bundled together provide an excellent level of protection for your breakables.
Here are the main principles when using packing paper to safeguard fragile items:
USE packing paper as the first layer of protection. Quality wrapping paper – – soft, white, ink-free (blank, unprinted, non-marking), acid-free – is perfect for providing the surface protection you need. In other words, even the most delicate surfaces won’t get damaged when wrapped up in soft packing paper. Bear in mind that bubble wrap is NOT recommended as an initial protective layer for delicate items.
USE wrapping paper to protect a wide range of fragile items in your home – kitchen dishes, glasses, and other kitchen items, including the ones with open blades or sharp edges; pictures, paintings, and other framed artwork; mirrors; glass objects; items made of porcelain; wooden pieces with a delicate finish. In fact, any object that seems fragile or delicate in any way should be first wrapped up into a nice tight paper bundle.
POSITION the stack of wrapping paper sheets onto a large flat surface like a dining table or the floor.
PLACE a fragile item into the middle of the stack, then take a couple of paper sheets from one corner and pull them over the delicate object until it is covered completely. Do this again with the 3 other corners, then tuck in the paper corners to form a bundle.
FILL any hollow areas of breakable items – for example, the inside of a wine glass – with wrapping paper to reduce greatly the chance of accidental breakage during transit.
MAKE sure the paper bundle is wrapped up tightly around the item that needs to be protected, then use small pieces of tape to prevent the sheets from unwrapping inside the box.
CONSIDER adding an additional layer of bubble wrap on top of the paper one if whatever it is that you’re packing is extra-fragile. Bubble wrap will provide the ultimate protection against shocks and vibrations, but it’s often not suitable to serve as the first layer of protection due to the fact that plastic may leave marks on some surfaces (glass, wood) and won’t let them breathe (wood).
One thing is certain – using packing paper sheets during the house packing process will add a great deal of safety for your prized possessions.
Here’s how to use packing paper to pad moving boxes with the purpose of making the packing task even safer:
LINE the bottom and sides of cardboard boxes with a few sheets of wrapping paper to create a soft insulation layer that will further protect the fragile items that you plan to pack up in those cartons. Also, once you’ve filled in a box, you can place one or two sheets of paper on the top just before you close up the lids of the box.
PLACE wads of crumpled wrapping paper on the bottom of a cardboard box to form a thick cushioning layer that will absorb the shocks and vibrations, thus safeguarding your fragile things from possible damage. For this particular purpose, you can also use newspapers as newsprint is virtually free of charge and there’s no danger of staining your delicate possessions with ink simply because they will already be bundled up in clean and soft wrapping paper.
For the purpose of lining and padding cardboard boxes, you can use brown packing paper. Also known as Kraft paper, it is stronger and coarser than white soft packing paper and will be ideal for the said purpose of extra protection.
Use wrapping paper to fill empty spaces inside boxes
Use packaging paper to fill any gaps inside your moving boxes.
In addition to wrapping, lining, and padding, packing paper can also serve as an outstanding space-filling material – yet another level of protection for your breakables.
It’s very simple, really: after you arrange all the fragile items into a box, use crumpled sheets of paper to fill in any gaps you see inside the container. Why?
The idea here is to fill in the box space completely so that no item inside can shift during transport. With nothing moving inside the box, you can be sure the breakables inside cannot get in touch with one another, and thus they will all arrive perfectly safe in the new home.
Again, feel free to use newsprint as a void-filling material simply because it’s free (or at least super cheap) and cannot stain your stuff through the protective layers of wrapping paper. Using inexpensive brown Kraft paper as space filler is also a good option.
Using plenty of wrapping paper when packing up your fragile items by yourself will guarantee their safety during transport.
However, once you start unpacking the boxes in the new house or apartment, you’ll get loads and loads of packing paper once you’ve unwrapped all the paper bundles.
And so, what should you do with all the packing paper after the move is over? Here are a few good ideas for you:
Use packing paper for various projects around the house
The wrapping paper you’ll get after unpacking your breakables will still be clean – crumpled, yes, but still perfectly usable for protecting the floor or furniture items during repair works.
You can also use soft packing paper to line your pet’s cage or line various shelves and drawers in the home. It’s also good for keeping shoes and hats in shape or to clean windows and other glass areas in the new place.
Wondering what to use to start a fire in the fireplace? Used packing paper will do nicely.
Use wrapping paper in the garden
Packing paper can have many practical applications after the move is over.
If you just moved into a house with a nice big garden, then you can use whatever packing paper you have left for various gardening purposes.
Packing paper can be used for making compost – just shred it and add it to your compost bin. You may already know this, but paper is considered a “brown” compost material that will supply the energy that microbes need in order to thrive.
Wrapping paper can also be used as garden mulch – cover the sheets with grass clippings, soil, and leaves, so that those paper sheets can kill the weeds by blocking the sun and preventing them from sprouting.
And in case you didn’t know, if you wrap some fruits and vegetables in sheets of packing paper and leave them in a dry and cool place, they will ripen up much more quickly.
Store the packing paper for a future move
You should definitely consider keeping some if not all the packing paper for another move in the future. Provided that you have enough storage space for all that packing paper and the sheets are not torn up too badly, then you should definitely hold on to the moving paper, especially if you know or feel that there’s another move coming up in the foreseeable future.
Think a few steps ahead to save money and time.
Recycle the packing paper that nobody needs
If you’re left with too much paper after unpacking your stuff and you don’t really need it, then remember to ask your friends whether somebody wants to have it for free. If you wish, you can also post it under the Free Stuff section at Craigslist to help a stranger in need.
Ultimately, recycle properly all the packing paper that nobody needs.
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Great Post about packing. Thanks for sharing.