How to Pack a Bathroom for Moving

If you had to identify the most “magical room” in your home, you would probably pick the bathroom – a place of transformation, reinvigoration, and relaxation:

• You enter the bathroom sleepy and sluggish in the morning and emerge refreshed and ready for the day ahead;
• You enter the bathroom with messy hair and puffy eyes and come out with perfect hairdo and elaborate makeup;
• You enter the bathroom tense and tired at the end of the day and emerge calm and relaxed.

It truly seems like magic, right? And you need this sorcery every day, no matter what else is going on in your life.

So, even when you’re moving house and trying to pack your items and complete the moving preparations as quickly and efficiently as possible, you’re still going to need the bathroom functional – up to the last day.

You cannot, therefore, pack your bathroom items ahead of time and cross off that task from your moving checklist – you’ll have to deal with your bathroom essentials in the last couple of days before the move. And find a way to pack all the fragile containers, sensitive products, and spillable liquids that are usually found in a bathroom safely and efficiently, despite your lack of time and energy at the end of the exhausting packing marathon.

To successfully achieve this goal, you need an efficient bathroom packing strategy – you ought to know how to sort and pack your bathroom items for moving so that you have access to everything you might need in the days leading up to moving day and still manage to complete the task in a timely and effective manner.

Here is how to pack a bathroom for moving the right way:

Sort out Your Bathroom Items

As a rule of thumb, the first step in every packing job is to carefully sort out the items to be packed and decide their fate.

When it comes to packing bathroom items, you need to get a realistic idea of what you have and how much of it you actually use, so you can decide what you should keep, what you need to replace, and what you can do without.

Be sure to start on the task a few weeks before moving day – take everything out of your bathroom cabinets, drawers, and shelves and sort the items into several categories:

• Small bathroom appliances – hair dryers, curling irons, electric razors, epilators, etc.;
• Toiletries – toothpaste, toothbrushes, dental floss, soap, mouth wash, shower gels, body lotions, shampoos, conditioners, and other hair products;
• Shaving accessories – razors, brushes, foams and gels, aftershave lotions, etc.;
• Cosmetics and make-up – lipstick,  lip gloss, lip balm, mascara, shades, eyeliner pencils, foundations, rouges, nail polishes, and other beauty products;
• Medicines – first aid kit, prescription medication, eye-care products, etc.;
• Paper products – toilet paper, tissue paper, paper towels, etc.;
• Bathrobes and bath towels;
• Cleaning supplies;
• Miscellaneous bathroom items.

Bonus tip: While sorting out your bathroom items, be sure to set aside the things you use on a daily basis – your regular shampoo and conditioner, toothbrush and toothpaste, hair brush and everyday makeup, hand soap, toilet paper, a few clean towels, and anything else you can’t do without.

You’re going to need these essentials until the last moments before your move, during the relocation process, and in the first couple of days in your new home, so they need to stay out until the morning of Moving day and go into your “first-night box” – the survival kit that will travel with you, so you have access to your essentials at all times.

It is also a good idea to have first-aid supplies, painkillers, and allergy meds on hand during the entire moving process, so be sure to include these items in your essentials box as well (together with any current prescription medicines, of course).

Purge Your Bathroom Supplies

Once you know what you have, it’s time to decide the fate of each and every bathroom item in your possession:

1) Throw away broken or otherwise damaged items, expired or dried out products, and anything that is too old or too worn out to be used ever again:

• Broken or outdated appliances;
• Damaged accessories;
• Empty (and nearly empty) bottles and tubes;
• Expired cosmetics and beauty products that have dried out or changed their color, smell, or consistency;
• Expired medicines and medicines that are ineffective or no longer necessary. Any pill bottles and other medications with missing or illegible labels should also be thrown away. Don’t just flush your unused medicines or throw them in the trash though – take them to a local household hazardous waste facility or recycling center. (The harmful chemicals released from the medicines can cause severe damage to the environment and endanger the wildlife, so you need to take care to properly dispose of old medication);
• Worn out towels, bathrobes, shower curtains, bathroom mats, etc. – especially if they have holes, rips, or tears. Instead of throwing away your old towels though, you can use them as cleaning, protective, or packing materials – cut them up into cleaning rags, lay them on the floor on Moving day to protect the carpeting and flooring from dirt and damage, wrap fragile items in them for added safety during transport, stuff them in the moving boxes for extra padding, etc.;
• Toiler brushes, plungers, and other old bathroom items that may contain germs or bacteria.

2) Donate to local charities or give away to family, friends, or neighbors bathroom items in good condition you no longer need or can’t take with you:

• Duplicate appliances (you don’t need more than one curling iron, after all);
• Accessories you don’t need or don’t like anymore;
• Unused makeup and cosmetics that don’t match your style or your skin tone, or that you simply don’t like and have replaced with other brands;
• Unopened shampoos, conditioners, lotions, creams, or other beauty products or toiletries – packing and moving inexpensive toiletries may not be worth it because it may cost you more to ship them to your new home than to buy new ones after the relocation (not to mention the time and effort it will take you to pack your toiletries for moving, the cost of the packing supplies, and the risk of damage to your other items (if any liquids spill during the transportation));
• Hazardous items and materials that won’t be allowed on the moving truck – aerosols (such as hairsprays and deodorants), toiletries that contain alcohol (astringent, mouthwash, etc.), flammable products (like nail polishes and polish removers), and most cleaning products (as they contain harmful chemicals). If you want to take any such items to your new home, you need to transport them yourself as the movers won’t load them on the moving van due to their hazardous nature. (See also: What items movers won’t move)

Important: If you can’t use up your hazardous items before the move and can’t find anyone willing to take them, make sure you discard them properly.

3) Use up cleaning supplies and half-full bottles or tubes of cosmetic products before your move. If any amounts remain unused, throw out the nearly empty containers – they’re not worth bringing along. Just keep in mind that you’ll need some cleaning supplies to give your old home a final cleaning on move-out day.

4) Keep expensive perfumes and hair products, quality makeup and cosmetics, and any bathroom items that you like and enjoy having around.

Good to remember: Most bathroom items are very difficult to pack and move – they are either extremely fragile (glass bottles, vials, jars, etc.) or contain liquids of some sort which can easily spill during transport and cause considerable damage to the rest of your items.

The fewer of your bathroom supplies you decide to take along, the simpler, safer, and cheaper your move is going to be. You’re, therefore, advised to only relocate your most needed and most expensive toiletries and cosmetics and get rid of everything else before the move.

How to Pack Bathroom Items for Moving

Now that you’ve sorted and purged the bathroom, it’s time to start packing the items you’re going to take to your new home.

The best way to pack a bathroom is to separate things according to their type and put like items together in a small box, observing the specific packing requirements for each type of items.

Before you can do that, however, you need to make sure that every family member will have access to their essential toiletries at all times during the moving process.

1. How to Pack a Bathroom Bag

So, your first step when packing a bathroom for moving is to ask each family member to set aside their essential toiletries and personal care items – everything that will go into their own bathroom bags.

Not sure what to pack in a bathroom bag? It is advisable to include a toothbrush, a tube of toothpaste, a bottle of shampoo (and other everyday hair care products), soap or shower gel, deodorant, daily cosmetics and makeup, shaving accessories, hair brush, paper towels and any other products and accessories the person uses on a daily basis. Be sure to include prescription medications, eye-care products, and any other necessary medical supplies as well.

You won’t be able to fully pack your bathroom bags until the last moment before your move – there will be things (like your toothbrush, hair brush, and deodorant, for example) you will need on the morning of Moving day itself. Yet, you should prepare the bags a couple of days in advance so that all you need to do on the Big day is put the last of your personal care items inside and close the pouch.

After everyone has prepared their bathroom bags, you can finally pack the rest of your bathroom supplies.

2. How to Pack Liquids for Moving

Bottles, tubes, flasks, and other containers that hold liquids must be packed with utmost care to prevent leaks and spills. They should be put in sealable plastic bags and placed upright in the moving containers.

Moving opened bottles containing liquids is extremely risky and should be avoided. If you want to take along some opened containers (such as vials of expensive perfumes or nearly full bottles of quality toiletries), you’re advised to:

• Get the excess air out of opened plastic bottles and tubes before packing them for moving (air trapped inside can cause plastic containers to leak when the air pressure changes) – open the cap, give the bottle or tube a little squeeze, and quickly recap the container;
• Wrap all opened containers holding liquids in plastic wrap. It is also a good idea to place small pieces of plastic wrap over the bottle openings and screw the caps on firmly to create a tighter seal;
• Pack opened bottles and tubes containing liquids in tightly closing plastic boxes that will provide an extra layer of protection against spillage.

3. How to Pack Fragile Bathroom Items

There are plenty of porcelain accessories (soap trays, soap dispensers, toothbrush stands, etc.) and glass containers (bottles, jars, vials, palettes, etc.) in the bathroom that are extremely fragile and quite vulnerable to damage during transit.

To ensure their safety during the relocation process, you need to wrap each glass or porcelain item individually in packing paper and bubble wrap (or in bath towels – if the article is bigger) and put the breakables in well-padded, strong packing boxes with plenty of cushioning inside. Mark the boxes containing delicate bathroom items as “FRAGILE” and “HANDLE WITH CARE”.

See also: How to pack fragile items for moving

If you want to take the bathroom mirror to your new home, place a custom-cut piece of thick cardboard over the glass and wrap the entire mirror in soft packing paper and bubble wrap (use packing tape to keep the protective coverings in place). Click here for more detailed tips on how to pack mirrors for moving.

4. How to Pack Toiletries for Moving

To keep your toiletries safe and intact during the moving process, you need to provide them with proper protection:

• Choose small sturdy boxes to pack your toiletries in;
• Line the bottoms of the boxes with towels to create an efficient protective layer for your bathroom items;
• Wrap individual items in packing paper, bubble wrap, or plastic wrap (as detailed above);
• Carefully arrange your toiletries in the box, adding plenty of cushioning between the items to prevent them from coming in contact with one another during transit. Be sure to put heavier items first and lighter articles on top;
• Make sure the boxes are tightly packed (fill any remaining empty spaces with crushed paper, bubble wrap, or bathroom towels) so that the items inside don’t shift and bounce around during the transportation;
• Place some towels or crumpled paper on top of the items for extra protection and seal the boxes tightly;
• Label every box with its contents and make sure you can easily identify the containers that hold bathroom items when you reach your new home, as the bathroom will be one of the first rooms you will want to set up after your arrival (either write BATHROOM with big bold letters on each carton or use a specific color to designate bathroom items). Write “FRAGILE” and “HANDLE WITH CARE” on any boxes that contain fragile bathroom items. (See also: How to label boxes for moving)

Bonus tip: The best way to pack toiletries for moving is to put them in padded, waterproof bags with multiple compartments – specialized toiletry bags. Here is how to pack a toiletry bag:

• Wrap individual items in bubble wrap or plastic wrap, or put them in sealable plastic bags;
• Put similar items together, in separate compartments – pack mascaras with eye pencils and eye liners, lipsticks with lip glosses and lip balms, eye shadows with foundations and rouges, etc.

5. How to Pack Makeup for Moving

You can pack makeup in toiletry bags, specialized makeup bags, or small plastic boxes. Just make sure you follow the expert makeup packing tips below:

• Place a cotton pad between the powder and the lid of eye shadow palettes, blush palettes and other containers that hold pressed powders (this will help prevent crumbling and will keep the powder safely contained);
• Cover the openings of any containers that hold liquids (foundations, moisturizers, etc.) with plastic wrap and tighten the lids. Put the containers in sealable plastic bags;
• Wrap fragile items (perfume vials, makeup palettes, and any other glass containers) in bubble wrap;
• Place nail polishes and polish removers in zip-top bags;
• Put small items in sealable bags to keep them organized;
• Provide sufficient cushioning around the cosmetic products in a box and seal the moving container well.

Good to know: Many cosmetic products are heat- and cold-sensitive and cannot be safely transported in extreme temperatures. If you’re moving in the summer or in the winter, you’ll have to take extra measures to ensure the safety of your cosmetics – provide them with thicker cushioning or better insulation, transport them in your climate-controlled vehicle, etc.

6. How to Pack Hair Products for Moving

Packing hair products for moving follows the same principles as packing any other toiletries and bathroom liquids:

• Keep shampoos, conditioners, gels, lotions and other liquid hair products from spilling out by wrapping the bottles in plastic wrap or putting them in sealable plastic bags;
• Place shampoo bottles and other similar items upright in plastic moving containers, lined with bathroom towels. Add plenty of cushioning between the items;
• Seal the packing containers tightly and label them clearly with their contents;
• Place small hair accessories (hair clips, bobby pins, headbands, etc.) in zip-top bags and pack them with the rest of your beauty products.

Good to remember: Most hair care products are quite heavy and will cost a lot to ship – moving them to your new home may not be worth it (unless they’re very expensive or difficult to replace, of course).

Bathroom appliances like hair dryers and curling irons should be packed in their original boxes or in sturdy, medium-sized moving containers – the same way as other small electric appliances. (See also: How to pack household appliances for moving).

Extra Bathroom Packing Tips

Now that you know the best way to pack bathroom items for moving, you have a good chance of completing the task in a timely and efficient manner. Here are some bonus bathroom packing tips and tricks to help you make the job even smoother:

1. Get rid of any bathroom items that haven’t been touched in years – if you haven’t used them for so long, there’s little chance you’ll ever use them;
2. Avoid taking anything that can be inexpensively replaced at your new home;
3. Do not pack cleaning supplies for moving – most of them are forbidden for transportation anyway. Besides, they’re heavy (big bottles of cleaning products), or bulky (plastic wash basins), or easy to spill (cleaning liquids), or may contain germs and bacteria you don’t want to take to your new home (toilet brushes), etc. Make sure you have enough cleaning supplies on moving day though – you’ll have to clean your old property before leaving it for good (See also: Moving cleaning checklist);
4. Remember to pack your prescription medication and first aid supplies in your essentials box;
5. Pack bathroom mats, shower curtains, and bathrobes on the top of heavy moving boxes that aren’t completely full – the bathroom items will  take up the extra space without adding any more weight and will help prevent the boxes from collapsing when stacked on top of one another;
6. Keep in mind that bath towels and washcloths make great padding and filling materials – they’re soft and lightweight and, therefore, perfect for cushioning fragile items and filling the voids in the moving containers. So, instead of packing your towels separately, use them to protect your toiletries and other bathroom items – you’ll achieve two goals at once;
7. Make sure all bathroom items are fully dry before packing them for moving to avoid the risk of mold growth in the boxes;
8. Remember that any liquid toiletries and makeup (including creams and gels) you want to take onto the plane in your carry-on luggage must be in 3.4 ounces (or smaller) containers and have to fit into a quart size, clear, zip-top, plastic bag;
9. Make sure you leave enough bathroom supplies for moving day – there should be toilet paper, soap, and a hand towel in the bathroom until the moment you leave your old home;
10. Consider using professional packing services – the pros will be able to pack your bathroom items in no time at all on moving day itself, so you can keep the bathroom fully equipped and functional until the very morning of your move.

When you know how to pack your bathroom for a move, your toiletries and beauty products will arrive in your new home safe and intact. Then, you’ll be able to easily set up your “magic room” in your new place and get yourself relaxed, refreshed, and rejuvenated after your successful relocation. Congratulations on a job well done!