Alternative Packing Materials: How to Pack Without Boxes and Bubble Wrap

There is no arguing that specialized packing materials provide the best possible protection for household items and personal belongings during a move.

There is no arguing that these quality packing supplies can get very pricey either. While you’ll certainly want to ensure the safety of your belongings when moving house, you’ll probably wish to save on packing expenses as well.

Difficult to believe as that may be, there is a way to achieve both your wishes – you can pack your items for moving safely and efficiently, without paying for professional packing supplies. To accomplish this, you need to find alternative packing materials for moving that can provide appropriate protection to your belongings during transit.

Oddly enough, it is very easy to find suitable substitutes for professional packing materials – all you need to do is look around your home and think out of the box.

You’ll quickly discover a good substitute for bubble wrap (such as linens and towels), a proper alternative to packing peanuts (like crumpled paper and skeins of yarn), and a number of household containers you can use instead of moving boxes (such as suitcases and baskets).

You’ll be surprised at how many packing supplies you already own!

Any improvised packing materials you can find around the house will save you plenty of time and money when preparing your items for shipping. And you’ll even be able to move without boxes and protect your breakables without bubble wrap!

Read on to find out how to achieve this feat.

How to Pack for a Move Without Boxes

The first thing that comes to mind when thinking of moving house is a stack of boxes – convenient and efficient, cardboard boxes have become an integral part of the relocation process.

Moving without boxes seems like a ridiculous idea. And yet, there may be times when you need (or wish) to pack without boxes:

• You may not want to spend hundreds of dollars on brand-new packing boxes;
• You may not have the time to go looking for free moving boxes;
• You may not want to use second-hand boxes as they may not be clean enough or sturdy enough for your packing needs;
• You may have a lot of oddly-shaped items that will waste plenty of space if packed in boxes (once you place an awkwardly-shaped article into a box, nothing else can fit in the remaining space – except for soft padding materials) or won’t fit into a standard box at all;
• You may want to make your move greener by reusing packing materials you already own.

In all these cases, packing without boxes will be the perfect solution for you. But how can you do that? How to pack without boxes? Is it even possible?

Yes, it is – with the help of alternative packing materials. You can move without using boxes if you substitute them with other appropriate containers – ones that you already have lying around your home.

Here are some ideas on what to use instead of moving boxes when packing for a move:

1. Suitcases

While suitcases will certainly be your number one choice when it comes to packing clothes for moving, they can be used to transport a variety of other household items as well – documents, books, office supplies, hobby materials, games, toys, shoes, linens, kitchen items, small appliances and electronics, and many more.

Even fragile items like plates and figurines (properly wrapped in soft protective materials) can be safely moved in structured suitcases as they provide a sturdy layer of protection to the objects inside.

What’s more, most suitcases have pockets that allow you to organize and keep safe easy-to-lose items like chargers, batteries, clothing and hair accessories, etc. And suitcases can even be stacked on top of one another in the moving truck!

Good to know: Wheeled suitcases, in particular, are extremely convenient for moving small but heavy items like books and electrical devices.

How to Pack Books for Moving

2. Briefcases

Just like suitcases, briefcases can hold documents, books, laptops, CDs, DVDs, and other similar items during a house move.

Yet, you can’t pack any bulky or oddly shaped articles in a briefcase.

Important Documents to Take When Moving House

3. Backpacks

Backpacks are extremely versatile and convenient:

• They can fit any shape and provide any piece with the protection it needs to survive the move intact;
• Both hiking and city backpacks have plenty of pockets that allow for good organization of your items;
• Backpacks are light, strong, and easy to carry.

You can take your backpacks with you on the trip to your new home, so it’s a good idea to pack your essentials and small valuables (including jewelry and smaller electronic items) in them.

All kinds of travel bags can be used in much the same way when packing for a house move.

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4. Tote Bags

Large totes bags are perfect for holding all kinds of small and medium-sized not easily breakable items – kitchen utensils, games and toys, hobby materials, linens, and various knick-knacks.

Just be sure to seal the tote bags well on the top so that nothing spills out during transit. The same applies to gym bags, beach bags, and other types of fabric bags as well.

Heavy-duty shopping bags made of synthetic materials can also come in handy when moving without using boxes.

5. Garbage Bags

Trash bags are super cheap and extremely convenient for packing lightweight unbreakable items, even if they’re quite bulky (like pillows and curtains, for example).

All you need to do is throw the pieces inside and seal the bag – no organizing or special packing skills are required.

Clean garbage bags are especially useful for moving hanging clothes – you can pack your garments in trash bags directly from the closet together with their hangers.

This clever packing trick will save you not only time and effort, but space as well – unlike moving boxes and other packing containers, garbage bags do not take any extra space in the moving truck.

Keep in mind though that trash bags offer very limited protection against damage:

• They tear easily and may expose your items to dust and dirt;
• Plastic bags trap moisture and may cause mold to develop on your belongings;
• They may melt due to the extreme heat in the back of the moving truck and damage your items.

Besides, all plastic bags are very slippery and difficult to secure in place in the moving truck.

How to Use Trash Bags When Moving

6. Vacuum Bags

Vacuum bags are great for packing voluminous soft goods like bedding (pillows, comforters, blankets, etc.) and winter clothes (jackets, coats, sweaters, etc.) that would take up too much space otherwise.

Just put several of these items in a large vacuum bag and suck the air out of it – the bag will shrink down, so it won’t waste space in the moving truck.

Your soft, bulky belongings will be efficiently packed in a couple of vacuum bags instead of in several big cardboard boxes.

7. Ziploc Bags

Sealable plastic bags are your best bet for keeping smaller items safe and organized during a house move.

They come in very handy when disassembling furniture – you can put all the screws, bolts, nuts, and other small hardware elements into a zip-top bag and attach it to the furniture piece which the parts came from to prevent them from getting lost or misplaced during the relocation.

Sealable plastic bags are also indispensable for packing bathroom items and any containers holding liquids.

8. Baskets and Hampers

From picnic baskets to laundry hampers, all kinds of baskets in your home will easily fit clothes, shoes, pillows, bed sheets, kitchen utensils, children’s toys, and any other not-too-large items.

Just make sure you wrap any breakables in several layers of protective materials first and wrap some plastic wrap around the packed baskets to keep the items inside safely contained.

9. Crates and Beer Boxes

Wood crates and beer boxes make perfect packing containers (as long as they’re clean and in good condition, of course):

• They are very sturdy and provide good protection to the items inside – you can safely pack even your most fragile items, such as cups and glasses, in beer boxes and crates (provided that they’re properly wrapped for moving);
• They usually have handles, so they can be safely and easily lifted and carried around;
• They can be stacked on top of one another.

Just don’t forget to seal the packing containers – cover them with plastic wrap, place a large piece of cardboard over them, and tape it securely in place, etc.

10. Buckets and Trash Cans

Whether plastic or metal, buckets are very suitable for transporting bathroom items, cleaning supplies, detergents, and other household goods that can be easily spilled. The same applies to garbage cans as well.

Clean trash cans (like those you use for recycling paper) can hold all kinds of knick-knacks and lightweight medium-sized household items as well.

11. Furniture Drawers

There is nothing easier than leaving your dresser drawers and desk drawers full of the things they already hold and transporting them to your new home as they are.

Just make sure you take the drawers out of the corresponding furniture (otherwise the furniture item will be too heavy to carry) and cover them with plastic wrap to keep their contents secured during the move.

You can come up with many other resourceful ways to pack without boxes as well:

• Pack bags of spices and other pantry items in large pots;
• Wrap clothing items in sheets;
• Pack pajamas, towels, and underwear in pillowcases;
• Transport jewels in their jewelry boxes, tools in their tool boxes, toys in their toys storage baskets, etc.;
• Pack cosmetics and toiletries in bathroom bags, etc.

Bonus Tip for Moving Without Using Cardboard Boxes

When it comes to packing for moving or storage, the best alternative to cardboard boxes are plastic bins – they’re lightweight, yet very strong and sturdy, waterproof and weather-resistant, and very easy to stack and carry:

• Plastic moving containers do not rip, collapse, or crush. They do not fall apart when fully loaded and do not break under their own weight either. Their construction is very sturdy and the inherent characteristics of the material make them strong and impact-resistant, so they provide excellent protection to the items inside;
• The plastic material is impervious to moisture and holds its shape in any weather conditions. So, once the plastic containers are closed, rain, snow, and dust have no way of getting inside and ruining your belongings;
• Plastic bins are stackable, easy to carry, and don’t slide around – the sturdy plastic material allows for heavy boxes to be stacked on top of each other without the danger of crushing or caving in, while the design of the lid allows a box to fit snugly on top of another (which reduces the risk of a stack of plastic boxes tipping off the dolly or toppling over in the moving truck). What’s more, plastic boxes are designed with built-in handles on both sides which makes them very convenient to pick up and carry;
• Plastic moving containers are not only convenient and efficient but also sustainable and reusable – they’re made from recycled materials and can be used hundreds of times before they reach the end of their lifespan;
• Plastic crates are very cost-effective – they are available to rent at affordable prices and when you’re done unpacking after the move, they’re picked up from your new location, so you don’t need to pay any disposal fees to have them removed from your home.

Now that you know how to move without boxes, you may be interested to learn how to pack without bubble wrap and other specialized wrapping and cushioning materials.

How to Use Plastic Moving Boxes When Moving

How to Pack Without Bubble Wrap

There is no doubt that bubble wrap is one of the best packing materials available – it is efficient, convenient, and fun. The air-filled material provides perfect cushioning and unrivaled protection to household items during shipment – it prevents scratching and breaking and absorbs shocks and vibrations during transit.

What’s more, bubble wrap is very easy to use – lightweight and flexible, it can fit any shape and size, ensuring the safety of the wrapped item without adding to its weight. These qualities make bubble wrap the best choice for packing delicate items and awkwardly shaped pieces during a house move.

How to Use Bubble Wrap for Packing

Yet, if you’re moving on a tight budget or wish to be more eco-friendly during your relocation, bubble wrap may not be right for you – it is quite expensive and not easily degradable (unless you purchase Enviro-Bubble which is much costlier).

In such cases, you’re going to need a cheaper and greener alternative to bubble wrap – and it won’t be difficult to find one. In fact, you have many good options at your disposal.

So, what to use instead of bubble wrap when packing for a move?

1. Packing paper

Especially designed for protecting delicate items, packing paper is soft and smooth and wraps closely around the article, keeping it safe from scratches, dust, and dirt. It takes up very little space and allows items that have been wrapped in paper sheets to be easily stacked or bundled together.

When crumpled, packing paper becomes extremely resilient and provides excellent cushioning in a box. It is also very cheap and eco-friendly.

As beneficial as it may be though, packing paper is much thinner than bubble wrap and lacks its air-filled cushioning properties, so you’ll need to use several paper sheets at once to achieve the level of protection that a single bubble wrap sheet provides.

Good to know: If you have saved some wrapping paper from larger gifts, you can use it for packing and cushioning your items the same way as professional packing paper. (Just make sure your belongings come in contact only with the non-colored side of the wrapping paper.)

How to Pack Fragile Items for Moving

2. Newspapers and Magazines

Old newspapers and magazines can provide as good protection to your items as packing paper – and you probably have them in abundance in your home, so you won’t have to pay a penny for them.

You can ball them up or rip them into strips and use them to provide extra padding and cushioning inside the moving boxes – the crushed paper will fill any empty spaces in the moving containers and will prevent your items from shifting around and coming in contact with one another during transit.

You can also use newspapers and pages from magazines as a second protective layer around breakables – just be sure never to wrap your items directly in newsprint, as it may leave hard-to-remove ink stains on delicate surfaces and ruin your belongings.

Junk mail can also be crunched up and used to fill space in packing boxes.

3. Shredded Office Paper

Shredded paper makes a great filler material – it is very flexible and provides perfect cushioning to fragile and oddly-shaped items.

However, it is not a good idea to use shredded documents that contained sensitive information – you need to be very careful to prevent identity theft when moving house.

Also, keep in mind that shredded paper can create quite a mess in your new home when you start unpacking.

4. Towels

Towels are your best friend when packing without bubble wrap – they’re large enough to wrap snugly around an item, soft enough not to mar even the most delicate surfaces, and thick enough to provide good protection against damage.

What’s more, towels can be used to create a cushioning layer for your breakables at the bottom of a packing container or to provide some extra padding between the items in a box.

Keep in mind, though, that towels aren’t as lightweight as bubble wrap and will increase the total weight of the box.

5. Old Clothes

Similarly to towels, most clothes are also large enough and thick enough to provide sufficient protection to fragile items during a house move – a single sweater can keep a large vase safe all the way to your new home, for example.

You can put ripped and worn-out clothes to good use as well – just cut them into pieces and use them as filler materials in the moving boxes.

Good to know: Socks provide a very efficient way of protecting glasses – and especially stemware – during transit. All you need to do is insert a glass inside a thick, clean sock and you can rest assured that the fragile piece will arrive intact at your new home.

How to Pack Glasses for Moving

6. Linens

Bed sheets, pillowcases, tablecloths, and any other large, soft fabrics you have at home can be used for wrapping household items during a move. (It is not a good idea to use brand new ones, though, as they may get ruined in the process.)

7. Yarn

If you happen to have some skeins or balls of yarn at home, you can place them around or on top of other items in packing boxes to fill any remaining empty spaces and provide some more padding to your belongings.

8. Sealable Plastic Bags

You can seal small zip-top plastic bags full of air and use them as cushioning pads inside the moving boxes to fill space and protect your breakables – just like professional packaging air pillows.

Other Alternative Packing Materials

So, you already know how to move without using boxes and how to pack fragile items without bubble wrap. You can easily find substitutes for all other professional packing materials as well:

• Blankets – Any regular blankets you own will be just as effective as specialized moving blankets when it comes to packing larger household items for shipping (See also: How to pack furniture for moving; How to pack household appliances for moving);
• Pantry goods – Bagged goods like beans, rice, and lentils can fill small nooks and crannies in moving boxes to prevent your belongings from moving around the packing containers during transit. Small bags of popcorn will also do the trick. You can even use pea straw or peanuts in the shell as a substitute for packing peanuts to make your move cheaper and greener.

Any small soft items you have at home – sponges, oven mitts, fabric napkins and handkerchiefs, etc. – also make great space fillers. Even plastic bags can be put to use as padding materials.

The options are virtually limited – just use your creativity and you’ll be able to easily, safely, and efficiently move house without boxes, bubble wrap, or other specialized packing materials.

Bear in mind though that these improvised packing materials – however efficient they may be – can never provide as good protection to your items as professional packing supplies.

So, when packing for a move, be sure to use specialized packing materials at least for your most delicate and most valuable possessions – having them damaged or ruined during the relocation will cost you much more than purchasing quality packing materials, after all.

Also, consider hiring professional packers to take care of your most prized and most difficult-to-pack items – the experts will ensure the safety of your cherished possessions and you’ll be glad to find everything intact and unscathed when you start unpacking after the move.

Congratulations on your smooth and successful relocation!