If you’ve decided to take on the task of packing your belongings yourself, it’s important to know which packing supplies will help you get the job done quickly and securely. While you may be familiar with materials like cardboard boxes, bubble wrap, and packing paper, there’s one packing essential you may not be as familiar with: plastic wrap.
Plastic wrap, also known as stretch wrap, shrink wrap, or cling wrap, is an incredibly versatile and useful tool during the packing process. Its exceptional flexibility, durability, ease of use, affordability, and recyclability make it an excellent choice for moving.
Here are some reasons why you should consider using plastic wrap when packing for a move:
- Versatility: Plastic wrap can be used in various packing situations, such as protecting furniture from scratches, keeping dust and dirt away from your items, securing loose cables and wires, keeping drawers and doors secure, bundling items together, and more.
- Durability: Despite being thin (about 0.0005 inches), plastic wrap offers excellent strength and tear resistance. It can withstand pressure and provide reliable protection for delicate items.
- Ease of use: Plastic wrap is incredibly easy to use. Unlike regular packing tape, it doesn’t leave any adhesive residue behind. It clings to itself, making it simple to remove without damaging delicate surfaces.
- Affordability: Plastic wrap for moving is reasonably priced, ranging from around $10 for a 5-inch x 1,000-ft roll to roughly $25 for a 15-inch x 1,000-ft roll. Wider rolls are recommended for larger items like furniture and appliances.
- Recyclability: Plastic wrap used for packing is recyclable, making it an eco-friendly choice. After your move, you can recycle it for other purposes.
Now, let’s explore how to use plastic wrap effectively when moving:
- Secure padding materials: Use plastic wrap to secure furniture blankets, bubble wrap, or other protective padding materials onto furniture, appliances, or specialty items. It keeps the pads in place and adds an extra layer of protection.
- Protect mattresses and upholstered furniture: Stretch wrap is perfect for protecting mattresses and upholstered furniture. If you don’t have a special mattress bag, you can wrap the entire mattress with plastic wrap. Avoid using it on furniture with leather upholstery, as it can cause moisture buildup.
- Shield items from dirt, dust, and moisture: Plastic wrap creates a tight, durable protective layer around your belongings, safeguarding them from dust, dirt, and moisture during the move. It’s especially useful on rainy days.
- Secure furniture drawers, doors, and panels: Use plastic wrap to keep furniture drawers, doors, and panels secure during transportation. It prevents accidents and ensures no removable parts move during the move.
- Wrap drawers with their contents: To speed up packing, use plastic wrap over open drawers with non-breakable items inside, turning them into instant packing boxes. This method works well for clothing, bedding, and soft items.
- Bundle items together: Plastic wrap can be used to bundle similar items together for better organization. You can secure small cardboard boxes, detached furniture pieces, kitchen utensils, tools, and soft items like toys and pillows.
- Prevent spills: Plastic wrap is excellent for packing bathroom items. Remove the cap of a bottle, cover the opening with plastic wrap, and close the cap to make the container leak-proof. Additionally, place each bathroom product in a plastic Ziploc bag for added protection.
- Secure power cords and cables: Use cling wrap to secure power cords and cables to appliances to eliminate tripping hazards during the move.
- Keep rolled-up rugs from unfolding: After rolling up an area rug
