Moving bedding should be easier than falling off a log, but as many people can tell you, it’s not. We make the assumption that moving bedding is easy because it’s soft, foldable and doesn’t need protection against breaking like fragile items. However, moving household items is an unforgiving process when it isn’t done properly, and bedding is no exception. Let’s look at the best process for moving your bedroom linen so it arrives at your new home clean, undamaged and ready for immediate use.
- What you’ll need for packing
- Bedding isn’t heavy, so you can use large cardboard boxes for packing. Packing boxes aren’t necessary for bedding, but it’s always better to use them regardless.
- Clean packing paper.
- Large plastic bags such as the ones used for storage. The bigger, the better.
- Packing tape and a permanent marker pen to label your boxes.
- Wash the bedding you want for your first night
Set aside the sheets, blankets and pillowcases you want for your first night in your new home. Wash and dry these according to the instructions. If you use a doona, you may want to get it dry-cleaned. Having comfortable, clean bedding will help you get a good night’s sleep in your new home, which, for some people, can be a little unsettling because the bedroom isn’t familiar.
- Assemble your packing boxes
Always use the same process for assembling your packing boxes regardless of what you’re putting inside them. Here’s a reminder of what to do.
- Assemble your box and position it with the bottom facing up.
- Seal the centre seam where the flaps meet with one continuous strip of packing tape. Start your seal a third of the way up the side, over the bottom seam and up the other side. If the strip is too short up the side, it could pull away and the bottom could collapse.
- Turn your box over and apply gentle pressure to the bottom. If it doesn’t feel solid, put more strips of tape over the centre seam to improve the box’s strength and integrity.
- Finish sealing the bottom by taping the open seams on each side of the box.
- Your box is now ready for packing and won’t need the padding you would usually put in a box with breakables.
- Fold your bedding
No one likes the job of folding a fitted sheet, but it pays to fold all your bedding as neatly as you can for packing. You won’t have crumpled sheets when you make the bed, and they fit better in the boxes. When you come to fold your doona, fold it to the same shape as the large plastic bag you’ll use to protect it. Once you’ve folded everything, pack it into large plastic bags and seal the opening with tape to prevent dirt, dust or unwanted visitors from getting in.
- Packing bedding
Bedding is wonderful for the protective layers you need on the top and bottom of your breakables boxes, but don’t use the bedding you want for your first night in this way. You won’t have your bedding if you don’t have time to unpack all your boxes.
Pack the bedding you want for your first night into separate boxes and organise them by each bedroom. Making the beds is one of the first tasks you should do when you arrive at your new home, and having easy access to bedding will make the task a breeze.
Finally, label your boxes and clearly mark the room where they need to go.
- Where your bedding goes in the truck
Always load your bedding boxes on the top of the load. There are two reasons for this. First, bedding boxes can’t support weight and may collapse if they have heavy objects placed on them. Second, the last boxes you load into the truck will be the first ones off, which is handy as you’ll want your bedding immediately.