One thing is certain about the moving process- it is not known for being an environmentally-friendly one. You may take special care about what boxes you are going to use but a lot of trash will certainly be accumulated along the way. Fortunately, if you do care about your environment, there are some things you can do on the matter. All you need to do is to plan ahead. By doing this, you will manage to put our green moving tips into practice. Your planet will surely be grateful to you!
First of all, use the containers you already have
Before you go and buy some moving boxes, take the containers you have into consideration as well. For example, these include the following:
- suitcases,
- plastic bins,
- gym and duffel bags,
- dresser drawers and
- reusable grocery totes.
In case you have something other that is not on the list but can be good for packing some things, feel free to use it. For example, there is no need for you to throw away your bathroom trash bin. You can put a fresh garbage bag inside and fill it with items from under your sink. By doing this, you will use the space that would be unused and you will not have to buy some additional boxes. This will certainly be good for your budget as well. Of course, make sure you check what items are prohibited. In this way, you will save yourself the effort of getting rid of them on the day of the move.
Do not throw away boxes you receive throughout the year
What is a pretty standard part of modern life is online shopping. Even though this means that people usually stock up the items they do not actually need, at least something good comes out of it- the boxes. To be more precise, if you know that you are going to move soon, do not throw away the boxes in which your items have arrived. By doing this, you will be able to use them later instead of buying new ones. You can store them either in your basement or in your attic. Just be careful that the place where you are going to store them is dry.
Another one of the green moving tips: get creative with packing materials
There is no need for you to spend money on bubble pack, for example. One of the things that you can do is to wrap your items with something that is easily recycled. Feel free to use newspapers and magazines that you have read and that you do not plan on reading again. You can also make a stack of them before the day of your move comes.
In addition to this, you can also use your own towels, sheets, pillowcases, and even clothes. They are soft and they will prevent your belongings from getting damaged. Also, you will need fewer moving boxes since you will not have to pack these items separately. As you can see, these are just some of the ways in which you can save money on packing supplies. Besides, you will, at the same time, think about the needs of your planet!
Donate the items you no longer need
Before you start packing your belongings (or hire professionals to do this for you), it is advisable to separate the items you no longer want or need. In case they are still usable, feel free to give them away to those who need them. For example, if you know that some of your friends or relatives likes your toaster which you would not like to bring with you, make it a present. This will certainly be a nice way for them to remember you often. On the other hand, in case you do not know what to give to whom, you should donate everything. This is one of the green moving tips that more and more people take into consideration. Not only will you have fewer things to relocate but you will also help someone in need.
Avoid packing your kitchen right away
One of the moving mistakes a majority of people makes is packing the kitchen first. Yes, this is one of the hardest rooms to pack, but this is certainly something that should be done with a plan. This means that you can feel free to pack the items you are not going to need until you move to your new home.
Those can be your mixer, some pots, blender, kitchen scale, etc. In case you pack your dishes and flatware, you will have no other choice but to use plastic plates, cups, and utensils. This is something that does not fit in in your green moving. If it happens that you do not have enough time to do this on your own, feel free to ask for help. Your moving company will provide you with packing services with no problem.
When moving to a new home, you would probably like to harm your environment as little as possible. For this matter, we have given our best to provide you with some green moving tips. Now, all you need to do is to take some time to plan the move and to put these pieces of advice into practice. If it happens that you need some help, it is advisable to find a professional one. There is no need for you to worry- you will surely manage to make your wish come true. These are simple steps, but they can make a great difference. Your planet will find a way to reward you properly!