How to Pack Clothes

Before a move, it is always important to get all of your household items packed into sturdy cardboard boxes. There are a variety of box sizes to choose from and each box works great for certain item types. The trick is knowing what box to use for what items, and how to properly pack your belongings into these cartons so that nothing gets damaged.

Today let’s examine how to pack a wardrobe box. The wardrobe box is the largest standard sized box that most movers will carry. Corrigan’s wardrobe boxes measure 24’’ x 21’’ x 49’’ and come with a 24’’ metal hanging bar, although some movers carry a slightly smaller sized box that also works fine.

Items to Pack:

Hanging closet clothes, such as dresses, suit jackets, coats, and any other hanging shirts or pants.

Advice:

The wardrobe box is specially designed to safely transport hanging clothes during the course of the move. When you are ready to pack a wardrobe box, clothes can simply be moved from your closet and hung on the box's metal hanging bar. Because you can leave your clothes on the hanger, the boxes pack very quickly and your clothes will not become wrinkled during the move. Once you are at your new location it is easy to transfer the hanging clothes back into your new closet.

Small light items like pillows or blankets can be placed on the floor of the wardrobe carton if there is extra space. Be sure not to put too much on the floor of the box or you will wrinkle the clothes inside.

In addition to hanging clothes, wardrobe boxes can also be used to pack large unusually shaped items that still need the support of a carton for the move. Examples of items that can go into these cartons include artificial plants, garage tools like shovels and rakes, or wrapping paper rolls.

Because of the size of the wardrobe box, the carton is rather expensive. If you are looking to minimize cost, your closet hanging clothes can be removed from the hanger, folded, and packed into a medium size box.

Assembly:

Because of the box size, assembling the box is a little bit tricky. Start by flipping the box over and taping the bottom shut. Next turn the box upright. One side of the wardrobe box is designed to pull out and fold down – to make it easier to add your hanging clothes. Pull this wall down next. After this insert the metal hanging bar. There will be small grooves on two sides of the box where the bar can rest. Once the bar is inserted the box is ready to be packed. Unlike all other moving boxes, you do not need to add any packing paper to the wardrobe box. The thickness of the walls will protect everything inside. Once the box is filled, simply fold up all the tabs and tape the box shut at the top.

Once you have packed a few, you will discover that it is relatively easy to pack a wardrobe box, and that it is a very convenient box to use. If you need advice on packing your other household items, be sure to check out our other blog series posts. There is a lot of good advice within there.