What Should You Do with All The Bubble Wrap After Moving?

When the move has come to an end and you’re left with cardboard boxes, packing tape, and bubble wrap everywhere, what in the world do you do with all of this stuff? You may find it easy to throw out the packing tape and recycle your cardboard boxes to a friend or recycling program, but what about that bubble wrap?

Some people simply throw it away, but it does feel awfully wasteful. There are actually a lot of great ideas to avoid wasting all of that bubble wrap and it will allow you to buy it for the move with the peace of mind that you’ll have reasons to use it later. Take a look at these ideas for reusing your bubble wrap after your move.

Give it away or recycle

Do you have a friend that is getting ready to move after you? Perhaps a neighbor has a moving sign in their yard and may be the perfect person to offer your once used bubble wrap. Giving it away to someone that could use it will not only reduce your waste, but will allow them to save money on buying it brand new. Put up a listing on Craigslist under the “free” category to let people know that they can collect your once used packing supplies so that it doesn’t go to waste.

On the other hand, recycle centers can take your bubble wrap if you don’t have any takers. While you can’t recycle it from your own curb, you can take it to a local recycling center and donate it just as you would grocery bags or dry-cleaning bags.

Go shopping

Do you ever buy something at the grocery store that you wish you had a way to protect it getting it home? Sometimes the simplest of items would be much easier to transport with some bubble wrap, such as produce and food in glass jars.

Start taking bubble wrap to the grocery store to protect your glass condiment jars, your mason jars for canning, your fruits and vegetables, and items that you don’t want to spill onto others. You may even find that protecting your fruits and vegetables at the store, in the car, and in the fridge at home will allow your food to stay cold, avoiding bruising one another, and even stay fresher for longer.

Around the house

There are some great uses for the bubble wrap to be used around the house when you are done unpacking from the move. During the winter months, you’ll find that your outdoor potted plants can’t stay well-protected from the freezing cold air.

When you use your bubble wrap to line the sides of the pot before planting your soil and flowers, the plant is less likely to freeze and die. Just leave a hole at the bottom to allow the plant to drain, and feel good about the smart reusability of your bubble wrap.

You’ll also find it handy for mailing packages to friends on birthdays or lining your windows in the winter for some extra insulation. Simply store the bubble wrap in an extra closet and when the perfect occasion comes up, you’ll be glad you saved it.

Sometimes a home renovation or special project will give you the perfect reason to pull some out. You may want to even use some of it as a fun stress-reliever as you unpack your new home, since studies show that popping bubble wrap releases muscle tension and nerves.

Don’t allow that bubble wrap to go to waste after the move. Use these tips to reuse or recycle your bubble wrap.

How to Find the Best Packing Supplies to Move

Finding the right packing supplies for your move may seem like a daunting task. There are good ways to go about it and bad ways. Some of the supplies you may think are good for packing may actually be the reason items show up damaged or you struggle to get them moved properly. Here's a look at a couple different ways you can find your packing supplies.

The Green Way

If you want to "Go Green" with your move and make your move hassle free, using green packing boxes is the best way to go. You may still need other packing supplies, such as bubble wrap, some packing tape and packing paper, but the boxes will be taken care of.

Not only will green packing boxes provide a more environmentally friendly solution, but they are also far more durable. Since the boxes are made of plastic, you don't have to worry about any bottoms breaking or any sides collapsing. In addition, you will rent the boxes, so you don't have to figure out where you will throw them away.

Chicago Green Boxes

The Cardboard Way

Getting your packing materials from your moving company is always the best choice if you go cardboard. They will have boxes you can use for different types of items, along with all of the other packing supplies you need. Whether you just need a few regular boxes or you want boxes specifically for items, such as a flat screen TV or a nice wall painting, you'll find them from your moving company.

The cardboard way isn't the best way, but it's acceptable. Using green boxes for your move is a much better solution. Even with the best brand new cardboard boxes, if you overload them or they get wet, they will likely break. This could damage your items. In addition, buying boxes can actually be more expensive than renting green boxes.

The Cheap and Wrong Way

Many people want to go very cheap with their moving supplies and their most breakable items suffer the consequences. Could you imagine arriving at your new home with broken dishes, lamps and other fragile items? It would just add additional stress to an already stressful day.

Choosing used boxes for your move, even if they seem like they are in good shape, is a bad idea. It may be cheap and the boxes may be free, but they are also not going to hold up the same as new cardboard boxes or plastic packing boxes. Sometimes, a used box looks great, but ends up breaking as soon as it has any weight inside it.

If you want to protect your items, don't collect free boxes from friends, family, grocery stores, restaurants or anywhere else giving them away. They may not come at a price in dollars, but they could come at a price in broken items.

Getting the best packing supplies is very important when it comes to moving. Using green boxes will give you the best possible boxes for your move. In addition, you can get your bubble wrap, packing paper, tape and specialty boxes from your moving company. This will ensure you have the best possible packing supplies for your next move.

How to Label Your Moving Boxes Like a Pro

Even the most organized person can quickly become disorganized during moving. Residential moving is one of the most chaotic and stressful times in most people's lives. However, proper labeling of your moving boxes will help to ensure it's a less stressful process. With a smart labeling system, you will make unpacking much easier and there will actually be a system to loading and unloading the truck.  It's best to start the labeling process as you start packing. Here are a few tips to help you label your moving boxes like a pro.

Get the Right Labeling Tools

You need more than just a sharpie to label your boxes. The best type of labeling system requires markers in a variety of colors. Make sure they are good quality markers, as you don't want one to go out halfway through the process.

Quality markers won't be the cheapest on the shelves. Make sure they come from a brand you can trust and you get at least five different colors. It's also best to use permanent, waterproof markers for labeling moving boxes.

Along with the markers, you should get colored tape matching the colors of your markers. While most of the packing tape you will use will be clear, a roll of each color will help with your labeling process. If you are using our Chicago Green Moving Boxes, use masking tape and mark where the boxes need to go. We can supply most of these items here and here.

Use a Color Coding System

Now that you have your markers and your colored tape, it's time to put together your system. Choose a color for each of the major rooms, such as green for the kitchen, red for the family/living room, blue for the bedroom, orange for the bathroom(s) and yellow for the dining room. You can assign the colors to any room you want, as long as it makes sense for you.

Now, as you pack up each room, use the marker with the corresponding color to write on each box. Write the room name in large, capital letters one each box. Then, list out the items in the box in smaller print.

You will also want to use the colored tape on each box. Just one strip on the top or on the side of the box will be enough. It just provides another easy way to recognize the color for the room.

Let Your Movers Know About Your System

When the movers arrive to pick up your items, have a sheet of paper printed out with each color and what it means. If they don't know your system, they won't be able to put the boxes in the right place when they arrive at your new home. Giving this sheet to the movers before they pack up the truck will allow them to better load the truck, as well.

Using a color coded labeling system will take the guesswork out of unpacking. You'll be able to easily spot an out-of-place box and your movers will know where the boxes go before they arrive.

It's also important to make sure you tape over or black out any old markings if you're reusing boxes. When you write the description of what's in the box, you should be as specific as possible, as well. This will help with your own confusion as you start unpacking.

Additional Moving Services Offered by The Professionals Moving Specialists

When it's time to hire a moving company, it’s best to understand the full range of services offered. Many moving companies do far more than just pick your stuff up and deliver it to your new location. For example, when hired as a local moving company, The Professionals Moving Specialists can provide these additional moving services to Chicago movers.

Box Renting/Selling

Maybe you don't want to worry about having your professional moving company pack and unpack for you, but you need supplies. Most moving companies will sell you boxes or even rent them to you, and we’re no different. At Chicago Greenbox, we offer moving box rentals, including green moving supplies and boxes that are made of 100% recyclable materials.

Quality Rental Moving Boxes

Packing

Yes, you can hire your moving company to come and pack up all of your things. This service can help save you time and will take away the worry of packing things incorrectly. Also, with us handling your packing, you will know the right boxes and supplies to use to ensure every item arrives undamaged to your new location.

Unpacking

Of course, your moving company can also unpack things for you. Some of the best moving companies will do this for you. However, if you allow the moving company to unpack for you know that they will likely empty boxes onto countertops and the like to give you a head start.  This will allow you to place things where you prefer and avoid the headache of trying to figure out where everything went.

Handling Specialty Items

Whether you need to move a pool table, piano or piece of fine art, we can handle it for you. It's not necessary for you to figure out how you will get your specialty item from your current home to your new home. Most of these types of items require a specialized process to ensure proper care and handling, and that’s a service that we pride ourselves on.

Remember these before you plan your next move, as they are only a few added options that we may provide for you. Be sure to check the full range of services offered to find a move that fits your scenario. And if you have any questions, don’t hesitate to call or email The Professionals Moving Specialists today!

What Should you Do with your Used Moving Boxes in Chicago?

If you didn't use Chicago GreenBoxes (we HIGHLY recommend them if it's not too late!), you might have a huge stack of cardboard boxes left over. If they are properly broken down, you may have some options to recycle, donate or even sell your used boxes. Here are some of the options for your moving boxes in Chicago.

Use BoxCycle or Freecycle

BoxCycle allows you to list your boxes for sale. They will sell them for you and you just collect a profit. This is a great way to get a little bit of your cash back and allow someone else to get moving boxes at a discount.

Freecycle, on the other hand, allows you to list items you would like to give away free of charge. Every now and then, you can find moving boxes on the site and many look for moving boxes here. There are several groups found in the Chicago area where you can list your boxes and give them away.

Craigslist

Another place to give your boxes away free of charge is Craigslist. There are always free ads on the Chicago Craigslist site for boxes. This is a popular place for people to look, so why not give it a try to get rid of your boxes?

Recycle Them

If your neighborhood or building has a recycling program, you may be able to recycle your used boxes. Sometimes, you have to look up a place in the area that will take a large amount of cardboard for recycling, however. While this isn't the best or easiest option, it's still better than tossing the boxes in the trash.

Local Charities and Libraries

The library may need some of your boxes for moving or storing books. If you have any heavy duty books, you can ask your nearby library if they can use the boxes. Often, they will take some of the boxes off your hands.

Other charities may also need boxes, such as Goodwill, Salvation Army, Churches, Schools and anywhere else that might have a need for boxes. Community enters often need boxes for different reasons and with a few phone calls to local organizations; you can probably unload all of your boxes.

Use a Box Broker

There are actually box brokers in Chicago that will sell your used moving boxes for you. You can easily do a Google search and find a few brokers to choose from.

Check with your Moving Company

Some moving companies will recycle the used boxes for you by giving them to others moving or simply recycling them. Always check with your moving company if you're not sure what to do with your boxes. If they are local to Chicago, they may be able to connect you with someone needing boxes, as well.

While it's not a good idea to trust used boxes for moving your belongings, they can still have a purpose, if broken down correctly. There are many ways to reuse your moving boxes. You can sell them, give them away, donate them to charity or use a local recycling program. No matter what you choose, all of these options are better than just tossing them in the dumpster. Again, hopefully you are using Chicago GreenBoxes, which are made from 100% recyclable material, and much sturdier.

Used Moving Boxes