Laundry rooms are usually one of the most frequently used rooms in your home (especially while you’re moving), so they are often overlooked and left till the end of the packing process. Thankfully, laundry rooms are also typically quick and easy to pack. Here’s how:
Decluttering
As always, start by decluttering. In your laundry room, this typically means disposing of any chemical or hazardous materials you’re not going to use for your pre-move clean-up, such as laundry detergent, bleach, paint, or other cleaners and solvents. These materials are dangerous to transport, so moving and shipping companies won’t move them for you.
You should also toss any unusable laundry supplies like broken baskets or drying racks.
Get Packing
If you’re moving locally, you may wish to take cleaning supplies and laundry detergent with you. In this case, pack detergent, fabric softener, and other liquids into plastic grocery bags and tie them securely shut to prevent leakage. Pack them into a labeled box or a laundry basket.
With these items out of the way, you can turn your attention to packing up the rest of your laundry paraphernalia:
- Laundry baskets can actually be very useful for packing and storing other items during your move, especially soft items like pillows and clothes. Just be sure to cover these items with a towel to keep them clean in transit.
- Cover your ironing board in protective plastic or shrink-wrap to keep it from unexpectedly opening in the back of the moving truck.
- Wrap and tie all cords for your iron, and place it in a small box (or the original box, if you still have it) to prevent movement.
- Secure collapsible drying racks with tape or string so they don’t open in the back of your moving truck.
Packing Laundry Appliances
Laundry equipment is expensive, so many people choose to move their washing machine and dryer with them when they relocate or ship them separately. Here’s how to pack these appliances:
How to pack washing machine
Regardless of whether you have a top or front-loading washing machine, the best way to handle moving large appliances is to let your movers or shipping company handle the packing and preparation for you. Washing machines are typically very heavy and can pose some serious challenges if you are unprepared to move them.
There are a couple of things you can do to streamline the process and help get your laundry machine ready for shipment:
- Clean the machine by running a normal wash cycle with an empty load, or by running a cleaning cycle if your machine offers that option. Do not use detergent; instead, use bleach or vinegar to clean the drum and drain lines of any detergent residue.
- Turn off the power from the electrical panel.
- Follow the instructions in your owner’s manual, or work with a professional to disconnect your washer.
- Allow to completely dry out.
- Tape the lid closed, then tape the disconnected electrical cord to the back of the machine.
- Wrap the machine in moving blankets to protect it from dents and scratches.
Packing your dryer
Dryers are lighter and easier to move than washing machines. Here’s how to get yours ready to move:
- Turn off the power from the electrical panel.
- For electric dryers, unplug and secure the cord to the pack of the dyer using packing or duct tape. For gas dryers, disconnect the hose and store it inside the dryer drum.
- Disconnect the metallic hose vent. If it’s in good shape, store it inside the dryer drum; if not, this is a great opportunity to replace it.
- Wrap your dryer in moving blankets.
