The Simple Plastic Wrap Hack That Makes Packing Clothes For A Move A Breeze

Moving to a new home can be an exciting adventure, but the process of packing up your entire life and ensuring that all of your belongings make it to your new home safely can feel overwhelming. One of the most time-consuming and tedious tasks is packing your family's entire wardrobe. Fortunately, plastic wrap is a standard household product that can change the way you pack your family's personal items, making your move a little easier.

Using plastic wrap can significantly speed up and simplify the process of packing your clothes when moving. You can use it to secure your garments on hangers, preventing them from wrinkling and ensuring they look great once they reach their new closet. You can also bundle your folded clothes together with plastic wrap to keep them from unfolding during transit. Wrapping them in plastic will help keep your apparel clean, fresh-smelling, and safe, as well. 

Materials and techniques with plastic wrap

You'll need a roll of plastic wrap, also known as cling wrap or stretch film. Opt for a durable and high-quality version to ensure its effectiveness in securing your clothes. Plastic wrap is widely available at supermarkets, home improvement stores, and online retailers. You can also find large rolls of stretch wrap with handles at big box stores or wherever moving supplies are sold.

For hanging clothes, start by gathering a manageable cluster of garments (approximately five to 15 items, depending on their thickness). Tie the hangers together using a piece of plastic wrap, a rubber band, a zip tie, or another method. Holding the clothes together, wrap the stretch film around them tightly to keep them secure. Make sure to wind the cling wrap tightly to prevent it from unraveling during transportation. For folded clothes, stack them neatly and tightly cover the entire bundle with plastic wrap. You can put them in moving boxes or simply in little wrapped bundles. 

Tips and alternative ideas

When using the plastic wrap hack for packing clothes, it's wise to be a little cautious. For instance, wrapping the plastic too tightly could damage delicate fabrics or change the shape of garments. Additionally, using too much plastic wrap could make unpacking difficult. Ideally, you want to balance securing and protecting your clothes with the ease of unwrapping once you are ready to unpack in your new place.

There are alternative methods you can explore depending on your preferences and what you have available. For example, you could use garment or vacuum-sealed storage bags for specific clothing items instead of plastic wrap. If those options aren't available, clean garbage bags can also work and provide extra protection against dust, moisture, and pests. Slide a garbage bag over the top of a group of hanging clothes, make a small hole in the bottom to slip the hanger hooks through, and then tie a knot or use a twist tie to seal the bottom of the bag. For folded clothes, insert a stack into a garbage bag and gently compress it to remove any excess air before tying a knot to seal it.

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