TIPS FOR HASSLE FREE MOVING
Tanya Munshi
Moving out of a house can be emotionally and physically taxing. By following simple packing rules, it can be made a lot simpler.
Boxes And Cartons
For cardboard cartons, use a broad cello tape that will hold all the corners and the separated portions. In case of weight, the cartons will not open up by force.
Use curtains to cushion the base of the boxes before placing other items and to cushion photo frames and fragile items in between.
Label each box as 1, 2, 3 or a, b, c. Write down in a notebook what each number or alphabet stands for. When you shift to a new house, you will know exactly what box contains what item.
Electronics And Furniture
Use small boxes (such as chocolate tin boxes) to keep all the screws and bolts of your electronics/furniture while dismantling.
Tape loose cords, wires and cables separately, place them in separate packs and label them. This will help at the time of re-opening.
Ensure all your electronics are cushioned with thermocol. Usually this material is provided in all electronic packages.
Empty your fridge and clean it thoroughly 24 hours before packing.
Crockery And Other Items
Bubble wrap each crockery item. Use newspapers as an alternative if bubble wrap is not available.
For packing books in a carton, throw in some naphthalene balls. Sprinkle talcum powder between the pages to help absorb moisture and prevent the books from getting musty and smelly.
Seal all the shampoos, medicines and cooking oil bottles to prevent leaking.
Pack medicines separately, though it’s wise to carry a medicine kit along with you.
General Tips
Before packing, get the following items – bubble wrap, bold waterproof markers, lots of cello tape, scissors, paper knives, cutters and locks and keys.
Get printouts in big bold letters to denote the journey of the packaging and whom it belongs to. For example – ‘Name – New Delhi to Mumbai.’
For locks and keys, mark every lock and key with a number – either by a waterproof marker or pasting a piece of cello tape with a number on it. This will help you in opening the boxes with ease.
Always store the original packing material of electronics or other items.
Ask for an inventory sheet, an insurance paper and, most important, a receipt for all your payments from the person you hired to move your things.
Keep the packer’s and the driver’s cell phone number handy to help locate your truck.
Carry all valuables, clothes, shoes and important documents with you.
HANDY HINTS TO A CLEANER HOME
Looking for easy ways to keep your home clean? Well here are a few handy hints you could use.
To clean artificial flowers, pour some salt into a paper bag and add the flowers. Shake vigorously as the salt will absorb all the dust and dirt and leave your artificial flowers looking like new! Works like a charm!
Candles will last a lot longer if placed in the freezer for at least three hours prior to burning.
Flies or bees bothering you? Spray them with hairspray and they will take a quick dive.
Spray a bit of perfume on the light bulb in any room to create a lovely light scent in each room when the light is turned on.
Use empty toilet paper roll to store appliance cords. It keeps them neat and you can write on the roll what appliance it belongs to.
Crayon marks on walls? Try this. A damp rag dipped in baking soda. Comes off with little effort.
Ants never cross a chalk line. So get your chalk out and draw a line on the floor or wherever ants tend to march.
To freshen cut flowers. Add 2 tablespoons vinegar and 1 teaspoon sugar for each quarter of water.
Keep sponges fresh and germ resistant. Put them in the microwave for one minute or run them through the dishwasher on the top rack.
If you have a hard time visualizing what those small paint chips at the store will look like on your wall, here's an idea!
When you are reheating food in the microwave it can sometime splatter creating quite the mess. You can easily prevent this mess by placing a regular coffee filter over your plate or bowl before microwaving. Now the splatters will go in the filter instead of on your oven.
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