Packing books for moving might not seem like a challenge, but books are more delicate than you might think. Plus, if you have some rare or old books in your collection, the last thing you want to do is tear them up or damage them. For this reason, it’s important to learn the right way to pack books before moving to ensure that your collection makes it through your move in one piece.
The good news is that we’re here to help. Read on to learn more about how to pack books for moving the right way.
How to Pack Books for Moving: Our Top 5 Tips
Packing books might seem like a simple process, but if you want your books to arrive properly you need to pack them the right way. We take you through 5 simple steps you can follow to ensure that your collection arrives at its destination in one piece.
1. Consider How Many Books You Want to Take
First and foremost, you need to sort your book collection, especially if you don’t think you can move every single one of your books. You’ll want to examine your collection and spend some time going through the books you want to take and the books you want to leave behind. We know that you want to take them all, but sometimes it’s best to leave a book or two behind, especially if they’re not hard ones to find.
The goal here is to only take the books that matter to you or the books you know you want to keep around. Whether that system is based on value or how often you read them, sorting your book collection is important before you start packing them.
2. Gather the Necessary Moving Supplies
When you’re moving books you need to have some specific supplies. You’ll need the basics, of course, like packing tape and boxes, but you may also need other supplies to preserve your books during the move. After all, you don’t want your books flying around in the back of a box truck getting damaged.
Some supplies we recommend having on hand for packing books for moving include:
- Small boxes to keep everything light and packed tight
- Tissue that’s acid free for wrapping the valuable or special books in your collection
- Consider bubble wrap and other types of wrapping paper
- Labels and packing tape to keep everything secure
These are the basic moving supplies you’ll need when packing books, but don’t be afraid to go the extra mile to keep your books safe. Also, make sure you have enough supplies because if you have a large collection you’ll need a lot of gear.
3. Pack Your Books Upright
You might think it’s easier to save space by packing your books flat so you can stuff more of them in the box, but that’s a recipe for disaster. Typically, you’re better off packing books the same way you would place them on a shelf in your library. This is because placing the books flat in a box with more books on top can stress the spine and cover which results in damage.
The only exception is if you’re working with huge books. In these cases, you can place them flat in the box and you can stack a book or two on top of them.
4. Clean Your Books Before Moving Them
This one may not seem super important, but it’s one of the best things you can do for your books. Spend some time dusting them and removing any visible signs of damage that you can from the surfaces of your books. You’ll want to use something like a microfiber cloth to remove dust from the books, and you can use a small amount of rubbing alcohol to remove grime from covers.
Once the books are clean, put a desiccant pack in each of the boxes. This will keep things dry and prevent mold or mildew from growing, which is a necessity for long moves.
5. Choose the Right Moving Company
If you plan on moving with help from a moving company, make sure you choose one of the best moving companies by following a guide like this. The last thing you want is for movers to manhandle your books and damage them. Plus, the best companies will have experience moving books and other rare items so you won’t have to worry too much about them getting damaged.
Another benefit of choosing the right moving company is that they might help you pack your books and assist with the right packing supplies.
Move Your Books with Confidence
Moving your books may seem simple, but you need to pack them properly to keep them safe. After all, the last thing you want is to arrive at your destination with a bunch of crumbling books. Thankfully, the tips we covered in this article make packing books for your next move a breeze. Just follow our checklist and never worry about ruining your collection.