Eco-friendly Tips to Moving and Packing

One of the most stressful times in life is when one moves from one location to another. In addition to the stress of becoming assimilated to a new location, one needs to manage the physical move. The following are effective and simple tips for moving in an eco-friendly manner.

1) Use paper towels and/or towels as packing material
Instead of using non biodegradable or even biodegradable packing material, consider using paper towels and regular cotton towels as packing material. Once you arrive and unpack, you can readily use the paper towels to clean your new home.

2) Use shredded financial statements as packing material
When you prepare to move, it is a great time to utilize a shredder to get rid of old confidential financial statements. The resulting shredded financial statements can be used to pack your plates and any other precious items.

3) Be selective on what you bring with you to your new home
Moving companies charge the move by distance of weight of the materials you ship. Therefore, it's important to evaluate whether it is worth your while to bring an old or unused item with you to your new home. Instead of discarding any unwanted items, consider donating these items to your local Goodwill store.

4) Notify friends or families of any unwanted items
If you are wary or too busy to host a garage or yard sale, you can notify your friends and families of any items you would like them to pick up and take away.

5) Recycle packaging and moving boxes
Instead of discarding any packaging and moving boxes once you have unpacked, consider recycling these items.

6) Have a ready to use 3 or 4 boxes of miscellaneous items that you will need to use right away
Set aside the following items in 3 or 4 boxes and label them as "Unpack right away." These items include: pots, pans, utensils for cooking, 2-3 sets of ready to wear clothing, 2-3 sets of toiletry items. This enables you to cook as soon as you arrive at your new home. Saving money from takeout or eating at restaurants and also enables you to conserve fuel and energy from driving to/from local restaurants.

7) Replace items gradually
You may be tempted to use all new furnishings in your new home. However, it is best to replace any furnishings gradually. This gives you time to assess what you really need to replace and also reduces prematurely discarding high quality used furnishings that you may be able to use longer.

Although moving is one of the major stressors in life, it is also an exciting new beginning and keeping an eco-friendly perspective on your move is a great start to your new life.