The No-Nonsense Guide to Packing Your Bathroom
Quick Summary
- Toss the old products first: Throw away expired medications and dried-out cosmetics before you start packing to save space and time.
- Seal up your liquids: Put a small piece of plastic wrap under the caps of your shampoos and lotions to prevent them from leaking inside your boxes.
- Keep chemicals off the truck: Plan to use up or personally move hazardous items like bleach and aerosol cans, since movers cannot legally transport them.
- Build a first-night kit: Pack a clear bin with your toothbrush, toilet paper, and a clean towel so you have the basics ready for your first shower in the new house.
Moving brings up a lot of unexpected chores. You box up the books in the living room, clear out the bedroom closets, and feel like you are making great progress. Then you finally open the bathroom cabinets.
Suddenly, you are staring at dozens of half-empty shampoo bottles, delicate cosmetics, bulky hair tools, and a suspicious number of half-used lotions.
Bathrooms are notoriously tricky to pack. The space is small, but it holds a high volume of fragile and messy items. If you toss everything into a single cardboard box, you risk opening a soapy, broken mess at your new home.
Let’s look at some practical moving tips and tricks to get your bathroom boxed up safely and efficiently.
Start Packing by Purging the Cabinets
Before you buy a single roll of packing tape, you need to declutter. There is no reason to haul expired medication or empty bottles onto a moving truck.
Take everything out of your medicine cabinets, drawers, and shower caddies. Sort your items into keep, toss, and donate piles. Throw away old makeup, dried-up nail polish, and expired medications safely. If you have unopened personal care items you no longer want, consider donating them to a local shelter.
This is also the perfect time to be brutally honest about your cleaning tools. Items like toilet plungers, toilet bowl brushes, and plastic drain snakes harbor bacteria and cost very little to replace. Throw them in the trash. You do not want a used toilet plunger shifting around in a moving box next to your clean bath towels.
Packing Liquids for a Move
Liquids are the absolute worst part of moving day. A single leaking bottle of mouthwash ruins an entire box of belongings in minutes. To stop leaks before they happen, use the plastic wrap trick. Unscrew the cap on every single bottle of shampoo and lotion you own. Place a small square of plastic wrap completely over the opening, then screw the cap back on tightly. This creates a tight seal that stops liquids from spilling if the bottle gets squeezed inside the moving truck.
Place your secured liquid bottles inside sealed plastic gallon bags or tightly tied garbage bags. Keep them standing upright in small moving boxes. Fill any empty gaps with hand towels or packing paper to keep the bottles from shifting around during transit.
Make sure you pack any wet items in their own separate box, far away from your toothbrushes and electronics like hair dryers.
Watch Out for Non-Allowables
Before you box up every chemical under your sink, take a moment to sort through them. Professional movers, including our team at ADSI, can’t legally transport hazardous materials because they create a major safety risk when the temperatures rise. This typically includes aerosols, bleach, ammonia, and nail polish remover.
Instead of packing them, use them up before moving day, give them to a neighbor, or dispose of them properly according to your local guidelines. You can also transport them in your own vehicle if needed. Be sure to check ADSI’s official list of non-allowables before you start boxing up those cleaning supplies.
Protecting Fragile Items and Electronics
Bathrooms hold plenty of breakable items like mirrors, glass perfume bottles, and ceramic soap dispensers. You also have expensive electronics like hair dryers, electric razors, and curling irons.
Wrap each fragile piece individually using thick packing paper or bubble wrap. Secure the wrapping with packing tape so it stays tightly in place inside the box. For mirrors, use specialty picture moving boxes and apply tape in an “X” shape across the glass to hold it together if it happens to crack.
Coil the cords of your electronics neatly and secure them with a zip tie or rubber band. Wrap the tools in soft materials like washcloths or hand towels. Pack heavy items at the bottom of the box and layer lighter, fragile items on top.
Moving Tips and Tricks: The First Night Kit
After carrying heavy items all day, the very first thing you’ll want is a hot shower. Digging through a mountain of unlabeled moving boxes to find a clean towel is incredibly frustrating. You want to build a dedicated survival kit for your first night in the new house.
Grab a clear plastic bin and pack your immediate necessities. Include toilet paper, hand soap, your toothbrushes, a clean towel, and a shower curtain. Put a fresh change of clothes and your daily medications in there as well. Having a first aid kit handy is also a smart idea for minor scrapes. Keep this specific bin inside your own car instead of handing it to the movers.
Augusta Residential Moving Made Simple
While you handle boxing up your personal hygiene items, let the professionals take care of the heavy lifting.
ADSI Moving Systems is ready to help. We offer professional packing services, quality moving supplies, and secure storage options to fit your schedule. Whether you’re moving locally in Augusta or heading across the country, our team will make sure your belongings arrive safely at your new home.
Ready to get started? Contact ADSI today for a free quote and let us take the hassle out of your move.