Moving to a new home is known to be one of the most stressful events in life, and I never thought I would have to go through it.
I was content with my current living situation and had a great relationship with my neighbours.
However, life has a funny way of throwing unexpected changes our way, and at the end of 2022, I found myself moving into a new place.
Throughout the process, I learned the importance of making eco-friendly choices when moving homes.
So, in this post, I want to share ten sustainable moving tips to help make your future move less stressful for both you and the planet.
Declutter as far in advance as possible
When it comes to making your move more sustainable, decluttering your belongings is a crucial step.
My number one tip is to start decluttering way ahead of the moving date.
While many of us know we should declutter before packing, it’s better to do it much earlier than we plan to move.
Even if you think you might move someday, start decluttering your home NOW!
This will ensure you have ample time to go through all of your belongings and find new homes for the things you no longer need or use.
Trust me, when you begin a house-hunting process, you won’t have the energy or time to declutter your home thoroughly.
My personal experience with decluttering began when my husband and I were living in a small bungalow.
Despite our small living space, we had accumulated many things over the years that were stored away in three lofts – two big and one small.
Then, one day, I stumbled upon a book called ‘The Life-Changing Magic of Tidying Up: A simple, effective way to banish clutter forever‘ by Marie Kondo.
Marie is a tidying expert, and her book taught me the importance of decluttering not just for the sake of organizing but for creating a more peaceful and joyful living environment.
After reading Marie’s book, we started decluttering our living space and lofts. I donated a lot of clothes to charities and only kept the items that brought me joy.
As Marie Kondo says, ‘My criterion for deciding to keep an item is that we should feel a thrill of joy when we touch it‘. This is especially true when it comes to clothes and accessories.
As for the things in our lofts, we only kept a few of them and gave away the rest to our neighbours, family, and friends.
When giving things away, be strategic about finding multiple sources to give to, maximizing the chance of giving those things a second life.
Decluttering is not just about organizing your belongings; it’s also about being mindful of the impact your possessions have on the environment.
Almost everything we consume takes a lot of natural resources to produce, and we shouldn’t take that for granted because the Earth’s resources are limited.
Furthermore, when things end up in landfills, they generate unnecessary greenhouse emissions.
According to statistics, worldwide landfill waste is responsible for about 11% of global methane emissions, and this figure is expected to be even higher in the next decade.
By giving ourselves ample time to declutter, we can ensure that our belongings do not end up in landfills, and we can take a sustainable approach to relocate.
Reuse packing materials and original boxes
Are you one of the 53% of online shoppers in the US and the UK who buy consumer electronics, such as TVs, computers, and mobile phones, four times a year?
If so, you may have noticed that these electronics are often packed with the highest standard to ensure they arrive in immaculate condition.
When you receive a delivery like this, it’s important to unpack it carefully and save the packing materials, such as bubble wrap, foam peanuts, and packing papers, for future use.
It’s also a good idea to keep the original boxes for big items, as they can serve two purposes.
First, you can use the box to return the item if it’s faulty or you change your mind about the purchase. Second, you can use the box when you move, as it’s the perfect size for those big items.
This same principle can apply to kitchen appliances, too. If you’re concerned that the boxes will take up too much space in your home, simply unfold them neatly and store them away.
Another way to collect packing materials is by reusing them from gifts you receive. Fragile items like glassware, ceramic pots, and photo frames are often wrapped tightly in bubble wrap or kraft paper.
Instead of throwing away these materials, unwrap your gifts gently and save the packing materials for future use. Remember the 3Rs for the environment: reduce, reuse, and recycle.
By making a habit of saving packing materials from your online deliveries and gifts, you can reduce waste and save money in the long run.
Plus, you can start this practice well ahead of beginning your property search.
Repurpose your old bed sheets
Don’t throw away your old bed sheets just yet!
While they may wear out or develop holes after a few years, they can still be incredibly useful, especially when it comes to moving home.
Instead of getting rid of them, consider repurposing them.
Ripped bed sheets, old jeans, and tablecloths can be great cushioning materials for fragile items during a move. You can use them to wrap and protect delicate items like glassware or picture frames.
In addition, they can be draped over sofas or chairs to prevent damage during transport.
Furthermore, when disassembling your bed on your moving day, you can use your old bed sheets to cover your mattress or bed frame.
This will not only protect your bed from scratches or other damage, but it will also keep it clean during the move.
So before you toss your old bed sheets, think about how you can repurpose them for your next move. They may come in handy when you least expect it!
Pack with the things you already have
When you have a moving date in mind, you might feel the urge to start buying packing materials right away.
However, take a moment to consider what you already have on hand that you can use for packing. Using existing items is not only cost-effective, but it’s also an eco-friendly choice.
Here are some common household items that can be repurposed for packing:
- Luggage, suitcases, and Amazon boxes are great for packing clothes or heavy items.
- Gloves are useful for packing small jewellery, such as rings or earrings.
- Laundry baskets can be used to pack toiletries or cleaning products.
- Cooking pots make for great packing material for bowls or plates, while pans can be used for cutlery.
- Towels, blankets, or scarves can protect delicate items.
- Papers or soft linen can be used for wrapping dishes or glassware.
- Grocery shopping bags are a great option for packing pantry staples.
- Bin bags can be used for packing shoes.
- If you’re moving furniture, consider temporarily removing the drawers and using them to store your books, CDs, or DVDs.
- Indoor bins can be used to pack general tools, while outdoor bins can be used for garden tools.
Utilizing these items saves money and reduces waste while still packing your belongings safely and efficiently.
Get free moving boxes from your local shops
Moving can be an expensive process, and one of the most significant expenses is the cost of boxes.
On average, you might need 8-10 medium-sized boxes for each room, but by following a few simple tips below, you can significantly reduce the number of boxes you need.
However, if you still need additional boxes, don’t rush to order them online. Instead, consider reaching out to your friends, family, co-workers, or local shops to get free moving boxes.
Most shops, including supermarket chains and DIY stores, are happy to give away cardboard boxes as long as you ask.
When visiting a shop, it’s worth checking their delivery times as they tend to unpack many of their goods after delivery.
By arriving when they have nearly finished unpacking, you are more likely to get sturdy boxes.
In addition to regular boxes, you can also get wine bottle boxes with cell dividers for free. These boxes are typically made from strong double-wall cardboard and come with dividers that are perfect for storing wine, beer, or any glass oil or sauce bottles.
By following these tips, you can save money on moving boxes. You may even find that you don’t need to buy any boxes for your move.
If you are moving long distances and need sturdier boxes, you can consider renting reusable plastic crates, which are easier to stack, load, and transport, and provide better protection for fragile items during transit.
Prioritise important documents
When it comes to packing for a move, it’s important to prioritize the items that are most valuable and difficult to replace.
That’s why you should start by packing all of your important documents, such as birth certificates, passports, driving licenses, and any vital information from your GP, bank, solicitors, and insurance companies.
It’s best to keep these items separate from the rest of your belongings and load them into your car rather than leaving them to travel with the removal company etc.
To ensure the safety of our important documents during our move, I packed them about a month before our moving date.
By doing so, I could ensure that they were secure and wouldn’t get mixed up with my other belongings on the day of the move.
I packed them in my carry-on luggage, which allowed me to keep them with me at all times during the move. This gave me peace of mind, knowing that these important documents were always within reach.
Pack off-season items second
If you’re moving in the summertime, consider packing your winter clothes, scarves, and gloves a month ahead of time, as well as other occasional-use items such as movie box sets, books, tools, sentimental items, family photo albums, and seasonal decorations like Halloween, Thanksgiving, or Christmas decorations.
By doing this, you’ll have fewer things to pack as your move date approaches, which can help reduce your stress levels.
Buy and sell second-hand furniture when moving home
Selling or buying second-hand furniture can be a smart move when you’re moving to a new home.
Some pieces might not fit in your new place, so it’s worth considering whether you can sell or buy items from the previous or new owners.
If you’re in the property chain, you can ask the new owner of your current house if they’re interested in buying any of your furniture.
Contacting the buyer can be tricky, but your listing agent may be able to pass on their contact information once their offer has been accepted.
If your agent is hesitant to share the buyer’s contact information, you can email them details of the furniture you want to sell and ask them to forward the information to the buyer.
Additionally, you can consider selling larger items like washing machines, dryers, dishwashers, TV stands, or wardrobes if they don’t fit in your new place.
You can also inquire about buying furniture from the seller of your new home. For instance, if you’re moving into an older house, ask the current owner if they’re willing to sell any furniture.
This approach worked well for us when we moved from a smaller to a larger place. We purchased three pieces of furniture from the seller and were grateful that they left their built-in washing machine and dishwasher.
By selling items that don’t fit in with your new places and buying second-hand, you can move fewer belongings, meaning you won’t need a large moving van.
Furthermore, selling unwanted items to a new owner instead of disposing of them in a landfill is much more eco-friendly.
Minimise food waste
Moving homes is already stressful enough without the added burden of wasting food.
Did you know that food waste is responsible for around 8% to 10% of the world’s greenhouse gas emissions?
To avoid this, it’s important to plan ahead and come up with a meal plan based on the contents of your fridge and freezer at least two weeks before your moving date.
By doing so, you can use up as much of your chilled, frozen, and pantry foods as possible, leaving you with less to take with you.
To further minimize waste, try to avoid making regular trips to the supermarket in the days leading up to your move.
Instead, finish up what you have and then do your grocery shopping once you’ve settled into your new place.
And if you still have chilled or frozen foods that you can’t take with you, consider asking your neighbours if they’d like to have them. You might be surprised by how open-minded people can be about accepting still-good food.
In fact, I did this myself on the night before our moving date!
I gave a few bags of frozen food to my neighbour, who was more than happy to accept them even though some had already been opened.
The next day, I prepared breakfast and lunch using the remaining items in our fridge, which meant we didn’t waste any food.
By minimizing food waste, we not only help the planet but also reduce the guilt of food waste.
Prepare first-day essentials for a smooth move
After weeks of anticipation and planning, the day of your move has finally arrived!
To make the moving process smoother, ensure that you have gathered all your packed boxes in one place on your moving day.
This will make it easier for the removal men or any friends and neighbours to help you load the van and ensure that nothing gets left behind.
On the day of the move, it’s also important to pack your first-day essentials separately, as you may not have the energy to unpack everything immediately after arriving at your new home.
Some key first-day essentials to consider include:
- Toiletries: Pack two rolls of toilet paper, a hand towel, a bath towel, hand soap, a toothbrush, toothpaste, shampoo and shower gel.
- Bedroom items: Prepare a change of clothes for your first night and any sleep aids you may need to ensure a good night’s rest.
- Kitchen essentials: Pack a kettle, mugs, tea, coffee, sugar, plates and cutlery for each member of the family, dishcloth, dish liquid, dish sponge, kitchen towel, and a hand towel.
- Cleaning supplies: Bring all-purpose cleaning products, cleaning cloths, two bin bags, and a dustpan and brush.
- Miscellaneous items: Don’t forget an emergency first-aid kit, a basic tool kit, phone chargers, and a pair of scissors to open boxes.
Having these first-day survival kits on hand will save you from making last-minute trips to the store. You won’t be forced to purchase items that may not be environmentally friendly due to time constraints.
Being prepared will help you start your new chapter off on the right foot.
Congratulations on making it this far in the house-moving process! Best of luck with the next steps.