Selecting Packing Supplies

When selecting packing supplies for your household goods, remember:

• You can save money by collecting clean boxes from your local supermarkets.
• Make sure that the boxes are dry, and empty of insects and other pests.
• Only collect strong, corrugated cartons with tops or flaps that fold shut.
• Old newspapers may be used for packing material, but ink may rub off and stain your belongings. Jay’s recommends that you use blank paper (and we can supply it!).

If you can’t find proper cartons (or enough of them), you can avoid damaging your possessions by purchasing sturdy, specialized packing cartons in a variety of sizes from Jay’s.

Other packing supplies you will need include:

• Scissors and/or a sharp knife
• Paper
• Plastic bags and labels for parts storage and identification
• Labels and markers for identifying the contents of cartons
• Heavy-duty packaging tape (11/2 to 2 inches wide) for sealing cartons — Jay’s does not recommend using duct tape or masking tape

Before you start packing

Find a work area that is large enough to accommodate the biggest cartons, with a solid table or work surface (Jay’s doesn’t recommend using your best dining room table for packing!). Cover your table with towels or a blanket to protect it. Put a generous stack of packing paper on the table, and have your scissors, tape, marking pens and other packing supplies close at hand.

Now that you’ve collected your packing supplies and organized your workspace you’re ready to start packing: click for how to pack and more tips.