How To Pack Your Books Before Moving Out

For the bibliophiles out there, a book is more than just a collection of pages. It’s a piece of literature that’s ingrained in their everyday lives. Book lovers take pride on how well they take care of their books. From flipping the pages carefully to grabbing the book by the spine, they’ll to everything to ensure their books remain in pristine condition.

The challenge comes when packing things up prior to moving out. You want your books to arrive at your new home without sustaining any damages. To do this, you need to pack your books in a way that’s going to keep it safe while in transport. Here’s how to pack your books before move-out day.

Tools and supplies needed

Before we start packing, gather up the essential tools and supplies. These are:

• Sturdy moving boxes
• Bubble wrap
• Scissors
• Packing paper
• Marker
• Packing tape

Instructions

Sort out your books

The first thing to do is to sort out your books. This is very important especially if you have a sizeable collection. Arrange your books in alphabetical order or compile them based on their genres to make them easier to identify. You can also pick your favorite books and compile them together so you won’t have trouble finding them come unpacking time. This is also a great opportunity for you to separate books you’re still reading from the ones you’ve already finished.

Book enthusiasts tend to collect a lot of books over time. Before you start packing, make sure that the must-haves have been separated with the been there, done that titles.

Get rid of books that you don’t need

Take the time to look at your book collection. You’ll notice a few books here and there that are quite dusty and old. Moving out is the best time to discard any books that you don’t read anymore. Why? Because moving companies charge by the weight of the freight they’re shipping. Hardcover books can add up to your costs significantly which is why you should consider jettisoning any books you can live without. Better yet, hand them over to other book lovers where they can put it to better use.

Prepare the boxes

Once your book collection has been carefully sorted, it’s time to prepare the moving boxes. You want to use boxes that fit your books perfectly and can hold the weight altogether. Using a box that’s either too large or too small can actually damage your books during transport so make sure to get the correct size. When it comes to your books, it’s much better to use new moving boxes. These are sturdier compared to used boxes and will better protect your books from harm. You can make do with used boxes, but these tend to lose their shape so keep that in mind.

Tape the bottom and the sides of the boxes from the inside out. The more layers of tape you use, the more books the boxes will hold. If you’re using a recycled box, don’t hesitate to be generous with the tape, especially on the bottom portion of the box.

Packing the books

Before packing, line the box with bubble wrap from the inside. This helps protect your books from damage and absorbs the impact during transport. Pack hardcover books with the spine against the side of the box and line them up. Less valuable hardcovers can be placed flat and stacked on top of each other. You want to avoid packing books in odd angles or you’ll risk damaging the covers or

Paperback books require more delicate handling to protect the covers. Pack them with the spine down and the pages up, lining each book until they fit the box. This keeps the pages from getting folded and warped. Like with ordinary hardcovers, you can also stack the books face-up. You want the books to be tightly packed inside so that it doesn’t move while being transported. If they are a bit loose, you can slip a piece of thin cardboard between the books to keep it tightly packed.

Securing the boxes and labeling them

The last step is to secure the box with packing tape and labelling them based on its contents. If you’re reusing old boxes, wrap the box around with packing tape to reinforce the sides. Book boxes should be placed on the moving truck’s cargo floor and stacked to a maximum of two boxes only. The heaviest boxes should be on the bottom while the lighter ones should be on the top to prevent damage to the books.

Taking the time to pack your books carefully will ensure that they’re well-protected during the entire moving-out process. Once you arrive in your new home, all you need to do is unpack your boxes and set up your bookshelf.