If you ask any book lover, they will tell you that the sight of a torn or damaged book is nothing short of a tragedy for them. The probability of the occurrence of such an event is high during relocation. If you are planning to relocate shortly, you will want to make sure that your beloved collection of books reaches the destination in a safe and protected manner. This is because books made of paper are fragile, and there is always the risk of them experiencing crumpling, tearing, and physical damage during the relocation.
The point here is that books need special attention and care during the relocation. The natural question is how to pack and move the goods during location; don’t worry if you do not have information about it. In this comprehensive guide, we will provide you with expert tips and methods that will help you pack your books and protect them during the stressful process of moving. So without waiting any further, let’s get on with the first tip from 10, which is sorting out the books.
Curious about moving blankets? Our blog “What Are Moving Blankets and Why Are They Important When Moving?” explains their purpose and benefits.
10 Tips To Safely Pack Books For Moving
1. Sorting out the book
Before you even start packing, the first step is to determine how many books from your current collection you need. Some book lovers can even have a collection of more than 100 books, and it is a fact that these books may have never been opened or read for many years. Some of these books may have never been touched after the first reading. So when you decide to relocate, it is a good opportunity for you to go through all your collections and sort out the books that you require for your future use.
2. Steps to take care of given-up books
Books are amazing friends. They can give knowledge, wisdom, and even entertainment to the readers. So just because you are giving up on some books doesn’t mean they aren’t good enough for others. So take steps to ensure that books become valuable for someone, and there are multiple ways you can go about it. For example, you can sell your old books to a local bookstore, or you can donate them to a local library, school, or college (if they are educational).
Moreover, you can also go online and create a listing to sell your books to the public. Avoid taking steps to dispose of the books as trash. If you have the time on your side, you can also get in contact with your friends, relatives, and neighbors and ask them if they are interested in going through your collection of books that you intend to not take with you and allowing them to take the ones that they like.
3. Pack your books before the other stuff
Books may look small in size, but they can take a lot of your time when it comes to packing them. It is because you need to be specific when it comes to the placement and quality of packing boxes and the way you mark them in your packing process. So make sure you put the books at the top of your list when it comes to the priority of packing all your goods for the relocation.
4. Segregate your books based on their size
Books can come in multiple sizes, from large novels to pocket-sized dictionaries. So you need to be a little innovative and creative with your sorting. Segregate them in terms of size, and when choosing the packing supplies, use these segregated books’ sizes as a reference. This will help you with the overall packing process.
5. Pick quality packing supplies
Picking the right kind of packing supplies is a major step in the packing of books. When it comes to choosing cardboard boxes, it is suggested that a person go with small boxes. The books may look lightweight from the outside, but when placed one upon another, they can become very heavy. Make sure you keep the weight of each packing box at the optimum level. So what kind of boxes are good for stuffing the books? For this purpose, you can use appropriate-sized boxes with firm bases and sides.
The strength of the box matters a lot in the case of books since they can be heavy and have edges as well. A person packing box with books needs good packing paper, bubble wrap, and tape to secure the boxes. The main takeaway here is that one should not compromise on the quality of packing supplies when it comes to moving the books.
6. Look for the stuff available at home and with acquaintances
In case you are looking to find some packing supplies under the DIY (do it yourself) method, you can go for luggage bags and suitcases to pack the books. The luggage bags and suitcases are excellent because they have the strength and size to carry heavyweight luggage. They offer a dry and protected environment for books during the process of relocation.
For cardboard boxes, in case you require some packing supplies to fill in the gaps and add extra padding, you can use towels and newspapers so that books do not move within their packed boxes. To get more packing supplies without wasting time visiting any online or offline store, you can ask around your friend circle, relatives, and neighbors.
7. Methods to pack the book
When packing the books, you need to ensure that you keep the big books at the base, and generally, these books will have more weight than the other books. Create a hierarchy of books in packing according to their weights. This is the best way to pack the books. However, you can be a little innovative, like placing the books side by side if they are small and the width of the books is not broad. But make sure there is enough padding for extra protection so the books do not move during the move.
8. Proper labeling
Once the books are packed and secured, you need to mark each box with its contents. You can label the boxes according to your priorities, such as according to their weight, size, or use category. For example, you can categorize boxes with labels such as high priority, low priority, and least priority.
Check out our article on “Expert Tips For Organizing And Labeling Boxes For Easy Packing“, where we discuss must-have supplies and tools to streamline your moving process.
9. Special consideration
You may have some antique and rare books in your collection. Naturally, such books require special attention. To secure them with proper protection for moving, you can use acid-free paper and use it for each of the books to ensure no part of the books is exposed. Invest in archival-quality boxes designed especially for storing valuable books, as these boxes provide extra protection against environmental factors such as moisture, light, and dust.
You can also use an extra layer of padding within the boxes for antique and valuable books so that the movement using transit remains at a minimum level. Use a double layer of packing tape to ensure that they’re completely protected and secure.
10. Tips for efficient unpacking of books
Unpacking the books is as important as packing them. You can prioritize the unpacking of books as per your preference and follow some tips to make it as efficient as possible. For example, you can create a designated area in your new home for unpacking and organizing your books, and this can be a corner of your new home or a shelf.
Make sure that you check all the books to find out if any damage has happened to them and get rid of all the dust that may have accumulated during the process of moving. You can also systematically unpack the books by sorting them into categories such as priority, low priority, and high priority, and you can also invest in a good-quality bookshelf to make your new place ideal for keeping your book collection.
Learn about “Avoid These 15 Most Common Moving Mistakes People Make” to ensure a smooth move.
Conclusion
The safe packing of books is essential to keeping them protected during the stressful process of moving. In this particular piece, several suggestions and tips will help you arrive at your new home without causing any harm to your book collection. All of these tips are there in this blog to guide you, and individuals can learn from them and apply them during their relocation. Do take precautions, such as organizing wrapping and labeling, and give special attention to antique and valuable books.
Check out our blog “15 Important Moving Questions to Ask Yourself” for essential self-reflection.
Moreover, moving books is one of the parts of the whole relocation journey, and in case you feel that you need help from expert packers and movers, you can check out the listings on the 6 Packers and Movers site, and the listed company will help you out with stress-free moving, where your goods and books will remain protected and safe.
FAQs About Safely Packing Books For Moving
What Is The Best Way To Box Books For Moving?
Here are the tips for packing the books into the box for moving.
- Use high-quality, appropriate-size boxes for packing books. They should have a firm base and sides.
- Use acid-free tissue paper for packing rare and antique books.
- You can use bubble wrap, newspaper, packing paper, tape, and even towels (as padding).
- When packing the boxes, place the heavier books at the bottom and the lighter ones above them.
Is It Okay To Use The Plastic Storage Bin As Storage For Packing Goods?
If you have plastic storage bins, they are certainly ideal for packing books since they keep the books protected from bugs, dust, moisture, and other environmental factors.
What Are Some Home Items That Can Be Used For Packing Books?
One can use newspaper luggage bags, suitcases, and towels for various purposes, including packing books. For example, you can use newspapers to wrap books and use luggage bags and suitcases as packing containers for your move. Use the towers and blankets as extra padding for books while packing them.
