by Jackie Heath on Jan 22, 2016
Ask Allied: How Do I Properly Pack and Seal My Plastic Bins for Transport? When you’re doing your own packing for an upcoming move, you may wish to put your belongings in a more secure container than just a cardboard box. Plastic bins and storage containers, popular among home organization enthusiasts and those of us who simply have too much stuff lying around the house, provide a neat and handy solution. Not only are they more durable and waterproof than cardboard boxes, but they often come with handles and lids for easier transport.
When you’re doing your own packing for an upcoming move, you may wish to put your belongings in a more secure container than just a cardboard box. Plastic bins and storage containers, popular among home organization enthusiasts and those of us who simply have too much stuff lying around the house, provide a neat and handy solution. Not only are they more durable and waterproof than cardboard boxes, but they often come with handles and lids for easier transport.
Of course, that doesn’t make them foolproof. If you’d like to use plastic bins as part of your moving process, here are a few tips and tricks to consider.
> Don’t Pack Too Much: Plastic bins tend to be larger than cardboard boxes, and that’s great if you have a large number of items to pack. However, putting too much weight in any kind of moving container is a bad idea, especially if the bins are going to be lifted and carried by hand. Don’t go overboard packing and rely on a mixture of heavy and light items to maintain an ideal weight.
> The Lid Should Easily Lock: Likewise, don’t fill the bins so full that the items swell over the top. You want the lid to lock on and stay secure even as the bins are jostled and moved around, which means it shouldn’t be filled to bursting. For extra security, you may even want to tape the lids down with packing tape, though this may end up leaving residue behind. Some people find that zip ties work well to keep lids on without damaging the bins (they double as a security method, too).
> Everything Should be Dry: Don’t pack damp or moist items, as the seal on plastic bins is good enough that it could create an atmosphere for mildew and mold growth. As a general rule, any item that shouldn’t be wrapped in plastic in the first place (like leather) should also not be put into plastic tubs.
> Reconsider Stacking: Although it might seem like a good idea to stack up your storage bins to make for extra room in the moving van, large towers of these bins tend to be more unstable than traditional cardboard boxes. Don’t put more than two on top of each other and make sure they’re secured by more than just gravity.
> Label, Label, Label: As is the case with cardboard boxes, labeling is your friend. Get a roll of masking tape and a permanent marker, and make sure you label or number each plastic bin. This way, you’ll be able to account for all your belongings and quickly find what you need once you arrive at your final destination.
Although plastic storage bins are one possible alternative to cardboard, we do suggest you talk with your moving company before you invest in a whole fleet of them. Many times, it’s much less costly and just as easy to take the traditional cardboard box route.
FAQs
Everything Should be Dry: Don't pack damp or moist items, as the seal on plastic bins is good enough that it could create an atmosphere for mildew and mold growth. As a general rule, any item that shouldn't be wrapped in plastic in the first place (like leather) should also not be put into plastic tubs.
How do you pack plastic bins? ›
Make sure to not overpack. Leave 1 to 2 inches of space at the top so you can close the lid, and ensure it is not too heavy to lift. Then, thread 1 zip tie through each of the holes on opposite sides of the bin to secure the lid.
How to pack clothes in plastic bins? ›
Pack your clothes with care. Heavier items should be placed at the bottom of your plastic tub and lighter, more delicate items at the top. You may find that you are able to fit more clothes into the same space if you roll them rather than fold them.
How do you pack a storage bin? ›
7 Tips for Packing a Portable Storage Container
- Declutter Before Packing. ...
- Know How Many Containers You Need. ...
- Know What You CAN'T Store. ...
- Disassemble Furniture. ...
- Record What You Store in Each Box. ...
- Pack From Back to Front. ...
- Secure Items as You Go.
Stack Fragile Items When Possible
Start by placing a solid piece of cardboard at the bottom of the box. From there, take packing paper or a portion of bubble wrap and stack it between each plate or bowl. Take 4-5 plates or bowls and seal the stack with packing tape.
How does bin packing work? ›
Bin packing involves packing a set of items of different sizes in containers of various sizes. The size of the container shouldn't be bigger than the size of the objects. The goal is to pack as many items as possible in the least number of containers possible.
Is it better to pack in boxes or totes? ›
If you are paying by the pound, you will also save money as cardboard boxes are more lightweight than plastic containers or totes. Corrugated cardboard, which is specifically designed to move household goods in transit, are durable and do not break, unlike flexible plastic containers that can easily break when stacked.
What is the best way to pack a container? ›
Distribute the Weight Evenly
It's important to keep in mind how you will distribute weight throughout the container. To avoid tipping your container, evenly distribute the weight throughout the storage container. A typical mistake is stacking all of your heavy furniture at the back while the front is full of boxes.
How do you organize things in totes? ›
Make Use of Built-In Pockets and Dividers.
Utilize these features to separate your small items, like lip balm and keys, from larger ones like your water bottle or wallet. These built-in organizers make it easy to place items where you can find them quickly, keeping your handbag or tote bag neat and orderly.
What to put in storage bins to prevent mold? ›
What Can I Put in My Boxes to Prevent Mold?
- Charcoal Briquettes. Charcoal briquettes naturally absorb moisture and can help keep your storage bins dry. ...
- Baking Soda. A box of baking soda can help absorb moisture and neutralize odors. ...
- Cedar Blocks or Chips. ...
- Desiccant Packs. ...
- DampRid.
Items to put in your blue bin
- glass bottles and jars.
- plastic bottles, tubs and trays unless it's black plastic.
- tins, cans and empty aerosol cans.
- kitchen foil and foil meal containers.
- cardboard like cereal boxes, toilet roll tubes, food and drink cartons.
- cartons and Tetrapaks (often used for juice cartons)
Use Dividers – If storage bins have several different items in them it would be beneficial to use dividers or other containers to keep the items separate. It makes retrieval of items much easier. Label Bins – Obviously labeling the bins is an important part of organizing your storage.
How do you transport plastic waste? ›
For extremely large quantities of plastic pellets, bulk tankers or silo trucks are used. Tankers such as these are designed to transport dry bulk materials and are often used for long-distance transportation.
Can you ship plastic bins with UPS? ›
Yes, you can ship plastic bins. It is important to use secure packaging materials and consider insurance and tracking options to ensure the safe delivery of the bins.
When you’re doing your own packing for an upcoming move, you may wish to put your belongings in a more secure container than just a cardboard box. Plastic bins and storage containers, popular among home organization enthusiasts and those of us who simply have too much stuff lying around the house, provide a neat and handy solution. Not only are they more durable and waterproof than cardboard boxes, but they often come with handles and lids for easier transport. 