Can i get cardboard boxes for free

Once the books are packed they can go anywhere in the moving truck. They make a really good solid base, but can also be placed anywhere to fill gaps. My new favorite friend to use when packing fragile items is bubble wrap! You can buy it at any shipping store, home improvement store, or the post-office.

It is a little on the spendy side, but it will ensure your fragile items stay in one piece. Other more budget-friendly options include crumpled newspaper, washcloths or towels. Using linens to protect your dishes allows you to pack two things at the same time, both conserving space and utilizing the linens.

Blankets are also really good when moving large, fragile items like ornamental vases or electronics. A quilt folded a few times is the perfect padding for a flat screen television, gaming system, printer or a laptop without a case. If possible pack these item in their original boxes with the styrofoam inserts, but blankets and towels will work fine.

The best way to transport fragile electronics is in a separate vehicle, usually the back seat of a car or the cab of a trunk. Try and keep the electronics in a temperature controlled environment. You will also want to make sure that in the moving process you are able to keep an eye on those items, to prevent your electronics from being stolen. Always pack your fragile items with the potential disaster in mind. Remember that the least amount of surface area affected by a fall will prevent damage.

A plate falling on its edge is less likely to break than a plate landing flat. Pack plates upright on their edge like files in a filing cabinet. If they are really delicate and breakable, place a sheet of bubble wrap or washcloth between each plate. Always pack cups, goblets, and wine glasses standing upright. They will be able to take more pressure and distribute a possible impact better than on their sides.

Glasses are strong and can be stacked on top of one another, but just remember to protect any surfaces that may rub together to prevent scratches. First, start with good boxes. A good box is corrugated two pieces of cardboard with a zigzag of paper in the middle , without dents or weak spots.

Second, use the right kind of tape. Clear packaging tape is the best. You can use duct tape, but it takes off chunks off the box when removed, making repurposing or recycling hard. Third, use a lot of tape. Tape all seams of your box at least once, and tape the weak ones multiple times.

Reinforce the bottom of the box by going over the main seam of the two flaps three times, once right down the middle and two on either side holding it in place.

If you are using banged up second-hand boxes, going around with sides of the box with tape can help the box keep its shape through the moving process. Use good heavy-lifting techniques to protect the boxes and your back. It is best to hold the box underneath and give added support to the bottom of the box. Make sure, when carrying, you lift with your legs and not with your back.

As far as protecting your moving boxes and your belongings , try and keep them away from water or snow, which can weaken the cardboard. If you need to put them on wet ground try putting them on plastic tarps, large black garbage bags, or a waterproof shower curtain. The best way to protect your cheap free moving boxes while moving is to put the larger weight-bearing boxes on the bottom and build up to the medium and smaller boxes. Pack your moving van so nothing has room to move.

This will prevent boxes from shifting, falling and breaking. When packing the moving vehicle, channel your inner Tetris knowledge by trying to make every level complete and without holes. Holes mean something has the potential of breaking.

Essentially, only stack things as high as you need to and keep things as close to the ground as possible. Click to Get Instant Pricing Quote. Date Published May 16, Explore our list of 17 places to get secondhand boxes for moving and get packing! Where to Get Free Moving Boxes Friends and family Your immediate network of friends and family may have used packing boxes from a recent move or online shopping.

You can put a post on your social accounts, but asking in person is also a good idea. Your workplace If you work in an office, your office manager might have empty boxes from supply deliveries. Facebook groups There are groups on Facebook dedicated to all sorts of things, including box exchanges for people moving. There are inevitably multiple listings for free moving boxes. Nextdoor Nextdoor is a free social networking service for neighborhoods.

Sign up and select your location to submit and receive notifications about all kinds of things from safety tips to posts for free stuff and requests for items — like moving boxes! Freecycle Freecycle is a worldwide network of groups that keep reusable goods out of landfills by offering them up for free.

You can search by location and then view posts near you. With all of these ideas though, you have a great chance of finding free moving boxes for your next big move. Keep in mind, that just because the boxes are free doesn't mean you should automatically take them. Make sure that the free moving boxes are clean and sturdy. You want to keep your stuff safe and so your moving boxes need to be in good condition. You also want to make sure that you have permission to take the boxes, a simple and polite question will more than likely get you a "yes".

Remember when you're finished unpacking after your move that someone else would appreciate your free moving boxes. If you can't find someone who wants your free moving boxes then recycle them at your nearest recycling center. Craigslist is an excellent resource for finding free moving boxes. Use the Free section of Craigslist to see if anyone is giving away free moving boxes.

You'll have better luck finding free moving boxes on Craigslist near the end of the weekend or the beginning of the week since that's when most people take the time to unpack or clean out old boxes. We also suggest using the Wanted section to post that you're looking for free moving boxes. Many people who are giving away their moving boxes will look here before posting in another section.

You can also use the Craigslist search box to search for free moving boxes. Even if someone is wanting money for their moving boxes you may be able to negotiate with them so you can swap something you already have and no longer want for the free moving boxes. After Craigslist, we suggest checking Freecycle to see if there are any free moving boxes available in your area.

You'll need to join your local online Freecycle group and then post that you want some free moving boxes and see if you get any responses. You never know what might just be laying around someone's garage. Keep in mind that some local Freecycle groups have rules that you have to give away an item before you can claim a free item. U-Haul Customer Connect is a new service set up by U-Haul that lets you search for free moving boxes near you, from people who have just got done unpacking and need to get rid of their boxes.

Enter your zip code or city into the search box and you'll find free moving boxes that are just waiting for a new home. There are Facebook groups for just about everything these days, and this includes your local community. Do a quick search on Facebook for local groups near you that deal with free stuff, swaps, or just community groups where people post often and seem friendly. The great thing about these Facebook groups is that you don't need to wait until someone posts an offer of free moving boxes, just post that you're looking for some and you'll be amazed at how many people have some or know some neighbors that will have some available soon.

You can also visit Facebook Marketplace to look for moving boxes. Follow us. Where to get free cardboard boxes for moving Between stamp duty, estate agent fees, legal fees and removal van hire, moving house is unquestionably expensive. There is at least one small way in which you can save a bit of cash, though — rather than hiring a full removals service which includes boxes and packaging material you could box everything up yourself into free cardboard boxes for moving day!

But where can you get boxes for moving house..? Embrace the power of social media Surely someone on your social media accounts has recently moved house, or knows someone who has? Ask your local supermarket for free cardboard boxes Supermarket stock, especially fresh produce, is delivered to stores in cardboard boxes. Ask your local supermarket if they have any large cardboard boxes for you to use.