Download the Packing Guide
We have produced a PDF that you can download and print to use as a guide when packing up your home for moving or storing.
From the people who care at Kennards Self Storage
Packing, Moving & Storage Hacks
76 Packing, Moving & Storage Hacks from the People Who Care
Moving house, renovating, downsizing or having a long-overdue clear-out — they all come with the same question: where does everything go, and how do I keep it in one piece? We’ve pulled together the tips our team hears (and uses) most often. Steal the ones that work for you, skip the rest, and give us a call if you’d like a hand.
A quick Kennards reminder: we offer free use of trolleys at every centre, free forklifts, pallet jacks and trailers at many centres, and a GoGet van on-site at many locations too. And the Kennards Box Shop has every packing bit and bob in this guide — so you can grab it all in one trip.
Packing
Home Projects & Life Transitions
Packing - Kitchen
The kitchen is the room everyone underestimates. Loads of fragile, awkwardly shaped, mostly heavy stuff. These hacks stop it from being a nightmare.
| Hack | How it works | Best for |
|---|---|---|
| Cling-wrap the cutlery tray | Wrap your whole cutlery organiser in plastic wrap and box it as-is. Everything stays sorted. | Kitchens |
| Dish rack for plates | Pack plates vertically inside a dish rack placed in a box. They travel like records on their edge, cushioned, less likely to chip. | Kitchens |
| Paper plates between dinner plates | If you don't have bubble wrap or cushioning paper, a paper plate between each good plate is a cheap shock absorber. | Kitchens |
| Fill pots with pantry goods | Empty space inside pots and pans is wasted real estate. Pack them with rice, pasta, spice jars use every cubic centimetre. | Space saving |
| Wrap spices as one bundle | Line your spice jars up, wrap tightly in cling wrap, and they move as one tidy brick. No rolling, no cumin explosion. | Kitchens |
| Wine boxes for glassware | Divided wine boxes are purpose-built for fragile stemware. Ask at your local Kennards Box Shop - they're a packer's best-kept secret. | Glassware |
| Glasses in socks, packed upright | Slip each glass into a clean sock before boxing. Two jobs done: wine glasses survive, and those odd socks finally earn their keep. | Glassware |
| Tea towels as free padding | Wrap breakables in tea towels and linen napkins. Packing and unpacking the linen drawer done in one go. | Kitchens |
| Ziplock the liquids | Pop oils, sauces and vinegars in ziplock bags before boxing. If one leaks, your pantry doesn't become a salad. | Pantry |
| Freeze water bottles before packing the esky | Freeze a few bottles of water the night before. They keep your moving-day esky cold, then give you a cold drink when they thaw. Hydration sorted. | Moving day |
Packing - Bedroom & Wardrobe
Clothes look simple until you realise you own 400 of them. These hacks keep the wardrobe move tidy and the bedding handy.
| Hack | How it works | Best for |
|---|---|---|
| Cling-wrap drawers closed | Give the whole dresser a cling-wrap hug drawers full, doors shut, socks sorted. Future-you doesn't have to repack jocks off the driveway. | Clothing, kids' rooms |
| Rubbish bag wardrobe transfer | If you don't have a Port-a-Robe, punch a hole in the bottom of a garbage bag, slide it over 10-15 hangers at once, tie the handles. Cheap and cheerful for short moves. | Wardrobes |
| Sheet burrito for hanging clothes | Lay hangers on a flat sheet, roll tight like a burrito, and your work shirts arrive ready to hang. No creases, no tangled hangers. | Wardrobes |
| Curtains on the rod | Wrap curtains while they're still on the rod. Unpack, hang, done no ironing, no rethreading, no bad words.. | Bedrooms & living rooms |
| Laundry baskets for soft goods | Blankets, pillows, doonas, plush toys - straight into laundry baskets. They're already handles-and-all and you'll use them at the new place on day one. | Soft goods |
| Pillows as padding | Stuff pillows and plush toys around lampshades, décor and awkward curves. They need to come anyway make them earn their seat on the truck. | Fragile décor |
| Suitcases are free boxes | Every suitcase, duffle and sports bag in the house should leave full. Wheels mean heavy things books, winter coats move themselves. | Heavy items |
Packing - Fragile & Valuables
Nothing ruins a move like opening a box to a wedding photo in three pieces. Slow down on these ones.
| Hack | How it works | Best for |
|---|---|---|
| Cardboard between picture frames | A flat sheet of cardboard between each framed picture stops glass-on-glass contact. Stand them vertically in a box, never flat. For big art, mirrors, or TVs, we've got the Picture/Mirror Carton at the Box Shop. | Artwork |
| Tape mirrors in an X | An X of painter's tape across the glass holds shards together if the worst happens. Doesn't stop breakage, but it stops the mess. | Mirrors |
| The 'open me first' box | One clearly marked box per person: phone charger, meds, kettle, mugs, toothbrush, loo roll, a change of clothes. First box off the truck, first box unpacked. | Every move |
| Jewellery in a pill organiser | Earrings, studs, rings and small chains each get their own day-of-the-week slot. Lid snaps shut. No tangles, no lost hoops down the side of the box. | Jewellery |
| Necklaces through buttonholes | Thread each chain through a buttonhole on a shirt and do up the button. They arrive knot-free and ready to wear. | Jewellery |
| Egg cartons for small bits | Screws, earrings, spare bulbs, loose change - an egg carton keeps them tidy, visible and taped shut. | Hardware & valuables |
| Cotton pads in makeup compacts | A cotton pad wedged under the lid of pressed powder and blush stops them shattering. One bumpy truck ride is usually all it takes. | Makeup |
| Cling film under toiletry lids | Unscrew the cap, lay a square of cling wrap across the opening, screw the cap back on. Zero leaks, zero shampoo-soaked towels. | Bathrooms |
| Wine glasses get VIP treatment | Bubble wrap each one individually, stems first, and stand them upright in a divided wine box. Gold standard for anything with a stem. | Stemware |
| Carry the irreplaceables yourself | Legal documents, passports, hard drives, jewellery, Nan's ring - they travel in your car, not the truck. Being a secret squirrel is wise. | Valuables |
Packing - Furniture & Appliances
Big, heavy, expensive. Worth spending the extra ten minutes before you disassemble anything. [cite: 83]
| Hack | How it works | Best for |
|---|---|---|
| Pool noodle edge guards | Slice a pool noodle lengthways and slip it over sharp furniture edges and door frames. Saves walls, shins and paintwork. | Furniture protection |
| Tape hardware to the furniture | Screws, bolts and Allen keys go in a labelled zip-lock, taped to the underside of the piece they came from. No more 'which bag were the bed screws in?' | Flat-pack furniture |
| Snap before you unscrew | Video yourself taking apart the flat-pack. Future-you at 11pm on moving night will send thanks and probably a beer. | Flat-pack furniture |
| Photograph cable setups | Before you unplug anything, snap a photo of the back of the TV, modem, desktop. Colour-coded ports in, colour-coded ports out. | Electronics |
| Drain and dry appliances 24 hours ahead | Washing machines, kettles, irons, coffee machines. A dry appliance travels fine a damp one grows science experiments in storage. | Appliances |
| Frozen sponge in the fridge | Pop a frozen sponge in the fridge on moving day to catch defrost water. Far less drama than a puddle in the truck. | Fridges |
| Cling-wrap fridge drawers | Moving your fridge upright and locally? Cling wrap the drawers shut so they don't fly open en route. | Appliances |
Organisation & Labelling
Organisation is the cheapest upgrade you can give your move. A few extra minutes up front saves hours the other end.
| Hack | How it works | Best for |
|---|---|---|
| Label the sides, not the top | When boxes are stacked, the tops disappear. Label two sides and the end so you can always read at least one. | Every move |
| Colour-coded tape by room | Orange for kitchen, blue for bedroom, green for bathroom you pick. Removalists and mates don't need to read, they just match colours to doors. | Large moves |
| Number every box | 'Kitchen 3 of 8'. If something goes walkabout, you know instantly. Even better? Try our Inabox QR Code labels. | Storage & long moves |
| Photograph box contents | Take a quick photo before you seal each box. Saves tearing open five boxes to find the can opener. | Longterm-storage |
| One room at a time | Finish packing one room before you start the next. Feels slower, is actually faster, and stops the 'where's the sticky tape?' spiral. | Every move |
| Wear a tool pouch on moving day | Scissors, marker, sticky tape, box cutter, phone. All on you, all the time. No more walking laps looking for the Stanley knife. | Moving day |
| The survival kit (load last, unload first) | Kettle, tea, coffee, mugs, toilet paper, kids' toys, pet leads, phone chargers, meds, snacks, scissors, a bottle of champas. That's tonight sorted. | Moving day |
Renovating
Renovations always take longer than planned. Getting your stuff out of the way and back in again goes smoother with a plan.
| Hack | How it works | Best for |
|---|---|---|
| Photograph every wall before you start | Power points, light switches, cornice details, tile layouts. Brilliant for the re-install, invaluable for insurance if anything goes sideways. | All renovations |
| Label artwork with its wall | Sticky note the back of each frame with 'Living room, above couch'. When it's time to rehang, the decisions are already made. | Artwork & décor |
| Store it, don't shuffle it | A small Kennards unit for six weeks beats moving the same lounge three times while the floors are being done. And with free trolleys on site, loading in is quick. | Full-home renos |
| Protect floors before the trades arrive | Heavy-duty drop sheets and cardboard over floorboards. Far cheaper than a sand-and-polish after the fact. | All renovations |
| Keep one 'renovation essentials' box at home | Measuring tape, marker, painters' tape, spare keys, notebook, torch. The rest can live in storage this box stays on the kitchen bench. | Live-in renos |
| Photograph the inside of cabinetry before you rip it out | Hinge placement, drawer runners, shelf pin spacing all useful references if you're reusing or matching later. | Kitchens & bathrooms |
Downsizing
Downsizing is emotional as much as logistical. Give yourself time, and remember: storage is a pause button, not a forever decision.
| Hack | How it works | Best for |
|---|---|---|
| The one-year rule | Haven't touched it in a year (and it's not seasonal)? Donate, sell, bin - or put it in storage while you decide. Storage buys thinking time without cluttering the new place. | Any downsize |
| Measure twice, move once | Tape out the dimensions of your new lounge room on the current floor. That three-seater sofa may not fit the new place. | Moving to smaller |
| Digitise the sentimental | Scan kids' artwork, school reports, old photo albums. Keep the best originals, let the rest live in the cloud. | Paperwork & keepsakes |
| Give heirlooms a storage home between generations | The grandkids aren't ready for Nan's china yet? A small unit holds it securely until they are. | Family heirlooms |
| Invite family to claim before you donate | A quick group chat with a photo can save the heartache of 'I would have wanted that'. Give people a week, then it goes. | Family items |
| Keep a 'maybe' unit for six months | Not ready to part with things? Store them for six months. If you don't visit the unit, you don't need what's inside. | Emotional items |
Decluttering
Decluttering isn't about owning less it's about owning what you actually use. These hacks build momentum.
| Hack | How it works | Best for |
|---|---|---|
| The five-box method | Keep, Donate, Sell, Store, Bin. Every item lands in exactly one box. No 'maybe' pile - that's just procrastination in a cardboard box. | Every room |
| Start with the linen cupboard | Fastest win in any house. You'll clear shelf space and build momentum in 30 minutes flat. | Quick wins |
| Take the photo, let the thing go | Trophies, kids' school projects, Nan's teacup. A photo holds the memory. The shelf gets its life back. | Sentimental items |
| The reverse hanger trick | Turn every hanger backwards. When you wear something, hang it the right way. Six months later, anything still backwards can go. | Wardrobes |
| One in, one out | New jumper? An old one leaves. Keeps a decluttered space decluttered. | Ongoing |
| 15-minute daily sprint | Set a timer. Fifteen minutes, one spot a drawer, a bench, a shelf. Stop when it dings. Do it daily and the house changes. | Busy weeks |
Cleaning
A clean move is a quick move. These are the tricks that save you time at both ends.
| Hack | How it works | Best for |
|---|---|---|
| Dishwasher for small fragiles | Run vases, figurines and dusty glass ornaments through a dishwasher cycle before packing. They come out clean, dry and ready to wrap. | Décor |
| Vacuum the fridge coils | Do it before you move the fridge, not after. Five minutes now adds years to the appliance. | Appliances |
| Magic eraser on the walls first | Scuff marks and handprints disappear in minutes. Bond cleaners and landlords charge like wounded bulls for this do it yourself. | Rental move-out |
| Oven cleaner the night before | Spray the oven, shut the door, walk away. Wipe it down the next morning while you wait for the truck. | End-of-lease |
| A portable vacuum lives on the truck | You'll find crumbs, dust, and mystery bits at both ends. A small vac earns its keep on moving day. | Moving day |
Storage Unit Setup
How you pack your storage unit on day one decides how easy the next six months (or six years) will be.
| Hack | How it works | Best for |
|---|---|---|
| Leave a hallway down the middle | Plan a walkway from door to back wall. Future-you will always want something from behind that one box. | Storage units |
| Heaviest at the back, lightest at the front | Rarely used goes deep, frequently used stays shallow. You shouldn't have to shift ten boxes to reach the Christmas tree. | Storage units |
| Clear bins for high-access items | If you need to see what's inside without lifting the lid, use clear plastic bins. Reserve them for items you'll grab often. | Active storage |
| Elevate boxes off the floor | A few pallets or a layer of cardboard under your boxes is cheap insurance against moisture, especially in humid climates. | Longterm-storage |
| Break down what you can | Disassemble bed frames, dining tables, bookshelves. You'll fit 30-40% more in the same unit, meaning paying for less unit. | Storage units |
| Vacuum bags for soft goods | Doonas, winter coats, spare pillows - vacuum bags shrink them to a third, keep them dry, and keep them clean for the long haul. | Longterm-storage |
| Fridges and washing machines, door ajar | Prop the door open with a rolled tea towel. Stops the musty smell that'll haunt you when you reopen them. | Appliance storage |
| Moisture absorbers in bins | A few DampRid or silica sachets in each bin keeps everything fresh, especially for leather, photos and paperwork. | Humid climates |
| Map and diary your unit | Sketch a rough layout on your phone - what's where, what's in each box. Saves a trip when you can't remember if the Christmas lights are in the unit or the garage. | Longterm-storage |
Need a hand with your move?
Visit your local centre or give us a call. Our team can help you choose the right storage unit size, provide trolleys to make moving easier, and recommend the packing supplies you actually need.
Store with people who care.
Frequently Asked Questions
Answers to your questions about packing.
What’s the best way to pack glassware when moving?
Use divided wine boxes — available at the Kennards Box Shop — and stand each glass upright with stems wrapped in bubble wrap first. For everyday drinking glasses, slip each one into a clean sock before boxing. Both methods stop glass-on-glass contact, which is the main cause of breakage in transit.
How do I move a fridge without damaging it?
Drain and dry the fridge at least 24 hours before moving day. Cling-wrap the drawers so they don’t fly open. Pop a frozen sponge inside to catch any residual defrost water. Always move a fridge upright — laying it on its side can damage the compressor. If storing long-term, prop the door slightly ajar with a rolled tea towel to prevent mustiness.
What should go in my first-night box?
Pack one clearly marked ‘open me first’ box per person containing: phone charger, medications, a change of clothes, toothbrush and toiletries, kettle, mugs, tea and coffee, toilet paper, and basic linen. This should be the first box off the truck and the first unpacked, so you can function on night one without digging through 40 boxes.
How do I pack a mattress for storage?
Use a heavy-duty mattress bag or a large garbage bag as a temporary cover to keep dust and moisture off. Store mattresses vertically on their edge against a wall to save space and prevent sagging. Place a sheet or mattress bag between the mattress and the unit floor. Climate-controlled storage is best for long-term mattress storage.
How should I label moving boxes?
Label the sides of every box, not the top — when boxes are stacked, the tops disappear. Include the destination room and a brief content description. For larger moves, use coloured tape to match each room (e.g. orange for kitchen, blue for bedroom) so removalists and helpers can sort by colour. Numbering boxes (‘Kitchen 3 of 8’) makes it instantly clear if something is missing.
How do I keep screws and hardware together when disassembling furniture?
Put all screws, bolts and Allen keys in a labelled zip-lock bag, then tape the bag directly to the underside of the largest piece of the disassembled furniture. For extra insurance, take a short video as you dismantle the piece — your future self at 11pm on moving night will be grateful.
What’s the best way to store clothes in a storage unit?
For hanging clothes, a wardrobe carton (available at the Box Shop) keeps everything on its hangers and crease-free. For folded clothes, vacuum bags shrink doonas, winter coats and jumpers to a third of their size while keeping them dry and moth-free. Elevate all boxes off the floor on pallets or cardboard to protect from moisture.
How long in advance should I start packing for a move?
Start 4–6 weeks before moving day. Begin with non-essentials (off-season clothes, books, decorative items) and work towards daily-use items in the final week. Prior Preparation Prevents Panic — the 4Ps of moving. A gradual approach beats a frantic weekend sprint every time.
Should I store or sell my furniture when downsizing?
If you’re not 100% sure about a piece, storage is a pause button — not a forever decision. Keep the item in a small storage unit for 3–6 months. If you haven’t needed it or thought about it in that time, you can comfortably sell, donate or pass it on. Storage buys you thinking time without cluttering your new home.
What size storage unit do I need?
As a rough guide: a 3m² unit fits a small bedroom’s contents, a 6m² unit fits a one-bedroom apartment, 9m² fits a two-bedroom home, and 12m²+ suits a full family home. For a precise answer, use the Kennards online Space Calculator or ask your local team — they can recommend the right size based on what you’re storing, and you can move into a larger or smaller unit at any time with no penalty.