Eco-Friendly Moving? Yes, Please.

By Julie DeLong, A-1 Freeman Moving Group 

1. Periodic Purging

For many, we learn the most horrifying thing about ourselves during the move--that we're secret hoarders. Most of us retain literal junk in the house, and be realistic, no one really is sure of exactly why. Home organization specialists recommend periodically purging your residence--after the holidays, recycle or donate the decorations as well as gift wrapping supplies that never left the cartons. Likewise, following your child's sports activity season, give outgrown equipment to anyone with younger children who might utilize the items in an approaching season. After a few rounds of this it will become second nature and you'll have much less to move when it's time.

2. Use Whatever You Have, or Might Get Free

Of course, you can shell out a lot of money in wrapping and packing materials. As an alternative, why not use what you have presently got? Listed below are tips for recycling what's lying around your house.

· Newspapers may be used for wrapping. Begin saving papers and have your friends and neighbors to do the same. Should there be ink deposits whenever you unpack, merely rinse the item, which you would do anyway, subsequently recycle the newspaper.

· Ratty t-shirts, old bath towels, and bed linens make wonderful padding for many things--small kitchen appliances, shoes, toys, and non-fragile doodads. They can be used whole or split them into strips for small things.

· Go without buying moving boxes and head for the liquor store--for their empty cartons. Depending on the state you're in, they're either free or cost merely pennies each. These boxes come in a lot of dimensions and are typically reinforced (full bottles are heavy) and are perfect for oddly-shaped and weighty belongings. Most may be recycled when you're concluded.

· Check around your home with an attention for packing and you'll find plenty of packable things--not only tote bags and coolers. Such as, wrap your flatware in a strip of old t-shirt and place it in your roasting pan. Pop on the top and you have packed the utensils without having to use newsprint, a box, or tape.

3. Go Natural

Instead of get plastic wrap for things like beds and furniture, utilize natural material. Old flannel sheets can protect furniture as well as plastic (assuming it is not precipitating on moving day), and you could buy yards and yards of plain muslin for around a dollar a yard at most big box or fabric stores--and a yard is at minimum 5 feet wide. Put beds in the muslin and tape the ends together. A material drop cloth works as well as muslin for household furniture. You can also rent padded blankets from a local moving company in Houston for valuable home furnishings.

4. Rent Your Moving Cartons

Indeed, you can rent moving cartons. These are durable, reusable, plastic material totes that will come right to your house, and you send them back after you're unpacked. Consult your moving company in Houston to find out if they rent boxes.

5. Sell or Give Away Last Minute Leftovers

Even with thorough purging, there will be stuff that you just don't wish to move. Sell or donate those items. A lot of non-profits can pick up anything you're contributing, and you will find tons of websites for online selling--from traditional eBay to neighborhood-specific sites.

In addition to the tips above, hiring an eco conscience moving company in Houston is important. So, you shouldn't be bashful regarding asking professional movers what they're doing to lessen their carbon footprint.