What not to pack when moving
Moving is always an intimidating process. People have to pack everything they own into cardboard boxes and load them into the back of a large truck. It’s a colossal task
One thing to keep in mind is you shouldn’t put everything in that truck. There are some items that are too valuable or volatile to pack next to your socks and Lonesome Dove DVD. In general, you should avoid items that are:
Valuable
Not just in terms of cash value, but of personal value to you. Irreplaceable items like photo albums, small heirlooms and your wedding video should be set aside and put in your personal vehicle for the move. Also things like cash, jewelry, legal documents and stocks and bonds are too valuable to place in the moving truck, which could be targeted by thieves.
Dangerous
Don’t load a moving truck with combustible materials like gasoline, matches, ammunition, paint thinners and aerosol cans because of the potential fire hazard. Also, be careful to exclude pressured containers like propane tanks, fire extinguishers and oxygen tanks. Hazardous chemicals like bleach, ammonia or car batteries should also be left behind. Contact your public works department for advice on how to safely dispose of them before you leave.
Perishable
Some foods like canned green beans can certainly make the journey, but when you’re cleaning out your cupboard don’t try to chance it with items like frozen food in a cooler. You may get delayed or arrive too tired to unload and end up attracting insects or rodents. The same goes for produce, dairy products and anything in a breakable glass jar.
Moving is a big process and unfortunately, some materials simply won’t survive a long journey. Fortunately, most of those items are inexpensive and easily replaced and the risk of harming the rest of your stuff they present makes the decision to leave them behind an easy one.
