How to Pack Your Garage

Most people put off packing their garage until the last minute. After all, who wants to deal with the large, difficult-to-pack items, like rakes and golf clubs, lurking in its corners? Or, the potentially dangerous ones, like pruning shears? Not to mention, the garage usually contains hazardous materials like paint thinner, pesticides and pool chemicals that have to be disposed of properly.

However, tackling the garage early in the process can make the rest of your move just a little easier. Here’s why you should start with the garage and some tips for packing it efficiently.

Start with the garage first

Before you begin boxing items in the guest room or making a Goodwill pile in the middle of the living room, head to the garage. Since it’s probably one of the largest and least organized areas in your home, the garage will likely take more time and energy to pack. If you wait until the last few days before your move to start packing it, you’ll be exhausted and less prepared to face its challenges.

More importantly, by starting with the garage, you can create a staging area for packing the rest of the house. No more moving packing materials from room to room. With an already packed garage, you can set up a folding table with supplies at hand and have the space to make piles of items to throw out, donate or sell. Having a staging area in the garage keeps the mess of moving out of your house.

Gather your packing supplies

You’ll need the same basic packing supplies for the garage as you would any other part of the house. Because many of the items stored in the garage are heavy and oddly-shaped, you may want to order a few specialty boxes as well as sturdy cardboard boxes or plastic moving boxes for the job.

Additionally, you’ll need plenty of material to wrap sharp or breakable items. Old towels and blankets are ideal since items stored in the garage can be dirty, greasy or contain chemicals. If you don’t have enough, you can usually find cheap towels and blankets at Goodwill. Don’t skimp on packing tape either. You’ll want to double and triple seal heavy boxes. You’ll need:

  • Heavy-duty cardboard boxes in various sizes
  • Plastic moving boxes
  • Specialty boxes for odd-shaped items
  • Packing paper
  • Bubble wrap
  • Moving blankets and old towels
  • Plastic bags for small, loose items like nails
  • Twine for bundling garden equipment together
  • Markers to label boxes
  • Packing tape (more than you think you’ll need)
  • Garbage bags

Declutter, trash and donate

Start by designating two areas in your garage: one for items you want to donate and another for any items you want to sell. Then, grab a trash bag, and begin tackling your garage one section at a time. As you go, throw broken items and junk in your trash bag, and put items to donate or sell in their appropriate piles.

Take the time to open any box you come across instead of assuming its ready to go. You may no longer need or want the items inside, or the items may no longer be usable. For example, rubber and plastic pieces can become brittle and cracked over the years. Anything you can get rid of now is one less thing you have to pack and unpack later.

As your piles of items to donate and sell grow, deal with them so they don’t become overwhelming. You can donate items to Goodwill or even set them on the curb with a sign reading “FREE.” The items you want to sell can be listed on Craigslist or Facebook Marketplace. Or, you can set the items aside for a pre-move garage sale.

If you plan to hold a garage sale, get a head start by wiping each item in the sell pile clean and putting a price tag on it. Then, designate an area for your garage sale items. If you plan to put these items in boxes until the sale, clearly mark that the boxes are for the sale and keep them separate from the packed boxes you plan to move.

Set aside hazardous materials

As you declutter, you will almost certainly come across items that aren’t allowed on moving trucks. Take a few minutes to familiarize yourself with the items your moving company doesn’t allow before you start sorting and packing. When you find an unallowed item, set it aside to dispose of later or, if you are driving to your new home, to transport it by car. Typically, professional companies will not move:

  • Paint and paint thinners
  • Aerosol cans
  • Pesticides and herbicides
  • Cleaning solvents
  • Propane tanks
  • Car batteries
  • Gasoline
  • Pool chemicals
  • Kerosene
  • Charcoal

Organize and pack

After you finish decluttering, begin gathering similar items together. Wrap anything with sharp edges, such as shears or spades, in old towels or bubble wrap to prevent injuries. Place these items and other hand tools in a heavy cardboard or plastic box or plastic. If you’re using cardboard boxes, securely tape the bottoms several times and avoid overloading.

Ideally, you want to pack your power tools in their original packaging or carrying containers. Otherwise, a heavy cardboard or plastic box will do. Before packing power tools, remove all detachable parts, including the battery pack, and wrap the cord around their bodies. Use bubble wrap or old towels to avoid damage, and fill in empty spaces in the box with wadded packing paper for extra protection.

Continue with the odd-shaped items in your garage. Long-handled gardening and lawn equipment, such as rakes, brooms and shovels, can be rolled in a moving blanket and the bundle secured with twine. Sports equipment may require specialty boxes, but many odd-shaped items, like bicycles, can actually be loaded as is on the truck. Even the lawnmower can be loaded without problem once its gas and oil are drained and the spark plug removed.

Once each box is packed, seal it, and label it “GARAGE.”

Keep the essentials at hand

As you pack the garage, set aside tools you’ll need for packing other areas of your home and unpacking at your new house. A small toolkit will cover many of the essential items, but if you don’t have one, you’ll want to create your own, using the list below as a guide. The list also includes other essentials you’ll want handy.

  • Drill
  • Hammer
  • Screwdrivers
  • Pliers
  • Wrench
  • Tape measure
  • Utility knife for opening boxes
  • Touch up paint and paint brush
  • Trash bags

On moving day, pack these items in a box, and label it “GARAGE ESSENTIALS.” You will probably want to bring this box with you in your car. But, if you can’t take it, your box of garage essentials should be one of the last on the moving truck.

Don’t have the time or energy to pack your garage yourself? You may be able to hire your moving company to do it for you. A good moving company that offers garage packing services has plenty of experience packing large and odd-shaped items as well as properly disposing of hazardous materials. The movers also have all the packing supplies you need, including heavy boxes, moving blankets, bubble wrap and tape. By using a moving company to pack your garage (and the rest of your house), you can take much of the stress and hard work out of your move.