When Moving, Get Organized and Pack Smart

The most difficult part of any move is organizing and packing your belongings. Last-minute packing can lead to lost and broken items, surcharges from the moving company and chaos at your destination. To make sure you've packed for an efficient, economical move, follow these useful tips.

Pack room-by-room. Take a methodical approach to your packing; start with one room of your home and pack it completely before moving to the next room.

If you have a little-used room or area in your home, pack it up first,

stack your boxes in it, and move boxes from each room, as you pack it, into this area. You'll have more room where you need it as you pack up and progress toward your moving day.

Record your items. Carefully list the entire contents of every box as you fill it. Don't rely on your memory to know what's in the box after it's sealed.

Keep a lined pad of paper and mark down every item as it goes into

the box. When you are done, tape the notepaper to the box with clear sealing tape.

Use a digital camera to take pictures of your most important items,

such as lamps, collectibles, or other fragile items, before packing them. These photos will come in handy if you need to settle an insurance claim for broken items after the move.

Identify your boxes. Each box should be marked for its final destination-that is, for the room it will be moved to. Color-code the boxes with adhesive dots; blue for the kitchen, red for the living room, etc. Don't forget to sticker every side of the box, since you won't know which side will be facing you.

Number each box as you go. Make a separate list of each box number

next to its destination room along with a general description of its contents.

Only pack clean keepers. Don't put anything into a shipping box that is not clean or that you may not keep after you arrive at your new home. Following this tip requires a fair amount of advance planning, but you'll be rewarded in the time and money you'll be saving.

Clean as you go by keeping a "clean-up" basket with you as you pack.

Fill the basket with sponges, cloths, and a spray bottle of all-purpose cleaner such as Mr. CleanŽ Multi-Surfaces Spray Cleaner. Cleaning pads such as a wetted Mr. CleanŽ Magic EraserŽ are great for cleaning toys, bathroom objects and kitchen appliances before they go into the packing box.

When packing clothing, consider sending out-of-season coats and

garments to be dry-cleaned. That way, they'll be packaged and ready to wear upon arrival at your new home.

Be creative about packing materials. You can reduce the amount you'll need to spend on packing materials like bubble wrap or packing peanuts by using household items as padding.

Instead of packing and paying to move a box of bath towels, use the

rolled or folded towels as padding for other objects.

Plastic grocery bags, which you may be collecting to return to the store

for recycling, make great box filler to protect variously shaped items.

Regular newspaper, crumpled up, may be the best (free) packing

material of all.