Things You Shouldn’t Pack When Moving And Why

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Things you shouldn't pack when moving and why

Not everything you own should be packed away for your removalist to pick up and move to your new property.

Some things are illegal to move, while others are simply dangerous, uneconomical or silly to transport.

Here are some of the top things that you shouldn’t pack when you are preparing for a move – and why.

1. Irreplaceable valuables, heirlooms or important documents

At Fragile Removals, we do our very best to keep your items safe and secure throughout the moving process. However, it is often best to keep your most prized, valuable and important possessions with you during a move, to minimise the risk of them being misplaced or damaged. This can include your jewellery, family heirlooms and any other important documents or items.

2. Hazardous chemicals

Most households have many hazardous chemicals lurking in the cupboards which can be very dangerous to transport and many removalists will therefore refuse to take these on-board. These can include common household cleaning chemicals like bleach, outdoor chemicals like weed killers, pesticides and pool chemicals, beauty products like nail polish remover and aerosols and garage items like motor oil and paint thinner. Other household items like fire extinguishers and batteries can also be dangerous to transport, while it can be illegal for moving companies to transport firearms and ammunition. If there are any similar items that you are unsure if you can pack or not, be sure to check with your removalist first.

3. Food and other perishable goods

Moving trucks aren’t refrigerated and can get very hot under the harsh Australian sun. Therefore, it is not a good idea to have your removalists transport perishable food and other items. Even for shorter local moves, fresh or frozen items can quickly go off. Even many common pantry items are supposed to be stored under a certain temperature, which cannot be guaranteed in a moving truck. Be smart with your purchases of perishable items in the days and weeks leading up to your move and consider giving away any excess items which you can’t take with you to friends, neighbours or a local food bank.

4. Plants

To stay healthy, most plants need plenty of sunlight and water. They won’t get either of these during a move. Particularly when it comes to interstate moves, plants could be stuck in a truck without sunlight or water for days and they could wilt or completely die during that time. Consider giving any potted plants to family or friends if you are not going to safely transport them yourself.

5. Unnecessary or unwanted items

The less items you pack to move to your new property, the easier – and cheaper – your move is going to be. Be sure to donate or discard any items you no longer need or want, rather than packing them away for your removalists to collect. Moving house provides a good chance to declutter and get rid of any items which you haven’t seen or used in years.