Your move isn’t over once you unload everything into your new home. Then comes your next big job: unpacking. For many, unpacking is the worst part of the move, but it doesn’t have to be. Here are some tips to help make the process as efficient as possible.
Unpacking help?
As you see stacks of boxes scattered around your new home, now is the time to evaluate whether or not you need help. If you need to unpack quickly, you might consider hiring professional helpers. If you have plenty of time but the job is too big to handle on your own, you might consider calling a few friends to assist you.
Find a strategy
After you’ve decided whether to recruit help or do it yourself, come up with an unpacking strategy to make your life as easy as possible. You don’t want to just start opening random boxes – instead, follow a logical path that will amp up your efficiency and make for much less stress and clutter.
First off, inspect all of your boxes against your packing list to make sure everything is accounted for. If you find that a box is missing, contact your movers right away.
Post-inspection, do a walk-through and make sure the boxes have been carried into their assigned rooms. Having all the items in the correct destinations will streamline the process.
Unpack the essentials
Find your essential boxes with the items you cannot live without during the first day and night and unpack those first – items like toiletries, medications, basic clothes, and shoes.
Next, move onto the specific rooms.
1. The bedroom
The bedroom should always be first on your unpacking list, because you won’t be able to get through the next day’s unpacking without a good night’s sleep. For this reason, start with your bed and set up anything that needs to be set up, then make the bed. After that, worry about the clothes you’ll wear for the next few days (the rest can wait until later).
2. The bathroom
The bathroom is one of your most important rooms, so it should receive attention next. Unpack your bathroom essentials like toilet paper, towels, soap, toothbrushes, and toothpaste first, then hang the shower curtain so you’ll have a secure place to wash off the grime from moving.
3. The kitchen
You’ll have to maintain your energy to keep you going throughout the unpacking process, and you’ll need your kitchen essentials for that. Don’t worry about putting your kitchen completely together, just gather what you need for meals during the first few days and set up the rest as time goes on.
The art of unpacking quickly
Not many people want to spend days unpacking boxes, and the best way to organize the task is by making a list prioritizing items to unpack. After you make your list, keep these tips in mind:
- Don’t unpack tomorrow what you can unpack today
- Dispose of packing materials properly and promptly
- Clean as you go so you don’t have a big mess by the end
- Ask friends for help if you’re racing the clock