Best Way to Pack Towels for Moving

How to pack towels for moving

The best way to pack towels for moving is either to vacuum-seal and organize them in cardboard moving boxes, or to use them as protection for fragile or breakable belongings, such as dishes. Follow the steps below to pack towels properly and keep them well-protected during your move.

1. Sort towels before packing: Start by going through all of your towels and discarding anything you don’t plan to keep to reduce moving volume. This could include towels that don’t match the decor in your new home or those that are in poor condition and need replacement. Consider donating towels that are still in good condition.
2. Wash and dry them completely: Next, wash and dry the towels you plan to keep. Make sure they’re completely dry before packing them, as trapped moisture can lead to mold and mildew growth. Consider taking large loads of heavy towels to a laundromat to wash them rather than washing them at home.
3. Fold or roll towels to save space: Folding or rolling towels can save space and prevent towels from getting wrinkled during the move.
4. Seal them in vacuum bags or wrap in plastic or paper: Place the folded or rolled towels inside vacuum-sealed bags and remove the air. This is the best way to pack towels to save space, but you could also just place towels in a tied plastic bag or wrap them in moving paper to protect them from moisture, dirt and pests. If you opt for moving paper, seal each packet of towels with packing tape to keep debris out.
5. Label the bags: Label your bags to stay organized and make unpacking easier. If you have specific towels for different bathrooms in your new home, pack them together and label them accordingly so you can unpack each room when you’re ready.
6. Place towels in small cardboard boxes: Finally, place the vacuum-sealed bags, plastic bags or paper-wrapped towels in small cardboard boxes. Avoid larger boxes, especially if you’re using vacuum bags, as towels can quickly get heavy and make boxes difficult to lift. Test the boxes as you’re packing to make sure they remain light enough to handle.

When organizing towels, it’s a good idea to separate a set of linens for each family member to use when you arrive at your new home. Keep one towel and washcloth per person, plus a bathmat in a standalone box that’s readily available near the back of the truck. When unpacking, you can access these items immediately and unpack everything else as you settle in.

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Packing supplies for towels and linens

When packing towels and other linens, you’ll need the following moving supplies:

• Plastic bags
• Packing paper
• Vacuum-sealed bags (optional but preferred)
• Packing tape
• Markers
• Small or medium-sized cardboard boxes

The first layer of defense against dirt and pests is the moving paper, plastic bag or vacuum-sealed bag you place around your towels. If you use paper, be sure to avoid newspaper, as it can transfer ink to your linens. Plastic is ideal, as it will help keep your towels dry to prevent mold and mildew growth, especially for long-distance moves.

If you vacuum-seal towels, go for small cardboard boxes to keep the individual box weight manageable. Moving boxes with built-in handles are a good idea, even for smaller sizes. If you’re just wrapping towels in protective plastic or paper, small or medium boxes are ideal. Save the large boxes for uncompressed bedding and pillows.

You’ll also need tape to seal moving paper around your towels and to seal boxes of towels to keep out dirt and pests. Quality packing tape is best, as it will keep your boxes secure during the move.

Finally, use permanent markers to keep everything labeled and organized.

Pack towels to save space

The best way to save space when packing towels is to fold or roll them and then pack them in vacuum-sealed bags. These bags let you connect a vacuum to suck the air out, which can be a game changer; removing the air from your linens will compress everything and reduce the space your towels take up by as much as 50%. You can then pack the sealed bags in cardboard boxes for easier moving.

Rolling vs. folding towels

Both rolling and folding towels can help you save space, and either will work if you’re using vacuum-sealed bags. But if you’re packing the towels in moving paper, rolling is usually best because you can compress the towels a bit more with tight rolls.

Fold or roll so that you can place towels in neat rows and columns that take up the entire bottom of your moving boxes. Then place other belongings on top of that layer.

Avoid overpacking heavy boxes

If you use vacuum-sealed bags, either use smaller cardboard boxes to avoid overpacking, or pair a few bags of towel sets with other bathroom items, such as lightweight toiletries or pieces of decor. Pack the heavier towels at the bottom and wrap other belongings in packing paper or bubble wrap, then place them on top before sealing the boxes.

For homeowners who are carrying out their own move and are concerned about box weight, rolling towels and sealing them in moving paper is ideal. You should still place towels at the bottom of the moving boxes and put breakable items on top.

Test the boxes as you’re packing, and aim to keep them under 40 pounds. This will help prevent injury and avoid box breakage during the move, which could otherwise create headaches and even end up ruining your linens.

Use towels to protect fragile items

You can pack towels in their own boxes or couple them with bathroom-specific belongings to stay organized, but alternatively, you can use towels to protect fragile items. Doing so can save space and save some money on packing supplies such as bubble wrap, especially when packing bulky items such as:

• Artwork
• Mirrors
• Framed pictures
• Vases
• Large dishes
• Wine or liquor bottles
• Toiletry bottles (for leak protection)

Simply wrap your belongings in towels rather than bubble wrap and place them neatly in your cardboard boxes. You can also use towels to fill empty space in boxes to prevent items from shifting during the move, so coupling towels with bubble wrap and other moving supplies is also a great strategy.

Just be careful when using towels to protect other belongings, as dirt, ink and other debris can rub off and potentially ruin light-colored linens. If possible, use dark-colored towels for packing purposes, or wrap belongings in one layer of plastic or bubble wrap and then double-up using towels as an additional protective layer.

Using towels in place of bubble wrap is more eco-friendly and can save you money, but professional packing materials are still ideal for especially fragile items, such as heirlooms, fine china or thin glass decor.