10 Packing Tips for a Pest-Free Moving Experience!

10 Packing Tips for a Pest-Free Moving Experience!

Packing for a big move is a polarizing experience; some people love the organization and thought that goes into the process, while others would rather just pay someone to do it all since it feels so overwhelming. But no matter where you fall in these choices, one thing that we can all agree on is the importance of packing everything correctly. Bubble wrap and protective materials are great for ensuring the safety of breakable items, and packing in an orderly manner is the best way to utilize as much space as possible. However, one item that you do not want to take to your new home is a very frustrating and annoying category: pests! Yes, unfortunately, pests sometimes don’t have the courtesy to let you endure the moving process without invading your boxes and furniture. Let’s briefly look at some pests that have a liking for moving materials before diving into ten steps to keeping pests out of your carefully-packed belongings.

Common Pests in Boxes/Moving Supplies

Just like with any part of the house, any pest can technically invade boxes and moving materials if they are in the area. But there are definitely some species that intentionally seek out the common supplies and items involved with moving, which is the last thing you need while handling the stresses of moving homes. 

• Ants: Ants are a very food-driven insect, meaning that they are constantly on the hunt for any food they can bring back to their huge colonies. They will eat most human foods, but they seem to favor sweet things. With regards to packing, ants will be attracted to any kind of crumb or food residue in the boxes. Dirty laundry with food stains, boxed food, and snacks for the road trip are all at risk of attracting ants to the packed pile.
• Roaches: It should not be a surprise that roaches invite themselves to the packing party, in addition to pretty much everywhere else. They will eat anything and everything, but one of their favorites is frustratingly one of the most common moving necessities: cardboard. The cellulose content is irresistible to roaches, so a group of cardboard boxes is their paradise. Roaches are expert invaders, and anyplace that offers them shelter with moisture is their ideal place.
• Bed Bugs: Bed bugs do not only infest mattresses, despite what movies have led us to believe. They invade any place that has reliable access to their only food source (blood from mammals), which includes bedding, furniture, wallpaper, electrical outlets, clothing, luggage, and pillows. Since a lot of these items are packed to move, bed bugs can be hiding within the packing. The good news is that they do not just walk through the door to invade. Bed bugs need to basically hitchhike on something to get inside a home, if they did not come from a neighboring home. 
• Mice: Mice, and rodents in general, really seek out shelter when they are invading a place because they reproduce so quickly. Their babies stay in the nest with them for a couple weeks, then leave to eat all kinds of things and start their own families. They like boxes because the shape provides safe shelter with added padding if there are items in the boxes. There can also be food sources nearby, which would make the mice very unwilling to leave their new home.
• Spiders: Spiders like moving boxes for a couple of reasons. One is if there are small insects also in the area, causing the spiders to craft their webs and catch their meals inside the boxes. The other reason is for the shelter and hidden spaces the boxes provide, especially for spiders that are laying eggs. Boxes stored in the garage or an outdoor space are more vulnerable to spiders in general. Black widows are known to make their webs under the flaps of outdoor boxes and make a safe home for their egg sacs, which is not something you want to take with you to the new home.

Now that we know which pests to keep an extra-close eye out for, there is still the question of how to prevent pests from hitchhiking in your boxes as you pack them full of your belongings. It is actually easier to prevent them than you may think! Pests seek reliable food, water, and shelter, so eliminating that from their search through cleaning and packing is the best way to keep them out.

The Importance of Packing Correctly

Unless you completely enjoy the process of painstakingly packing every item in boxes and containers, the temptation to just throw it all together and call it a day is always there. But as refreshing as that may seem, it is worth it to spend time packing everything as best as you can. The main point of packing is to protect your possessions and make it much easier to move everything into the new home. But packing everything completely correctly does not necessarily mean that it is impervious to pests. While pests are capable of finding all kinds of ways into places we don’t want them, these tips should help you to have a pest-free move that starts your journey in your new home off on the right foot!

Inspect Everything

We mention some more specific items to closely inspect later in this list, but this is a general idea to keep in mind as you pack. Pests invading the boxes and containers you use is one thing, but to have pests on the actual items you pack is a whole different issue. If you haven’t noticed any issues with your possessions in recent months, you likely won’t have anything to worry about. But it doesn’t hurt to look over each item you pack as you place them in the boxes. Anything with fabric on it is susceptible to pests, especially bed bugs and carpet beetles. Also, look at any houseplants and succulents for evidence of pests. Besides live insects, some signs of plant pests include egg casings, cast skins, webbing, dead insects, gnaw marks, and decaying leaves. And, as strange as it sounds, electronics are also susceptible to pests. The heat they throw off and the crevices on the devices are attractive to tiny pests. Some online sources say to freeze electronics for a few days before packing in a plastic bag, but please use caution when doing this! Some devices are not made to be frozen, specifically ones with screens, so do some research before trying this tactic. As long as you don’t see any small insects or chew marks on your items, there is generally nothing to worry about when packing up the house.

Store Everything Well

This is another general principle to remember while packing. Packing strategies are important to have in every room of the home, and some items may require a little extra care in order to prevent hitchhiking pests. Plastic bags, or any kind of bag with a seal, will be essential for packing certain things in any category. Complete as much laundry as you can before moving, and store all clean clothes in a clean bag or suitcase. One useful tip that many people use is to keep all hanging clothes on their hangers and just put a clean garbage bag over them. Group together about 5-10 items, then poke the tops of the hangers through the bottom of the garbage bag and pull down over the clothes. You can tie the bottom closed for extra security, but it isn’t necessary for shorter moves. Another category to utilize plastic bags for is small kitchen appliances. This includes toasters, blenders, choppers, and coffee makers. Even if you shake out the inner parts of each appliance, there will still be some amount of crumbs and food residue left behind. Put appliances in sealed plastic bags before placing in boxes to add another layer of protection. It may not be the most secure covering ever, but it is just another layer in between pests and your appliances.

Pack Food Separately

This tip is less involved, but still important. Unless you finish or throw out every piece of food in your kitchen before moving, you likely have some food that needs to be transported. For anything that needs to be refrigerated or frozen, a cooler is your best bet. Not only will it keep everything cold, it also will keep a tight seal between the food and insects. As for the dry foods, keep it separate from any other possessions you pack. Dispose of anything expired or gone bad, then pack all together in one box or container. It also helps to keep any opened foods, like cereal boxes or chip bags, inside a zip-top plastic bag. This will keep pests out, and is even a great trick to use in the general pantry. And when you get to the new home, try to unpack the food early on if it is not kept in a sealed container. It is not an exciting category to unpack, but it definitely helps in keeping it all in the kitchen and away from the other boxes that pests could potentially journey into. 

Use New Boxes

As nice as it is to have used boxes from friends or family, it may be just the ticket that pests need to invade the new space. There may not be any visible insects inside (or there are, which is even worse), but eggs and cast skins are not always obvious to our eyes. Older cardboard is also more likely to be weathered, which makes it easier for rodents and roaches to gnaw through and establish their families. The best options for packing materials are plastic tubs and containers, plastic bags, and new cardboard boxes. An added plus for the plastic containers is that they are sturdier than cardboard, which makes them less intimidating to carry long distances. No matter which containers you choose, store them in a clean and dry area. Pests can still invade if the boxes are untouched for a while, so keep an eye on them as you pack.

Check Your Vehicle First

Before loading up the car or truck for the journey ahead, doing a quick clean and once-over will help with preventing pests from literally hitching a ride to the new home. You don’t have to deep clean the whole vehicle (unless you want to), but vacuuming the floors and seats is potentially the most important part here. Pests can hide in the flooring or the trunk area, especially if it has not been accessed in a while, so make sure to check crevices and holders for any unlimited guests. Also, removing trash and food containers before packing the car will help to not attract pests. This is a good habit to have, but it is especially true when you are about to load it down with more boxes than you thought possible. 

Inspect Rugs and Fabrics Before Packing

As we said earlier, anything to do with fabric is a main target for pests. Carpet beetles, crickets, clothes moths, silverfish, roaches, rodents, and bed bugs all love fabric, especially anything organic. Keep an eye out for any pests hidden in the softer items you pack, including clothing, bedding, towels, throw pillows, and furniture. Store any smaller fabric-y items in plastic bags and containers when possible, as this is the best way to keep all kinds of pests out. Any dirty laundry that is moved to the new home should be stored separately in an enclosed bag, just in case there is any food residue or crumbs on the clothing. As for rugs, doing a thorough vacuuming before packing should do the trick. Roll it and pack in a bag as best as you can for transportation. If it was kept in a truck or storage unit, vacuum it again once you unroll it in the new place. Professional cleaning is always an option if you want to really make sure no pests are living in the fibers.

Don’t Stack Boxes Near Doors

It’s amazing how a couple of boxes quickly grows into a small mountain with just a few days of dedicated packing. While it’s understandable to want the boxes as “out of the way” as possible, try to keep them away from any doors leading outside. This includes sliding doors, the front door, and the door to the garage. Pests use the areas around doors to travel from their outdoor habitats to the indoors in their search for shelter, but they can then use nearby boxes as the best shelter ever. The worst part is that you may not detect them if this is how they invade, so it’s easiest to avoid this altogether and keep the boxes away from doors. You can use parts of closets, bedrooms, and living areas to hold the boxes until the big moving day. It may be frustrating to work around these boxes, but at least there’s more of a guarantee that nothing is lurking inside the boxes for you to open later. 

Check Books as You Pack Them

This is another category that needs special attention as you pack them. Books may seem like normal objects that can’t be ruined by pests, but they are actually a favorite food of certain insects. The cellulose and fiber in the glue, cover, and paper, especially in older books, are all enticing to some pests. These pests are also commonly seen invading fabrics and wood, since they share similar qualities to books. Silverfish, roaches, booklice, termites, and carpet beetles all love books. The books that have been sitting on the shelves or in other boxes for months are the primary targets due to their idle state. Some of the common signs of book pests include droppings, tiny holes, chew marks, strange dust or shavings, and cast skins from insects. Doing a quick once-over of each book as you put them in the designated boxes will help ensure that the only ones enjoying your books are the people who will actually read them!

Try Shutting the Door in Between Trips

It’s annoying to constantly open the front door or garage door when carrying boxes out, but it is the best defense against many pests. With the few minutes that it takes to carry a box to the car, place it exactly where you want it, and potentially reorganize other items, small insects or arachnids can sneak into the house and hide while searching for food. If you are moving during a warm season, this will not be an exact science and some insects will still make it through. The experience of seeing a fly buzz around the kitchen after going in and out of the front door is frustrating yet common, but this is an easy problem to handle as opposed to a small pest family marching in while you’re wrestling with the boxes in the car.

Wash Dishes Immediately

There are a couple of ways you can go about this. One is to make sure every single dish is clean before packing, then pack them in clean containers that cannot be contaminated by anything else. This makes it easier when unpacking, as you can put the dishes straight in the cabinets and know they are clean. But this is not always possible when moving, as completely clean containers are not unfailingly available. In this case, you can pack the dishes in whatever boxes you have, then wash them all when you get to the new home. On the bright side, this is a good time to test out the new dishwasher! This is a time-consuming method, but it is a good activity to do in between unpacking other boxes. Making sure that your dishes are clean soon after moving in, no matter which method you choose, is a great way to ensure no pests have contaminated your dishes before you eat off of them.

Cleaning and Pest Control are Your Best Friends!

In addition to the tips we just discussed, there are some general principles to keep in mind while you pack and move. Keeping both the old and new homes as clean as possible is a great way to prevent all kinds of pests. For the previous home, it may not be completely possible to keep it spotless while packing due to the abundance of containers and boxes. Try to vacuum the visible flooring and rugs, as well as wipe up any crumbs and spills. Do not store empty boxes in the garage or yard for an extended period of time. As for the new home, clean every surface before unpacking your belongings. This means vacuuming and mopping, wiping down counters and sinks, and making sure all cabinets are free of food residue. As terrible as bringing pests into the new home sounds, it may be worse to move everything into a home that already comes with present pest problems. 

No matter what, pest control services are very helpful in preventing pests from taking over either place. If you are not moving immediately, it can definitely help to have pest control for your old home to prevent any pests from hitching a ride in your moving boxes. And the best way to start off right in the new home is to have pest control services as soon as you can. Just because there are not any pest problems now, unfortunately does not mean they will never happen. Our technicians are experienced in inspecting and treating all kinds of pest issues, no matter how long you have lived in the current home. Contact us to learn more about our eco-friendly services and how we can keep your new home free of pests both during and after the tedious unpacking process.

Citations

How to make sure you don’t move any pests with you. (n.d.). All Around Moving. Retrieved September 2, 2022, from https://www.allaroundmoving.com/how-to-make-sure-you-dont-move-any-pests-with-you/ 

How to protect your belongings from pests while moving. (2018, July 26). Delicate Moving. Retrieved September 6, 2022, from https://delicatemoving.com/blog/protect-belongings-pests-moving/ 

Packing pests? 3 ways to keep bugs out of your moving boxes. (2016, October 14). Island Movers Inc. Retrieved September 2, 2022, from https://www.islandmovers.com/packing-pests-3-ways-to-keep-bugs-out-of-your-moving-boxes/

Tips for keeping your move pest-free. (2018, July 20). Bekins. Retrieved September 2, 2022, from https://www.bekins.com/2018/07/20/tips-for-keeping-your-move-pest-free/

Tips to keep pests out during a move. (n.d.). Affordable Florida Movers. Retrieved September 2, 2022, from https://affordablefloridamovers.com/tips-to-keep-pests-out-during-a-move/