Toys are a crucial part of our children’s lives and development, so it is important to take care of them at all times — and especially when you’re moving home. Save yourself the stress of turning up to your home with damaged or broken toys in just six simple steps.
To pack toys for the moving house,
- Organise toys into keep, sell, donate and bin piles.
- Clean toys, making sure to remove batteries.
- Prepare a toy care package.
- Separate into hard and soft toys.
- Wrap delicate toys in protective materials.
- Pack toys in protected box.
1. Organise Toys into Keep, Sell, Donate and Bin Piles
Moving house is the perfect time for a clear out. Organise your toys into keep, sell, donate and bin piles. Get rid of the latter as soon as you can.
Deciding which toys you want to get rid of will help to determine how much you actually need in your new home, streamlining the process and keeping your future space free from clutter. Although this process will look different for each of us, Nathan from Falconer Removals says that its a good rule of thumb to get rid of an item if you haven’t used it for two years – and if it has no sentimental value.
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2. Clean Toys
Wash, disinfect and dry any dirty toys, making sure to remove all batteries when you do so. Soft toys are often machine washable and you can put most plastic toys in the dishwasher, but electronic toys are only safe for a surface-level clean and sanitize.
You should also drain water from squirt guns and other water toys.
As with anything like this, make sure to check the label or manufacturers guide for cleaning instructions if you are not sure how to approach a particular item.
3. Prepare a Toy Care Package
This is also a great point to prepare a toy care package. Set aside your kids “must-have toys” that will stay out of the box and keep them company as you move. You can keep these in a separate backpack or small suitcase, or just keep them with your essential bags and boxes. Make sure to work with your child on their care package; they’ll know what toys mean the most to them.
4. Separate into Hard and Soft Toys
Next, separate the toys you want to pack into hard and soft toys — these can be further grouped by type if you wish, e.g. Lego, figurines, Barbies and soft teddies would go in separate piles.
In fact, we would reccomend that small but durable toys, like Lego and cars, are grouped into Ziploc bags to keep them separate and safe. Loose items, like beads and Barbie shoes, should also be packed into small containers.
You really don’t want hundreds of Lego pieces rattling around in different boxes — make sure to keep these in separate bags, separated by set if needs be.
5. Wrap Delicate Toys in Protective Materials
For toys that require additional care, like small figurines or collectors items, take some time to wrap them in protective materials. One layer of packing paper and bubble wrap should do the job, but you can add more depending on the condition and value of the item.
Ensure that arts and craft supplies or other messy toys, like Slime and Orbeez, are sealed at this step.
6. Pack Toys in Protected Box
Next, place your toys into a triple-walled cardboard box. For additional protection, you can pad the bottom and sides with packing paper or towels before your toys go in.
To keep your toys protected, you should place larger toys in first, followed by the smaller items. Delicate items, like your Ziploc bags of Lego, small figurines and doll house furniture, should be packed in a separate box — or right on top if it is safe.
Add packing peanuts or soft fabric materials once your toys are packed. There should be enough room in the box that the toys aren’t squashed, but not enough that the toys can move around during transit and get damaged.
And you’re all packed! Your toys should remain in excellent condition, ready to be unpacked and enjoyed in your new home.
