There’s no doubt that when packing your clothes for moving, you’ll want to make the process as fast and easy as possible. You’ll also want to ensure that your garments arrive in your new home safe and sound and will probably wish to save on packing expenses as well. Fulfilling all these requirements, however, is extremely difficult:
- Using quality packing materials, such as specialized wardrobe boxes, will make your work much faster and simpler (you can just transfer your clothes – together with the hangers – from the closet to the wardrobe box) and will provide the best possible protection to your garments (wardrobe boxes are designed to ensure maximum protection against dust, dirt, and damage and to keep clothes wrinkle-free and in excellent condition throughout the moving process), but the specialty boxes will cost you (they come at up to $20 a piece);
- Using second-hand or substitute packing materials, like old boxes and garbage bags, will help you cut down the packing costs, but will increase the risk of damage to your garments and will require more time and effort on your part.
So, what’s the solution? How can you pack your clothes safely and efficiently, without paying for specialized wardrobe boxes? The answer is simple enough – a DIY wardrobe box for moving.
Here is how to make your own wardrobe box when moving house, so you don’t need to worry about the safety of your garments or the wellbeing of your wallet.
Step 1. Gather the necessary supplies
To build a wardrobe box you’re going to need:
- A tall box made of thick cardboard – make sure it is brand new, impeccably clean, and very sturdy;
- A wood pole, metal rod, or something similar to hang your clothes on;
- Heavy-duty duct tape;
- A rotary tool with various attachments (cutting discs, drilling bits, etc.);
- A box cutter or a sharp knife;
- A permanent marker.
Good to know: The most widely used professional wardrobe box measures 24″x21″x48″, but you should choose a box according to the clothes you intend to pack in it – measure the length of the garments you want to put in your DIY wardrobe box to figure out how tall it needs to be.
Related: What packing supplies do you need for moving
Step 2. Prepare the box
Once you have the necessary materials, you can get down to work. But how to construct a wardrobe box?
- Start by assembling the box and taping the bottom (across the middle where the bottom flaps meet and along the bottom edges) to reinforce the carton and keep it securely closed during transit.
- Then, cut out an opening flap on one side of the box to create a fold-out section that will make it easier to place your hanging clothes in the assembled box and pull them out when unpacking at your new home:
- Use a box cutter or a sharp knife to make the cuts;
- Start from where the top flap meets the rim of the box and slice down along the edges on both sides, cutting to about a third of the way down;
- Fold the top flap inwards and the newly cut section outwards.
- With the fold-out section ready, all that is left to do is make openings in the box for the hanging bar:
- Figure out how far down the holes should be so that you can close the top flaps and seal the box with the hangers inside it;
- Measure the halfway point on the wide side of the box at about 1.5 inches beneath the top rim and mark the hole position with a pen;
- Make an identical mark on the opposite side of the box;
- Tape over the areas around the marked positions with strong, clear tape – this will reinforce the cardboard and will ensure that it won’t rip up when you puncture the carton to make the holes;
- Use a screwdriver, a drill, or another suitable tool to punch the holes. Be careful not to make them too big (this will increase the risk of the box tearing apart under the weight of the hanging clothes) – the openings should be just big enough to fit the hanging bar.
Step 3. Add the wardrobe rail
When the box is ready, it’s time to create a hanging bar for your clothes:
- Decide what you’re going to use as a hanging bar – you can purchase a closet rod online or from a home improvement store or you can use any appropriately sized wood pole or metal bar that you have at home;
- Measure across the width of the box to find out how long the wardrobe rail needs to be. Keep in mind that the bar should be slightly longer than the measured value so it can be easily inserted and secured in the box – there should be enough room to put rod end caps on. Also, decide how much of the pole you want to stick out of the box – it may be a good idea to leave several inches extra to make handles for the packing container;
- Mark the rod and cut it to the desired length (use the cut-off wheel on your rotary tool);
- Put the pole through both holes of the box;
- Secure the hanging bar – if you have rod end caps, put them on; if not, wrap tape around the pole where it enters and exits the cardboard.
That’s it – quite an easy way to make a wardrobe box, indeed. You can now start adding clothes to your DIY wardrobe box. Just be careful not to disrupt the integrity of the box during the packing process and not to overload the carton – add your hanging garments one at a time (make sure you slip the clothes into the box before hanging the hanger) and don’t make the box heavier than 25 pounds.
Related: How to pack hanging clothes for moving
Once the box is full, fold the top flaps and tape the carton shut. Label the box with its contents (“Mark’s clothes”) and write “KEEP DRY”, “THIS SIDE UP”, and any other handling requirements you deem necessary with a permanent marker. (See also: How to label moving boxes)
Now that you know how to make a wardrobe box for moving you can pack your garments quickly and easily – and without wrinkles! You’ll save yourself time and effort folding your clothes, will ensure the excellent condition of your garments, and won’t waste money on specialty packing boxes. And when it’s time to unpack, you will be able to just take your clothes out of the box and hang them directly in your new closet. Nice and simple.
