It goes without saying that you’re going to use boxes for your move – affordable, convenient, and efficient, cardboard boxes are the perfect packing containers.
Yet, they may not be right for all your packing needs – some of your awkwardly shaped items may not fit in a standard box, bulky items like pillows and comforters may take up too much space in a box, etc. Besides, you’re going to need a lot of boxes for your move, so unless you can get them for free, you may want to use alternative packing containers to save some money on packing materials.
In another instance, you may run out of boxes before you have finished packing and may not have the time to go to the store for more. Or it may turn out on the morning of moving day that there are a few more items to pack and you don’t have any extra boxes left.
In such cases, you may wonder if you can pack without boxes – and one of the first things to come to your mind is likely to be to use bags instead of boxes. You undoubtedly have a lot of bags in your home – travel bags, tote bags, trash bags, etc. – and they can all be used for packing and moving.
Trash bags, in particular, seem like a very good option – they can hold a lot of stuff and can be easily squeezed anywhere in the moving truck (or in your car). Besides, they’re very cheap and very easy to use.
The only concern is whether your hired movers will agree to take items packed in trash bags.
Will movers move garbage bags? It depends on the company’s policy, the type of your move, and the type of items you intend to pack in trash bags.
Here is everything you need to know when considering using garbage bags for packing and moving:
Why would you want to use garbage bags for your move?
Packing in garbage bags is a popular moving hack – and for a good reason:
- Plastic bags provide excellent protection from dust, dirt, and moisture;
- Garbage bags are very flexible and can fit all sizes and shapes – so you can easily pack your oddly-shaped items – and your bulky items – in them;
- Trash bags are super cheap – so using them as packing containers will help you save money on your move;
- Packing in trash bags is very easy – all you need to do is put your things in a bag and tie it up. Using garbage bags will definitely save you a lot of time and effort when packing for your move;
- Garbage bags can be stuffed into tight spaces, allowing you to maximize the available space in your car or in the back of the moving truck. It is an especially good idea to squish trash bags packed with soft items between furniture pieces – that way, they will not only take very little space in the truck, but will also provide additional protection to your furniture.
Heavy-duty garbage bags offer a flexible layer of protection for a minimum cost, make packing faster and easier, and help you save space in the moving vehicle. They provide a convenient and cost-effective way to pack your items for moving – so, it makes a lot of sense to use them for your relocation.
Your chosen movers, however, may not agree to move things packed in trash bags.
Must-read: How to use garbage bags for packing and moving
Why wouldn’t movers want to move things in trash bags?
Many moving companies will not move items packed in garbage bags, as the plastic sacks do not offer sufficient protection against damage, increase the risk of mishaps during a move, and are difficult to get from place to place:
- Trash bags do not provide any protection from shocks and impacts;
- Plastic bags tear easily, so the items packed in them are at a greater risk of damage;
- Plastic melts in heat and becomes brittle in cold – and moving trucks get very hot in the summer and very cold in the winter. If garbage bags stay in such extreme temperatures over long periods of time (such as in the event of a cross-country move), they may melt and cause damage to the items packed in them (in hot weather) or fall apart and cause their contents to spill (in cold weather);
- Garbage bags are slippery, so they’re very difficult to carry around, to be stacked on top of one another, and to be secured in the moving truck;
- Trash bags can increase the risk of shifting and damages in the moving truck. If most of the customer’s items are packed in garbage bags instead of boxes, it’s inevitable that some furniture pieces and other big household items will end up next to a bunch of trash bags in the truck. Since trash bags lack sturdy construction, the items next to them will have more room to shift during the transit – and get damaged or cause damage to other items in the load.
What’s more, in their effort to save packing space and increase packing efficiency, people tend to overpack garbage bags (as garbage bags can hold a lot of stuff and people want to make the most use of them). When overstuffed, however, plastic bags become too heavy to lift and move safely – and the risk of them tearing or breaking apart increases significantly.
Good to know: Moving companies do not accept liability for items packed in bags – or even in suitcases.
Why do movers want everything in boxes?
By a rule of thumb, moving companies require that their customers’ items are packed in labeled boxes.
Having everything packed in boxes makes the moving process safer and easier:
- Moving boxes are strong and sturdy, so they provide reliable protection to the items packed in them;
- Due to their uniform size and non-slip material (cardboard), moving boxes are easy to stack – so, they can be stacked on a dolly (which makes it very easy to take them to and from the moving truck) and they can be stacked in the moving vehicle (which helps maximize the available space and ensures a tight load, thus reducing the risk of shifting and damages during transit).
So, does everything have to be in boxes for movers? Generally, yes, though there can be some exceptions.
Will movers move trash bags?
While movers prefer everything to be neatly packed in boxes, sometimes they may agree to move items packed in garbage bags. It depends on several factors:
1) The type of the move
- In the event of a long distance move, movers will not move items packed in trash bags. The load will travel hundreds (or even thousands) of miles, may be exposed to severe weather conditions for a long time, and may be transferred to other trucks or put in temporary storage along the route – the risk that plastic bags may break is very high in such circumstances, so movers won’t agree to take items in trash bags when moving long distance;
- In the event of a local move, movers may move items packed in garbage bags – the shipment won’t travel far and won’t be on the road for a long time, so the risk of the bags breaking is much smaller. Therefore, the movers may agree to move items in trash bags, as long as the bags are heavy-duty and not overstuffed.
2) The items packed in the trash bags
Movers may agree to move garbage bags packed with soft, lightweight items that cannot break or cause damage to other items during the relocation (sheets, pillows, blankets, comforters, curtains, tablecloths, towels, inexpensive clothes, stuffed toys, etc.).
Moving companies will never move trash bags that contain breakable items, valuable items, or sharp objects.
3) The packer
When the customers are doing their own packing, the movers will usually take items packed in garbage bags (provided that it’s a short distance move, the items in the bags are non-breakable, and the bags are not overstuffed), but they won’t be liable for any damage.
When the moving company is doing the packing, they will use their own professional packing supplies – and will definitely not allow garbage bags.
In a word – some companies will move garbage bags under certain circumstances, but others won’t accept bags at all. You need to check your chosen company’s policy in advance, so you know whether you can pack some of your items in trash bags or not.
Keep in mind though, that even if you’re not required to pack everything in boxes, you will be strongly advised to do so – so your items are safer and your move is easier.
