Packing for a house move may not be easy, but some things are definitely easier to pack than others. Packing clothes, for example, is a pretty straightforward task – clothes aren’t heavy or fragile, so all you need to do is put them in boxes, suitcases, or bags and they’re ready to go.
Yet, when preparing your garments for moving, you’re certain to come across some items that are awkward to pack – such as tuxedos, suits, and other formal wear. Neckties – simple as they may seem to be – fall in that category.
Ties are quite long (so they tangle easily) and are often made of delicate materials like silk and cashmere (which makes them susceptible to damage). So, if they are not properly packed, neckties may crease, get twisted, or even become permanently misshapen during a house move.
To prevent this from happening and ensure that your neckwear arrives at your new home in excellent condition, you need to know how to pack neckties for moving the right way.
Here are some expert tips on packing ties for moving to help you keep your neckties from getting tangled, wrinkled, or damaged during your next relocation.
Purge your tie collection
First things first – before you start wondering how to pack ties for moving, you need to take a closer look at your tie collection and decide which items to take along.
You probably have a selection of standard everyday neckties and some expensive designer items; favorite ties that you wear more often than others and some that you only wear on special occasions; brand new neckties and some old ones you seem to have had forever; etc. – moving house is the perfect time to sort out your ties and get rid of those you don’t use(throw away stained, worn-out, and damaged neckties and give away to family and friends the ones that are still in excellent condition but you don’t need or don’t like).
Related: How to get rid of unwanted items when moving
Once you know which of your ties you’ll be taking to your new home, it’s time to choose an appropriate packing method.
Consider your necktie packing options
There are different ways to pack neckties for moving:
- You can pack your ties in a tie case;
- You can roll your ties and place them in ziploc bags;
- You can fold your ties and place them between two folded clothing items;
- You can leave your ties on their tie rack and hang the rack on the bar in a wardrobe box;
- You can pack a tie with a suit if you’re packing the suit in a suit bag; etc.
To be able to choose the best option for you, you need to know how each necktie packing method works and what its benefits and drawbacks are.
Packing ties in a tie case
Arguably, the best way to pack neckties is to put them in a tie case.
Tie cases are specially designed to hold and protect neckties – they have straps that allow you to easily secure your ties inside, soft interior that provides padding to the neckties, and sturdy construction that creates a protective shell around the neckwear. They also allow for optimal organization – it is possible to fit up to 6 ties in a single case (grouped in a way that makes sense to you) and many cases include a small pocket for tie clips and cufflinks as well.
In a word, tie cases provide the easiest, safest, and most organized way to pack and move ties.
Once you’ve packed your ties in the case and zipped it close, you can simply put the case on top of some clothes in a moving box or in a suitcase – and you can rest assured that your neckwear will get to your new home in the best shape possible.
So, if you don’t have too many ties for moving, or if you’re moving very delicate and/or very expensive ties, you’re strongly recommended to invest in tie cases – they will provide maximum protection to your neckties and will make the packing job easier. Besides, you will be able to use the cases to protect your ties when traveling, so the investment will be definitely worth it.
Rolling your ties
If you don’t want to waste money on tie cases (after all, moving is quite expensive, so you may not be willing to spend any more than absolutely necessary), you can simply roll your neckties and tuck them in a spot where they’re not going to get crushed.
Rolling will prevent ties from wrinkling and tangling during the move, so it’s quite a good option.
Here is how to roll a tie:
- Fold the tie in half, lengthwise (make sure the front of the tie is facing inward);
- Lay the folded tie on a flat surface like a table or a bed (make sure the thinner end of the tie is on top);
- Starting at the fold, begin rolling the tie. Continue down the length of the tie until it’s completely rolled up;
- Place the rolled tie in a sealable plastic bag – this way, the tie will stay rolled up and will be protected from dust, dirt, and moisture during the move. If you’re rolling up several ties, you can put them all in a larger Ziploc bag. When ready, be sure to tuck the plastic bag with your rolled tie(s) into a snug fitting spot inside a sturdy moving box or suitcase – so that the bag stays secure during transit.
Alternatively, you can put your rolled ties in a small box, placed snugly next to one another so they don’t unroll – line the box with packing paper, place the rolled ties inside, cover the ties with several sheets of packing paper, seal the box, and label it with its contents and destination room.
Related: How to pack clothes so they don’t wrinkle during your house move
Folding your ties
Instead of rolling your ties, you can simply fold them flat. It’s easier and will work well enough as long as you manage to keep the ties flat and immobile during the move.
So, how to fold a tie? You can simply fold it in half, end-to-end, and place it between two folded pieces of clothing (this will help keep it flat and prevent it from wrinkling). It would be, however, better to go a step further – so you can secure the ties better:
- Fold the tie over (with the front of the tie facing outward) and slide the narrow end through the loop on the back of the tie (most ties come with a loop on the backside of the front of the necktie);
- Pull through and line up the top and bottom tips of the tie. The tie will be folded in half. Pull on both ends of the folded tie so that it’s taut;
- Take the narrow end of the folded tie and run it through the loop again. Make sure that both ends line up. The tie will now be folded twice.
You can place the folded tie between two folded clothing items in a moving box or in a suitcase. If you’re moving a lot of neckties, however, it will be better to pack them in a separate moving box:
- Choose a flat, sturdy moving box of appropriate size (several inches longer than the length of the folded neckties and wide enough that there is enough space to arrange all your ties in it lying flat next to one another);
- Line the bottom of the box with several sheets of packing paper;
- Lay the folded ties flat in the box;
- Cover the ties with a layer of packing paper (use as much paper as needed to fill all the space in the box, so that the ties don’t shift around during transit);
- Seal the box with packing tape and label it with a permanent marker.
Packing your ties with the tie rack
If you keep your ties stored on a rack, you can pack the rack with your ties still on it – provided that you have a wardrobe box. (In case you don’t have one but still want to pack the ties and rack together, you can create a custom box to fit them but that will take a lot of time and effort – and your self-made box may not provide sufficient protection to the ties).
If you’re packing your clothes in a wardrobe box, you can pack the tie rack with them – just hang the rack on the metal rod in the wardrobe box (be sure to remove the batteries from the rack if it’s automatic, so it doesn’t try to spin while in transit). Fill up the wardrobe box with clothes, tape it shut, and label it properly – your ties will stay safe, clean, and wrinkle-free during the move.
Related: How to pack hanging clothes for moving
Packing ties with a suit
If you’re moving your suits in specialized garment bags, you can pack a couple of ties with each suit:
- Put your suit on a triangle hanger (a felt hanger is your best choice as the felt material will help keep the tie(s) in place);
- Fold a tie over the bottom bar of the hanger;
- Thread the narrow end of the tie through the loop on the back of the tie. This will prevent the tie from slipping off the hanger during the move;
- Put another tie on the hanger in the same way. You can safely pack up to three ties with a single suit;
- Pack your suit in the garment bag – your tie(s) will be safely packed inside the specialized bag.
Which necktie packing option will work best for you will depend on the specific circumstances in your case – how many ties you have for moving, how delicate your neckties are, how you store your neckwear, whether you’ve purchased wardrobe boxes or garment bags for your move, etc.
Consider the pros and cons of each method, decide on the best way to pack ties for moving, gather the necessary packing supplies, and get down to work.
Once you arrive at your new home and find your neckties crisp, clean, and wrinkle-free, you’ll be glad you took the extra time to pack them correctly for moving.
