4 Tips for an Eco-Friendly Move

July 1, 2018

Lemon, baking soda, spray bottle, and cleaning cloths on a bright yellow-green background

If you enjoy living an environmentally friendly lifestyle and will soon be making a move, you may wonder how you can make your move as eco-friendly as possible. Thankfully, little-known tips are available to reduce the impact that making a move can have on the environment.

Read on to learn five tips for making an eco-friendly move.

1. Donate Unwanted Home Items to Reduce Truck Load Weight

The less you transport in your moving truck, the less gasoline it will use when transporting your items to your new location. The less fuel the truck burns while running, the less pollution it will emit. Consider donating or selling any home items you don't currently use before packing your moving truck.

Aside from reducing the environmental impact of your move, this step can also help save you money, because many moving companies charge by the weight of the truckload. Getting rid of unneeded items can also help reduce packing and unpacking time.

2. Dispose of All Hazardous Waste Properly

No matter how rushed you feel during the moving process, be sure you are aware of household items that are considered hazardous waste and cannot simply be placed in your trash bin or dumpster. You may come across these items when cleaning out your garage or in other areas around your home before the move.

These items include most paints, fluorescent lamps, batteries, motor oil, any aerosol can that isn't empty, and most electronic items.

These items contain toxic chemicals that can contaminate natural bodies of water and pollute the air if they are disposed of in landfills. You must transport these items to your local hazardous waste collection facility where the staff will dispose of them properly to limit the impact they have on the environment.

3. Choose Eco-Friendly Packing Materials

No matter what type of box or bin you pack your home items in before you move, many items will need packing materials to keep them safe from damage while being transported to your new home. This includes glassware, electronics, and other fragile home items.

If you have the original boxes and packing materials your electronics came in, place them in these boxes. Not only is reusing the boxes an environmentally friendly solution, but the boxes were also designed to keep the electronics in great condition during the shipping process.

When packing other fragile items, consider using your home towels, sheets, and blankets to protect as many of these items as you can. Then, choose environmentally friendly packing materials to protect the rest.

While traditional polystyrene packing peanuts are not environmentally friendly because they cannot be recycled and contain the hazardous chemical styrene, bio-degradable packing peanuts are a great option. They are made from cornstarch and are biodegradable and non-toxic. When finished using them, you can simply saturate them with water and wash them down the kitchen sink or throw them in your composting bin.

Of course, crumpled up old newspapers also make great packing material. However, realize that ink rubs off easily, so be sure not to place them in any boxes that contain items that can easily be stained by this ink.

4. Clean Your Home With Green Cleaning Products

You likely plan to give the home you are leaving an intensive cleaning before leaving it to the new owners or renters. Choosing the right cleaning products can help limit the environmental impact of the cleaning process and protect your family. Not only are many traditional cleaning products hazardous to humans, but after they are rinsed down drains, the chemicals can harm aquatic animals and plants.

Instead of cleaning your home with store-bought chemical cleaning products that contain toxic chemicals, clean with white vinegar, baking soda, tea tree oil, and other natural cleaning and antibacterial agents.

However, if you would rather use store-bought cleaning products, look for products with the EPA Safer Choice label. These products are less toxic to people and the environment than products without this label.

Follow these steps to keep your household move as environmentally friendly as possible. Reach out to Redondo Van & Storage for all of your moving needs.

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How to Pack and Wrap Specialty Items: A Guide from Your Local Moving Company

September 18, 2026

Some belongings just can't be tossed in a box with a handful of newspaper and called "packed." Grand pianos, fine art, antique furniture, wine collections, aquariums, and other specialty items need a different level of care — the kind that comes from decades of hands-on experience, not a YouTube tutorial the night before your move. At Redondo Van & Storage , we've been the trusted local moving company for Redondo Beach and the South Bay since 1919. Over more than a century in business, our team has packed, wrapped, and safely transported just about everything a home or business can own. Below, we're sharing our best tips for protecting specialty items — along with a reminder that when it's time to move, our residential moving company is only a phone call away. Why Specialty Items Need Special Attention Standard moving boxes and bubble wrap are great for dishes and books, but they fall short when it comes to items that are: Fragile or delicate — glassware, china, mirrors, and artwork Oddly shaped — chandeliers, lamps, sculptures, and musical instruments Heavy and awkward — pianos, safes, pool tables, and marble tabletops Sentimental or irreplaceable — family heirlooms, antiques, and collectibles High-value — jewelry, fine art, and electronics A single scratch, dent, or crack can turn an exciting move into a heartbreaking one. That's why our team treats every specialty item like it's the only one that matters — because to you, it is. Tips for Packing Specialty Items the Right Way 1. Use the Right Materials Cardboard and old towels won't cut it for your grandmother's china cabinet. Specialty items call for specialty supplies: foam padding, corner protectors, custom crates, moving blankets, and acid-free packing paper for artwork and photographs. These materials cushion against shock and prevent scratches, moisture damage, and shifting during transport. 2. Disassemble When Possible Large or complex items — think bed frames, dining tables, or electronics with detachable cords — travel much more safely when broken down into smaller pieces. Keep hardware bagged and labeled so reassembly at your new home is quick and painless. 3. Wrap in Layers Fragile and valuable items benefit from a layered approach: a soft inner layer (packing paper or foam) to prevent surface scratches, followed by a cushioning layer (bubble wrap or blankets) to absorb shock, and finally a sturdy outer layer (a well-built box or crate) to protect against pressure and impact. 4. Label Everything Clearly "Fragile" isn't enough on its own. Note which side is up, whether an item is climate-sensitive, and which room it belongs in at your new home. Clear labeling helps movers handle each piece appropriately from the truck to your front door. 5. Consider Custom Crating for High-Value Pieces Some items — fine art, marble statues, antique mirrors, and musical instruments — deserve custom-built wooden crates designed to their exact dimensions. This is where an experienced residential moving company makes all the difference. Our team can build and fit crates specifically for your most valuable belongings before moving day even begins. 6. Don't Forget Climate and Timing Certain specialty items, like wine collections, electronics, and wood furniture, are sensitive to temperature and humidity. If your move involves a stop in storage , make sure the facility can accommodate any special climate needs before your items arrive. Leave It to the Professionals Packing specialty items is one of those tasks that looks simple until you're staring down a 500-pound safe or a chandelier with more crystal pieces than you can count. Our full-service packing team has spent generations perfecting the art of wrapping, crating, loading, and unloading items of every shape, size, and value. Whether you're a homeowner in Redondo Beach or searching for a trusted moving company Rolling Hills Estates CA families rely on, our movers Rolling Hills Estates CA and throughout the South Bay bring the same white-glove care to every job — from a single antique dresser to a full estate. Why Choose Redondo Van & Storage Over 100 years of experience serving the Redondo Beach and South Bay community Voted South Bay's Best Moving Company six years running Recognized by USA Today as one of America's Best Moving Companies Full-service packing, wrapping, crating, and storage solutions Locally owned and operated — we treat your belongings like our own As a trusted local moving company and residential moving services provider, we know that specialty items deserve specialty care. Don't risk damaging your most valuable belongings with a rushed packing job — let our experienced team handle it from start to finish. Ready to move? Call Redondo Van & Storage today at (310) 376-7919 or request a free quote online for expert packing, wrapping, and moving services in Redondo Beach, Rolling Hills Estates, and throughout the South Bay.