5 Tips for Preventing Clothing Damage During the Moving Process

July 1, 2019

Clothes on racks in a bright living room beside a white sofa, boxes, and a TV near large windows.

The most important step for preventing damage to any item in your home during the moving process is planning. While planning how you will move large home items, don't forget to plan how you will pack your family's clothing. You can just gather all clothing up, fold it, and place it in boxes. But by doing so, you risk damaging clothing and setting yourself up for hours of ironing once you reach your new home.

Read on to learn five tips for preventing clothing damage and wrinkles during the moving process by packing your family's clothing items properly.

1. Hang Your Most Prized Clothing Items in Wardrobe Boxes

If you frequently travel and transport clothing in garment bags, then you may wish you could invest in a dozen of them to help you keep your prized clothing items wrinkle- and damage-free during the move. Thankfully, you don't have to spend a fortune on reusable garment bags when you purchase just a few affordable wardrobe boxes.

Wardrobe boxes are tall cardboard boxes with a metal bar at the top. Not only do they protect your favorite clothing from wrinkles during the moving process, but they also make packing these items faster. All you have to do is transfer items hanging in your closet right onto the bar in the box.

However, plastic hangers can take up a lot of space on the metal bar, which limits the number of garments you can hang on it. For this reason, it is best to replace plastic hangers with metal ones before hanging items on the bar.

You should also cover each clothing item you hang in plastic to protect each item, such as with a dry cleaning bag. This protection will further limit wrinkling due to friction that can occur when garments rub against each other in the wardrobe box. It will also keep clothing adornments, such as rhinestones, metal zippers, and buttons, from damaging the clothing item next to them.

2. Roll Select Clothing Items to Be Packed in Traditional Boxes

You may have heard that it is better to roll items when packing— working to limit wrinkles that can occur due to folding. However, realize that rolling only helps limit clothing wrinkles when packing certain types of clothing. Some items can actually wrinkle more when rolled than when folded.

As a general guideline, roll only items made of synthetic fabrics and fold items made from natural materials, such as cotton. Although folded clothing items may still develop creases where they are folded, they will wrinkle much less than if they were rolled. Also, fold any clothing items that stretch to reduce the chance that the fabric will permanently stretch due to rolling them too tight.

3. Pack Dark- and Light-Colored Clothing in Separate Boxes

You likely know that dark clothing dyes can transfer onto light-colored clothing in the washing machine. However, you may not realize that dark dye can also transfer from one clothing item to another outside of a washing machine. This can occur when the clothing is subjected to even a bit of moisture, such as humidity in the air.

This makes it important to pack dark- and light-colored clothing items in separate boxes whenever possible, especially if the dark clothing has not yet been washed, and you’re moving on a hot, humid day.

4. Only Pack Clothing in Clothing Boxes

It is important to completely fill all moving boxes, including those containing clothing to keep items from moving around in the boxes during transport. However, if you have a box of clothing that is not filled completely to the top, don't be tempted to add non-clothing items into the box other than sheets, towels, and other fabric items.

Following this tip can prevent damage to your clothing that many other items can inflict. If you run out of fabric items to include in your clothing boxes, then simply fill the box up with crumpled up tissue paper to keep clothing packed snugly — without risking damage.

5. Seal Boxes Well

You don't want to meticulously pack all of your family's clothing items just to have the boxes break open during the truck loading or unloading process. Along with ensuring that you don't stuff boxes so tightly that the weight of the contents causes the box bottom to buckle, be sure to seal all boxes with packing tape.

Run packing tape along all seams on both the top and bottom of the box. Then, wrap some tape around the perimeter of the box near its top and base to add extra strength and limit the chances of it breaking open during transport.

Follow these tips to avoid damage to your clothing and keep clothing items as wrinkle-free as possible during the packing and moving process. Contact us at 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.