Reasons to use plastic bins for moving home
Moving guides - January 31, 2019
You have to make a lot of decisions when you’re moving home. Of course, there is the normal, big stuff, like where are you moving, and are you moving solo or are you hiring a professional, that kind of thing. But, there are a lot of small decisions that can really make a difference! For example, what kind of things are you packing your belongings in? Of course, most people don’t think about this thoroughly, but just hurry to get a set of moving cardboard boxes. After all, what does it matter? Others tend to think about where to get free moving supplies and go from there. A small percentage worries about how to make an eco-friendly move. Yet, cardboard boxes are not the be-all, end-all solution to moving that most people think they are. There are many reasons to use plastic bins instead.

Use plastic bins if your stuff is fragile
This one basically goes without saying. Your stuff will get jostled and tumbled in a move – it’s inevitable! And, movers will stack the truck, putting box on box. So, if a lot of your things are fragile…there is a high chance of them getting damaged in a cardboard box. If you use plastic bins, you won’t have to worry about it. Plus, imagine if the bottom on your cardboard box gives up – especially if you’re carrying it places! Frantically gathering your stuff is bad enough even without a busy moving day! And, especially if you’ve gotten free moving boxes from liquor stores or grocery stores, you never know exactly what state your cardboard boxes are in. This especially goes if you haven’t used a packing service and have packed them yourself – while professionals know how not to over-pack boxes to bursting, amateurs do not. And in moving, you’re an amateur!

Use plastic bins if you’re moving in bad weather
Worried about rain or snow getting into your belongings? If you use plastic bins, you won’t have to! After all, plastic bins won’t let rain in, unlike cardboard. Cardboard boxes soak rain right up, making your belongings all soggy. And, unlike cardboard, if you drop a plastic bin into a water puddle, it won’t let water seep into your stuff. So if you’re moving under unfavorable weather, plastic bins will cross one worry off your list. And, if you’re moving during the winter holidays, that’s an excellent bonus!

Should you use plastic bins if you’re trying to save money?
Well, of course, that depends on your specific situation. There are many ways to cut moving costs without cutting corners! You have to be very careful when weighing the pros and cons of each decision. For example, plastic bins will save you a lot on padding. You won’t have to cram them full of packing peanuts or crumpled newspapers, because they are far more sturdy than cardboard boxes. But, you can get cardboard boxes for free on websites like freecycle or craigslist if you’re fortunate. So, really it depends on the kind of stuff you’re moving. Are you moving a lot of fragile things where being sturdy is mandatory? Well, then using plastic bins will practically save you money, as there will be no chance of breaking.

What about renting plastic bins?
Renting plastic bins is way cheaper than outright buying them. It can be cheaper than buying moving boxes too, depending on the circumstances. So, that is definitely an option you can pursue. Plus, if you’re doing a local move, like say, using East New York movers from Flatbush, you can easily save money on renting, because you’ll only need to rent them for a short while. If you time it right, it can be way cheaper than you expected! Look around, and see what catches your interest – you might find a better deal than you thought you would.
Why are plastic bins great for packing?
There are pros and cons to packing with anything you can think of. This is why it’s important to look at everything critically and really think about your move. Your move is unique due to your circumstances, and so things that can work for other people might not work for you. A lot can depend on what kind of stuff you’re packing!
- Plastic bins are great for the kind of items that can be squished, like stuffed toys or blankets or pillows. Because they’re so sturdy, you won’t have to worry about bulging making your box burst, like cardboard would.
- If you want to save time, you can just get a free moving estimate for a full packing and moving service – they probably have their own plastic bins.
- Just started packing? You can nest your unused plastic bins, so you can keep the chaos down while you’re diligently packing. This can be a real lifesaver in a tiny apartment!
- Are you a chronic procrastinator? Well, who isn’t? If you rent plastic bins, you will have a deadline to unpack to – the day you have to return them – so the unpacking doesn’t stretch for months at a time. Sure, for some people, deadlines are stressful, but for others, they’re an excellent motivator. If you need that motivation, use plastic bins.