You’re moving, and you’re in the middle of packing. You’ll want to be sure to set aside a box for essential items you’ll need for the first night in your new place. But what do you put in it? Here are some items you’ll want to include in your essentials box.
Kitchen Essentials
Unless you plan to eat out on your first night in your new place, you’ll need a few dishes for eating dinner. You can pack paper plates, plastic cups, and utensils into your essentials box. Alternatively, if you want to be more environmentally conscious, you can pack a few real plates, utensils, and glasses into the box. Make sure there are enough dishes for everyone in your home. If you pack regular dishes, be sure to pack some dish soap, a dish towel, and a dish cloth in the box as well so you can effectively clean up when you’re done eating.
If you’re a coffee drinker, you’ll want to pack your coffeemaker, coffee, and coffee mugs into your essentials box too. The Spruce also suggests packing snacks, beverages, and easy-to-cook items like mac n’ cheese or instant potatoes into your essentials box.
If you have a pet, pack his food into the box as well. If you feed your pup canned food, make sure you pack enough cans for at least the first few days. Also, be sure to include your pet’s food and water bowls.
Cleaners
Pack an all-purpose cleaner and paper towels or a couple of rags, so you’ll be ready to clean anything that needs it when you get to your new home. Moving.com also recommends you pack toilet bowl cleaner, a small broom and dust pan, and sanitizing wipes into your essentials box for a sparkling new home.
Personal Hygiene Products
Perhaps one of the most forgotten items for the essentials box is toilet paper. Prevent a bathroom emergency by packing a few rolls of toilet paper into your essentials box. You’ll also want to pack, soap or body wash, hand soap, shampoo and conditioner, lotion, toothpaste, towels, and wash cloths or loofahs. Don’t forget to pack a toothbrush for everyone in the house. Imperial Movers reminds you to pack your shower curtain and shower curtain rings or hooks as well.
Emergency Preparedness Items
You may not anticipate an emergency, but it’s always best to be prepared for one. Pack a flashlight, batteries, candles and matches, and a first-aid kit into the essentials box.
Medication and Records
Pack all the prescription medication your family takes into the box. If you have a pet and she takes medication, put her medication into the box, too. You may also want to pack a few over-the-counter medications into your essentials box, such as a pain reliever, hydrogen peroxide, hydrocortisone cream, allergy medication, and Pepto Bismol. If you use them, pack your glasses or contact lenses and contact lens solution. If you have a pet, pack her veterinary records, including her rabies vaccination certificate into the box.
Bedding
Pack sheets, blankets, pillows, and pillowcases to make everyone’s bed when you get to your new home. If you have a dog or cat, be sure to pack his or her bed into the box as well.
Clothes
Pack pajamas and a few changes of clothes for everyone in the household. Make sure you also pack some business attire for work. If it’s winter, be sure to pack coats, scarves, gloves, and hats as well. Pack umbrellas if rain is in the forecast.
Box Cutter or Scissors
You’ll need a box cutter or a pair of scissors to open boxes during the unpacking process.
Chargers and Electronics
Phone chargers should go into your essentials box. Laptops, tablets, and their chargers should go into this box, too. You may also want to pack a few electronics into the box for entertainment purposes, such as a gaming system, DVD player, or Roku.
Children’s Items
If you have children, you’ll need to pack some things to entertain them and keep them happy for the first few days after your move. Moving Tips suggests packing a few of their favorite books, games, and stuffed animals. You may also want to pack a few of their favorite DVDs for them to watch while you work on unpacking.
If you have a baby, you’ll need to pack a specialized bag for him. You’ll want to pack diapers, baby wipes, a security blanket or favorite stuffed animal, bottles, bath items, car seat, plastic bags for dirty diapers and soiled clothing, pacifiers, breast pump, formula, and baby food for him.
Other Pet Items
Other pet items you’ll want to pack into your essentials box include a litter box and litter (if you have a cat), toys, treats, and a leash.
Packing an essentials box can save you a lot of time and frustration your first few days in your new home. With an effectively-packed essentials box, you won’t have to run around the house ripping open all your boxes looking for the things you need right away. Following this checklist will help you pack an essentials box with the items you need while you settle into your new home.