How to Keep Clothes from Wrinkling | How-to | Long Distance USA Movers

How to Keep Clothes from Wrinkling When Packing to Move

If you ever find yourself wondering: “Why are my clothes always wrinkled?” and being annoyed about it, learning how to keep clothes from wrinkling during a long-distance move should become one of your top priorities. Our guide will help you discover the reasons wrinkles form in the first place and learn all the best ways to avoid them.

Stack of knitted winter clothes, sweaters overlay
With our guide, you won't have to worry about the state of your wardrobe when moving

How to Prevent Wrinkles in Clothes – Preparation

When learning how to move, you will quickly realize that you need a good organization for every task and sub-task. The same goes for packing – if you want to achieve a wrinkleless state of your wardrobe, you need to plan enough time for washing, drying, ironing, and putting the garments into appropriate storage using moving hacks we will present you with.

Remember that your wardrobe doesn’t wrinkle only when packing – make sure that in addition to learning how to keep shirts from wrinkling, you also learn how to keep your shirt from wrinkling when sitting or walking around so you won’t find your hands constantly straightening it.

Sort Your Wardrobe

The first sorting includes going through your closet and deciding which garments only collect dust. Keep in mind that the cost of your cross-country moving services is usually based on the weight of your items, so getting rid of unwanted clothing can benefit you when it comes to the final price. On top of that, if you’re moving to a warmer climate, you likely won’t need most of your winter outfits and vice versa. And when you finish separating the wardrobe you won’t wear, consider donating unwanted items or even organizing a garage sale where you can earn some extra money.

The next level of separation should be made considering:

  • Fabrics – some materials, such as cotton, linen, and rayon, wrinkle more than silk or polyester, so you need to give more attention to them when packing.
  • Season – this will be helpful after your relocation when searching for an appropriate outfit. If you pack all your wardrobe together no matter the season, it is highly possible that you will fumble through your boxes to find what you need.
  • Type – Not all types of garments get equally wrinkled – dresses and dress shirts will always win in this contest over jeans and the like.

Use a Washing Machine and Dryer Before Packing

Packing clean clothing when moving should be a no-brainer. However, with all that must be done before the relocation date, going into the laundry room becomes one of the things people forget to do when moving. Keep in mind that using a washer and dryer correctly will help you prevent and minimize creases. Unless you want to take your whole wardrobe to dry cleaning, memorize the following steps when doing laundry:

  • Always follow the fabric instructions you got on labels and don’t make the water too hot.
  • When pulling the laundry out of the washer, give each item a light stretch and fold it carefully.
  • Don’t fill the dryer too much and don’t leave your laundry for too long in the dryer when the cycle is finished. Those could be the main reasons you keep asking yourself: “Why are my clothes so wrinkled after drying?”
  • When you finish with the dryer, put clothing on hangers as soon as you can.

Iron Your Wardrobe Carefully

The more wrinkles you get rid of before packing, the fewer of them you will find when unpacking after the move. The best way of ironing your wardrobe is when it is not completely dry. That way, even the most stubborn wrinkles will be defeated. Avoid making new creases with the iron, and after you finish each piece, put it back on the hanger. For stubborn creases, you should consider spraying your wardrobe with a mix of fabric conditioner and water. When garments cool off to room temperature, it is finally time for packing.

Woman ironing a shit before cross country moving overlay
Good preparation is the half work - wash, dry, and iron your laundry so you won't pack them wrinkled

How to Pack Clothes Wrinkle-Free – Simple and Effective Methods for Packing Clothing

Depending on your preferences, skills, time, and willingness to spend money on packing supplies, you can take your pick from numerous creative packing strategies. Some of them could even become an investment for the future handling of your garments. However, be ready to spend a little more money if you want your garments to arrive in the perfect, wrinkleless condition in your new home, whether you hire packing services from a long-distance moving company or not.

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The Wardrobe Box – Easy, Fast, and Wrinkle-Free Way of Packing

If you are ready to spend a little more money on packing supplies, consider purchasing wardrobe boxes – special sort of tall boxes with a bar on which you can put hangers. Your only job is to hang your garments after ironing them, so it should save you a lot of time while packing.

To avoid different fabrics rubbing against each other, consider putting your items in plastic bags (you can use the one you get from your dry cleaner). Note that not all your wardrobe pieces demand the same level of protection. If purchasing more than one wardrobe box is not what you want, use it wisely and hang your most delicate pieces, like your business suits, if you are moving for a job. If you think this is the right option for you, don’t hesitate to contact your cross country moving company and ask if they could supply you with it.

Garment Carrier – the Best Option for a Wardrobe Without Wrinkles

Garment bags are specially designed to protect garments. They can be a good solution if you don’t want to hire long-distance movers but need to save some space in the moving truck – it is easier to find a place for several garment bags than for one wardrobe box. However, note that they would probably be the most expensive option – use them for the most valuable garments you possess, like expensive dresses and suits.

How Do I Stop My Clothes From Wrinkling When Using Regular Boxes – Roll and Bundle Method

The army or ranger roll, as this method is usually called, is suitable for fabrics that aren’t generally wrinkle-prone. You can use this method for fabrics such as cotton, too, but they will require more attention. Reserve it for less important pieces of clothing, and make sure to remember it as an excellent way to save packing space.

The bundle method is one with no folding – the goal is to wrap your wardrobe around the core and each other, with less important garments closer to the center and more valuable outside, so they stay wrinkleless. For better protection, consider separating items with tissue paper. Both of these methods are based on the no folding rule, as it does nothing to prevent creases during the move.

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How to Keep Clothes from Wrinkling – Where to Find Real Joy

If you have a last-minute move and need more time for more important relocation tasks, you should consider booking long-distance moving services and letting cross-country movers do all the packing. After all, they know all the ways to do it. However, if you are confident that you will win the battle with wrinkles, throw a packing party, and guilt everyone into helping a friend move. That way, you will spend time with loved ones, have a good time, and surprise your friends with all answers you have on how to keep clothes wrinkle-free.

Milly Andrews

Born and raised in Portland, Milly has had a lot of experience moving and writing about the relocation process.


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