The Way to Save Space

Photo by Alaina Burris

The end of the year can be a stressful time: finals, having assignments you haven’t turned in yet, not knowing what grades you have in classes and how the heck you’re going to get everything you hauled to school back home.

You probably brought stuff to school back in August thinking you would need it, but now it’s April, and you still haven’t used it. You also have a plethora of clothing, your mini fridge and, of course, your bedding. Not packing this stuff the right way can cause a lot of stress you don’t need amidst studying for your finals.

Here are a few helpful tips to get you packed and ready to go home after check-out.

1. Defrost your fridge -- While this isn’t a packing tip, it’s definitely one of the first things you should do. Empty out your fridge and unplug it three or four days in advance of you going home so that way it’s ready for the car ride. Also, remember not to lay your fridge down -- keep it standing up -- when it’s in your car!

2. Bag your clothes on hangers in a trash bag -- That’s right: a trash bag. Slide all of your hangers together, put a trash bag underneath then slide it up around the clothes. Leave the hook on the hangers out and tie the bag around the hooks. It prevents wrinkling from folding. This bag can lay flat in your backseat, or your trunk, and things can go on top of them without dirtying them.

3. Put the rest of your clothes in your laundry basket -- You already know that clothes fit in your laundry bag/basket, so just fold what clothes aren’t on hangers and place them in your basket. If you have too many clothes, remember that rolling your clothes after they’re folded helps save more space.

4. Use your storage containers to your advantage -- Almost everyone brought storage containers to put under their beds, in their closets or anywhere else their hearts desired. These storage containers can do more than just store snacks or shoes, they can make taking things home easier! Play Tetris with your stuff to ensure everything fits. Place boxes with boxes, larger on the bottom to smaller on the top. You can also use these containers for non-perishable or non-refrigerated food that you would like to take home.

5. Don’t lay your TV flat -- Your TV should be upright in your trunk or backseat, with nothing resting against it. You might damage the screen by doing so. Also, if you have a gaming console, remember not to travel with any games in the console.

6. Fold your bedding -- If you didn’t keep the package your bedding came in, you have nowhere to just stuff your blankets and sheets into. Fold your sheets, comforter and blankets neatly and put them into a pillowcase for easy transportation.

7. Avoid using plastic bags -- Using plastic bags to pack your things is a struggle. You might have 15 Walmart bags, and you won’t know what is in each one just by looking at it. Avoid using plastic bags altogether to avoid confusion. If you’re going to use bags, go for reusable bags or backpacks.

Packing can be difficult, but don’t let it defeat you. Organize things neatly in your car (or whoever’s car you’re using to get your things to where they’re being stored) so you can still see out of all of your windows. Make sure fragile items are placed carefully so they won’t break and try to remember where you put your important things.

If you kept boxes throughout the year, don’t be afraid to use those. Boxes can get annoying, but they’re the easiest thing to pack items into. Smaller boxes can be used for miscellaneous items and labeled as such.

Follow these tips and you should be golden for your end-of-the-year packing. Don’t let packing be something that stresses you out when you’re already stressed enough!