How to Pack Cleaning Supplies for Moving

The best time to clean your house is when you move in. Empty rooms, closets, and cupboards make it easy to wipe down and dust hard-to-reach places. But rather than purchase soap, detergent, and disinfectant, most people prefer to bring cleaning supplies from their old home. It’s a practical, cost-effective solution, even though cleaning products are not the easiest materials to transport. Unless properly handled, they can tip over and damage your belongings en route. Some are potentially hazardous. In this blog, we’ll explain how to pack cleaning supplies for moving, including all the precautions you'll need to take and which products you might want to consider leaving behind.

Take Stock of Your Current Supplies

Before you start packing, gather all your cleaning supplies. Homeowners are sometimes surprised to discover how many they’ve accumulated over the years. Once you’ve collected everything, decide what can be kept, consolidated, or thrown out. Look for:

Expiration Dates. While some cleaning supplies last years, others expire after six months. Their chemical components break down, rendering them ineffective. In some cases, they may develop clumps, discoloration, and unpleasant odors.
Half-Empty Bottles. Combining partially full bottles is a great way to save space, as long as you’re careful not to mix different soaps and disinfectants. Each brand has a specific formulation and they don’t always react well when blended together.
Unopened Bottles. Because they’re still fully sealed, unused bottles are safe and easy to transport. However, if you already have multiple bottles of the same product, you may be better off donating some of them to friends, family, or charity rather than paying to ship them to your new house.

Your home probably contains a number of cleaning tools such as mops, brooms, sponges, vacuum cleaners, and microfiber cloths. Take a moment to assess them as well. If they’re frayed, worn, or unreliable, they should be discarded and replaced. Otherwise, make sure they’re clean and dry before loading them onto the truck.

Dispose of Hazardous Substances

Certain types of cleaning materials contain toxic and corrosive ingredients. While it’s safe to store them under controlled conditions, transporting them over long distances can be risky. Bumps, jolts, and vibrations can lead to leaks or spills, even dangerous chemical reactions. If you own any of these products, dispose of them before you move. This includes:

Bleach
Ammonia
Drain Cleaner
Chlorine
Aerosol Spray Cans

Exposure to these chemicals can irritate your skin, eyes, and throat, even cause respiratory problems. They’re also environmentally harmful, so you can’t simply toss them out with the garbage. While guidelines vary depending on where you live, here is what most experts recommend.

Bleach. Dropping it off at a Household Hazardous Waste (HHW) collection site is the best option. However, if you only have a small amount left, you can dilute it and pour it down the drain or toilet. For safety, mix ten parts water for every one part bleach.
Ammonia. Take it to an HHW collection site or dilute it and pour it down the drain. Use the same 10:1 formula as bleach and make sure the water is running when you pour it out. Otherwise, it might damage your plumbing system. To avoid breathing in fumes, wear a mask or open the windows for ventilation.
Drain Cleaner. If you can’t take it to an HHW site, pour it down the drain with the water running. Rinse and recycle the container when you’re done.
Chlorine. Pouring chlorine down the drain is never safe. Bring it to an HHW site or your local pool supply store to dispose of it properly.
Aerosol Spray Cans. Empty the can by spraying its contents into a disposable container, like a cardboard box or paper bag. Once the container is dry, it will be safe to throw out. If the aerosol can contained hazardous materials, take it to an HHW site. Otherwise, recycle it with your other cans.

Secure Liquids for Transport

While cleaning tools (mops, brooms, vacuums, etc.) require little preparation, liquids need special precautions to prevent them from damaging your other belongings. To pack these type of cleaning supplies:

Store Them in Plastic Containers. Cardboard absorbs liquids, which not only compromises its integrity, but can also damage nearby materials. By contrast, plastic boxes are watertight and great at containing leaks.
Seal Bottles Tightly. Check every bottle to make sure it’s closed and secure. As an extra precaution, place a layer of plastic wrap over the mouth of the container and screw the cap down over it.
Place Bottles Upright. Never lay bottles flat. Make sure they’re arranged vertically on the bottom of the container, to minimize the risk of spills.
Fill Empty Space. To prevent bottles from tipping over, fill any empty space with packing paper or packing peanuts. Towels and rags work just as well.

Most moving companies won’t accept cleaning supplies because they don’t want to be liable for spills, so homeowners usually have to transport them in their car. To prevent accidents, secure the box to the side of your trunk with bungee cords, cargo nets, or velcro straps. If that’s not feasible, pack them in tightly, using boxes, blankets, and towels to keep the container from shifting while you’re out on the road.

Unpack and Clean

Your cleaning supplies should be one of the first things you unpack when you arrive at your new house. Before setting up your home, take a moment to wipe down your cupboards, closets, and cabinets, including the ones under the sink. Removing dust and grime, not only protects your belongings, it helps extend the lifespan of your shelving and storage space. A few of the items you’ll want to keep handy:

Mop
Bucket
Broom
Dustpan
Rags, Towels, or Microfiber cloths
Glass Cleaner
All-Purpose Cleaner
Toilet Brush
Scrub Brushes
Spray Bottle
Abrasive Sponges

For interstate for cross-country relocations, it’s best to keep your cleaning tools with you in the car. Due to legal and logistical complications involved in commercial travel, movers often require a couple of days to catch up with you, so transporting your tools and supplies in your personal vehicle gives you a chance to clean your home before they arrive.

North American Moving Services

North American has been helping people relocate for over 90 years. Our full-service moving teams offer flexible assistance, designed to meet your needs, budget, and schedule. From planning to packing to shipping, storage, and final delivery, we’re here for you every step of the way. Contact us today for a free quote!