So, you’re about to move, but you don’t really want the hassle of having to dispose of your leftover moving boxes after you’ve unpacked. Purchasing boxes is expensive, and it seems such a waste to throw them in the recycling after you’re done with them. Luckily, there are much better uses for leftover moving boxes!
7 Creative Ideas for Leftover Moving Boxes
1. Keep Them
If you’re only moving temporarily, you may decide to keep your moving boxes. Students, for example, may even move as often as once a year as they change flats. If you’re in this situation, it might make the most sense for you to just keep your moving boxes. Then you can use them again next year without having to locate new ones.
To store them, first break them down flat so that they take up less space. Then keep them somewhere cool and dry. If they get damp or mouldy, they won’t be as reliable for housing your items. When you’re ready to use the boxes, simply fold them back together and secure them with sturdy packing tape.
2. Give Them Away
Got friends or family who are moving soon? Give your used moving boxes to them, and they will be eternally grateful that they didn’t have to track down their own. It’s so much easier when you can just start packing without first having to source boxes!
Otherwise, you might be able to add a post on your local Facebook page or community noticeboard for free moving boxes and find someone else to take them off your hands.
3. Let Your Kids Play
It’s incredible to see what your kids can do when they let their imaginations run wild! An empty refrigerator carton can become a Barbie dreamhouse; some old moving boxes can become Fort Knox. Hand over your moving boxes to your kids and let them paint them up and turn them into whatever they like! To get started, you could offer them some ideas like making a car, a rocket ship, a boat, or their favourite animal.
4. Arts and Crafts
If your kids love arts and crafts, don’t let all that cardboard go to waste. You could cut it up for them to draw on, cut out shapes for painting and gluing onto art projects, or shred it to use as confetti! There are countless ways to use cardboard in arts and crafts, and it will help to have so much close to hand.
5. Compost
Did you know that your compost bin actually needs the carbon contained in paper and cardboard? And in much larger quantities than you might think! Many people hunt down old moving boxes to rip up and put into their compost. Cardboard also creates pockets of air in your compost which is important for helping everything to break down. So, either rip up your moving boxes and add them to your compost pile or find someone who will!
6. Prevent Weeds
Another gardening tip for you – if you don’t want weeds in your new garden, just add cardboard! Add large, flat pieces anywhere you don’t want things to grow in your garden beds. Pour a ton of water on it, and then put some mulch or soil on top to keep your garden looking pretty. The cardboard blocks sunlight from reaching the ground beneath, preventing anything from growing.
7. Painting Mats
One of the top things people do when they buy a new house is to paint it after moving in! If you don’t have any drop sheets to protect your floors, you can always use leftover moving boxes. Simply open them up and lay them flat on the ground, slightly overlapping. This will protect your floors from paint as you freshen up your new home. Afterwards, the cardboard can be recycled or used for many of the above uses, such as in the garden or for art projects.
Don’t Want To Deal With Leftover Moving Boxes?
Here at EasyMove, we collect moving boxes as long as they’re in reusable condition. Plus, allowing them to be reused is one of the most environmentally friendly options. Contact us today to find out more about this service!
