In this guide
Packing for a move in St. Peters works well when you split the job in two: what you can box yourself and what is worth handing to movers. Boxes that are packed and taped before moving day keep the hourly bill down. This guide covers the order to pack in, what movers prepare for you, and what to do with the boxes and wrap afterward.
We pack homes across St. Charles County, from a few fragile rooms to a full house. Here is how to decide what to do yourself.
What to Pack Yourself
Pack the things only you can sort. Clothes, books, papers, toys and kitchen basics are easy to box and easy to label, and you know what you still use.
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Clothing, linens and shoes
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Books, papers and office supplies
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Toys, games and hobby items
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Pantry items and everyday dishes
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Bathroom items, minus anything flammable
Arch Mover Tip
Start with the rooms you use least, like the guest room, the basement and the garage. Leave the kitchen and bathrooms for the last few days.
What to Hand to the Movers
Hand off the items that take tools, padding or two people. Large furniture, mirrors, glass tops and pieces that need to come apart are where movers save you the most time and damage.
Furniture
Take apart and rebuild
Most standard furniture is taken apart and put back together at the new home.
Wrapping
Pads and stretch wrap
Movers wrap furniture so it rides without scuffs.
Electronics
TV wrap on request
Box smaller electronics yourself and ask for TV wrap for the screen.
Our furniture assembly and wrapping service covers the bigger pieces. Cribs, bunk beds, sleeper sofas and medical beds may only be taken apart.
Full or Partial Packing Help
You do not have to choose between packing everything and packing nothing. Our packing and unpacking help covers the whole home or just the rooms you want to hand off, such as the kitchen.
| Plan | You pack | Movers pack |
|---|---|---|
| Do it yourself | Everything | Nothing, they wrap furniture |
| Partial packing | Most rooms | Kitchen, fragile items or a few rooms |
| Full packing | Valuables and personal items | The rest of the home |
Getting the Right Boxes and Supplies
The right box size keeps the load safe. Heavy items go in small boxes and light items go in large ones, so no box is too heavy to carry.
Small boxes for books, tools and canned goods
Medium boxes for kitchen items and toys
Large boxes for linens, pillows and lampshades
Packing paper and tape, plus a marker for labels
We sell moving boxes and packing supplies, so you can get everything in one order. Pack every box to the top so it does not crush in the truck.
What Has to Be Done Before the Movers Arrive
A few rules apply on every move, packed by you or by us. Empty drawers and shelves, and box all electronics before moving day.
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Flammables, including gas cans and paint thinner, do not go on the truck
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Firearms, documents, jewelry, money and medications ride with you
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Plants move at your own risk, and pets are not transported
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Hot food and open liquids should be used up or thrown out
Recycling Boxes and Wrap in St. Peters
St. Peters curbside recycling carts take flattened cardboard, and each household gets one cart, per the city's recycling cart FAQ. Flatten boxes as you unpack and spread them over a few collection days.
Bubble wrap, stretch wrap and plastic bags do not go in the city cart, because they jam the sorting equipment. The same FAQ says clean, dry plastic film can be dropped off at most large grocery and retail stores. Shredded paper goes in the trash, not the recycling cart.
Good to Know
Packing paper and flattened boxes recycle at the curb. Shredded paper, used as packing filler, does not. Use packing paper instead.
Packing Room by Room
Each room has its own packing problem. Work through them in this order and the last week before the move stays calm.
Kitchen
The kitchen takes longer than any other room. Wrap each plate and glass in packing paper, stand plates on edge, and fill the gaps so nothing shifts. Leave out one plate, cup and pan per person for the last few days.
Bedrooms and Closets
Clothes on hangers can go into wardrobe boxes or stay bundled together. Empty every dresser drawer, and pack bedding last so you can sleep in your own bed the night before the move.
Garage and Basement
Start the garage and basement early, since they hold the items people decide not to keep. Drain gas from mowers, and set paint, propane and cleaning chemicals aside, because they cannot go on the truck.
First-Night Box
Pack one box per person with bedding, a change of clothes, chargers, toiletries and medications. Keep it in your car so it is the first thing you open in the new home.
Labeling That Saves Time
Write the room name and a short list of contents on two sides of every box, not the top. Stacked boxes hide their tops, but the sides stay visible in the truck and at the new home.
Number the boxes too. A simple count tells you on moving day whether every box made it off the truck. Mark boxes that hold fragile items on every side, so they are stacked on top and unpacked with care.
Keep tape, a marker and a few empty boxes out until the last hour. Something always turns up in a closet or under a bed at the end, and it should go in a box, not loose in the truck.
Frequently Asked Questions
Should I pack myself or hire movers to pack in St. Peters?
Pack the easy rooms yourself and hand off the kitchen, fragile items and large furniture. Partial packing is a common middle option.
Do movers take apart furniture when they pack?
Yes, most standard furniture. Cribs, bunk beds, sleeper sofas and medical beds may only be taken apart.
Do I need to empty my dresser drawers before the move?
Yes. Drawers and shelves must be empty before the movers arrive.
Can I put bubble wrap in my St. Peters recycling cart?
No. Plastic film like bubble wrap and stretch wrap goes to a store drop-off, not the city cart.
How do I get rid of moving boxes in St. Peters?
Flatten them and place them in your city recycling cart over several collection days. Keep a few sturdy boxes if you expect to move again.
Packing Help for Your St. Peters Move
Pack the rooms you know well and leave the heavy and fragile work to us. Our movers in St. Peters pack, wrap and move homes across St. Charles County, seven days a week.
Request a free quote for packing and moving in St. Peters.
About the author
Hayden Mattingly
Owner, Arch Moving · St. Ann, MO
Hayden Mattingly owns and runs Arch Moving, a locally owned moving company in St. Ann serving St. Louis, St. Charles County and the rest of Missouri. He leads a crew with a combined 20 years in the moving industry, trains movers from within, and oversees residential, commercial, packing and long-distance moves. He writes these guides from what his crews handle on real St. Louis moves.
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Packing order
1
Least-used rooms first
2
Books and papers next
3
Kitchen in the last few days
4
Bathroom and first-night box last
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