Pull out the boxes and the duct tape, because it’s time to get packing. That dreaded time of the year has come around, and soon you’ll be forced to finally pick up that room of yours that may or may not have been a mess for the majority of the semester. And unless you are the minimalist of minimalists, I’m guessing that you have a decent amount of stuff that needs to fit inside your car. Plus, you have to figure out how to defrost your fridge without flooding your room. Yeah, the end of the semester can be a pain especially when it comes to packing. But, as an upperclassman who has packed up her room a couple times, I have a few tips for you that might help make the process a bit smoother.
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Rent a Storage Unit
Find a group of 4-5 people, and rent a storage unit together. It cuts down the cost per person, and it minimizes the amount of stuff you have to lug home and back again. Make sure you label your boxes so that no one accidentally runs off with your things, and place all loose items in plastic bags to keep the bugs out. To keep costs low, rent a smaller unit and utilize all the space you have. Most units are pretty tall, so stack your boxes, and use those empty fridges and microwaves to tuck small items away.
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Organize
The only thing worse about packing up is unpacking the next semester and realizing that you have no idea where anything is. To avoid having all your belongings spread out in the hallway because the organizational containers were the last things you found to unpack, try packing in a way that keeps your things organized and neat to begin with. Bag your bedding together. Keep your office supplies in the same box, and if you have pens and pencils and other things already in containers, keep them in their containers and pack them away together. That way, when you unpack, you don’t have loose items waiting for their container to be found. Label your boxes with what is in them. Throwing things haphazardly into boxes is also a great way to break or damage things, so make sure you wrap anything that could break or scratch in newspaper, or, better yet, use those winter sweaters that you won’t need over the summer as extra padding. Save space in your suitcase, and help the earth by not wasting paper.
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Roll Your Clothes
I don’t know where you’ve been for the past few years if you still don’t know that the most efficient packing method is rolling. Rolling your clothes allows you to pack them tightly and creates more space in your suitcase. I usually fold my pants and long dresses lengthwise in half and lay them in the suitcase first, placing the waist against the wall of the bag and letting the extra hang out. Then I roll all my other clothing and pack it in tight. Once I have a row completely packed, I fold whatever was left of my pants over the rolls and tuck it in.
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Defrosting the Fridge
The best way I’ve found to defrost the fridge is to first scrape out as much of the freezer frost buildup as possible. Then stuff a towel into the freezer section to help soak up the majority of the water. After that, fold a full-sized bath towel in half, and place the fridge on top. Throw in another towel or two, and let it do its thing. If you have time, throw the towels in the dryer after the fridge is completely defrosted. If not, just make sure to not pack them up and forget about them; nobody wants a moldy damp towel left in the back of their car.
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Sell Unwanted Items
So you have a few clothing items you never wore this year. Instead of packing them up and taking them home, saying you’ll wear them one day, try to sell them at Plato’s Closet or Hut no. 8. If they won’t take your clothes, donate them to Goodwill. That way, you have a chance to make money while creating space in your bags. A great way to get rid of old textbooks is to sell them to lower classmen who will be needing them the following semester. If you know that your roommate next year will have a fridge or microwave and you don’t need yours, try to sell the extra set to other students who may need one next semester. There is always someone looking for a microwave or fridge.
Don’t worry about making a mess while packing up at the end of the year. My roommate and I are pretty good about keeping the room clean during the semester, but, once it comes time to pack, it looks like a tornado came through a time or three. So unless you have very few things to pack, chances are it’ll get messy. So just roll with it. If you can, work in sections. Pack up your desk first and take that down to the car, then work on your clothes, etc. By working in sections, it’ll keep the mess to a minimum and will also help keep you organized. I tend to start with what I know I’ll need over the summer, pack that up and get it out of the way, and then I move on to the rest of the stuff. That way, I’m not mixing up the things I need with the things I don’t. Just remember not to stress about it too much; it’s summer after all. So good luck packing, and have a safe and fun summer!