Seasonal items almost always get packed last and thought about least. You’re dealing with furniture, the kitchen, the closets, and by the time you get to the holiday tubs in the garage or the winter gear stacked in the spare room, you’re tired and running short on time.
That’s when things get tossed into whatever boxes are left over, and you open them three weeks later at your new home to find a shattered ornament or a sleeping bag that smells like it sat sealed in plastic since last winter.
Working with a top-rated American Fork moving company can make this part a lot easier. They know which items need extra attention and can help you stay on track before the packing chaos sets in. Just having that kind of support early on, you know, changes how the whole move feels.
The fix isn’t complicated. It just needs to happen in the right order.
Sort Before You Start Packing
Before anything goes into a box, spend some time actually going through what you have. Figuring out the best place to start packing usually means starting with seasonal stuff, since a move is one of the best chances you get to be honest about what earns its place at the new house.
Chipped ornaments, things you haven’t put out in three seasons, duplicates of things you already own two of: none of that is worth packing materials and truck space.
Same goes for winter gear. Coats and boots that no longer fit, ski equipment that hasn’t left the garage in two winters, and insulated jackets you replaced but never donated.
Deal with those before the truck arrives rather than hauling boxes across town that you’ll eventually sort through and donate anyway. Every item you cut from the list is one less thing to wrap, load, unload, and find a home for at the other end.
Once you know what’s coming, group by type and by season. This takes about fifteen minutes and makes the labeling step much faster:
- Holiday items stay with holiday items
- Winter gear stays together
- Camping equipment gets its own grouping
Packing Holiday Decorations Without Breaking What Matters
Every fragile piece needs to be wrapped individually, not tossed into a box with a layer of bubble wrap on top. That means ornaments, figurines, ceramic pieces, and anything else that is glass gets wrapped separately in packing paper before it goes anywhere near a box.
Skip newspaper for anything with a delicate finish. The ink transfers and stains painted or lightly finished pieces in ways that are hard to clean off.
For ornament collections, divided boxes with individual cells are worth tracking down. Most moving supply stores carry them, and for a collection built over years, they make a real difference.
No specialty box available? Layer the bottom of a standard box with crumpled packing paper, then take the time to pack ornaments one at a time, filling every void so nothing can shift before sealing the box once it’s full and tight. Boxes with room to move around inside the truck are how things break even when they are individually wrapped going in.
String lights need their own approach. The fastest way to pack them is also the fastest way to spend an hour untangling them at the other end. Wind each strand around a piece of cardboard, secure the plug end, and pack them flat. Ten minutes now, zero frustration in December.
Packing Winter Gear and Cold-Weather Equipment
Soft winter clothing, heavy coats, insulated jackets, and bulky layering pieces take up a lot of volume relative to their weight. Vacuum storage bags cut that volume considerably. Compress what you can into vacuum bags before boxing it up, and your large moving boxes will work much harder.
Hard gear is different. Skis, snowboards, poles, and sleds need proper padding:
- Original bags and cases are the best option if you still have them
- No original packaging? Wrap skis and boards in moving blankets and secure with stretch wrap
- Bundle poles together with padding
- Ski boots go in their own box or into the gaps of larger ones, wrapped in paper
One step people miss consistently: make sure everything is clean and completely dry before it goes into boxes. Damp ski boots, a sleeping bag that wasn’t fully aired out, and insulated jackets with any moisture in them.
Sealed in a box for two or three weeks, these come out smelling bad and can develop mold. Dry everything first. If sorting and wrapping all of this on top of everything else feels like too much, our packing services can take that piece off your plate.
Not sure whether something needs a box or a vault? Call us at (385) 380-5600, and we’ll help you figure out what makes sense for your move.
When Storage Makes Sense for Seasonal Items
If your move-out date and move-in date don’t line up, or you’re downsizing into a place without the storage space your current home has, putting seasonal items into climate-controlled storage is worth thinking through before move day rather than scrambling for a solution afterward.
Every item goes in tagged and inventoried. Here’s what each vault gives you to work with:
| Vault Spec | Measurement |
|---|---|
| Width | 7 ft |
| Height | 7 ft |
| Depth | 5 ft |
| Total space | ~245 cu ft per vault |
Climate control matters more for seasonal storage than most people realize: wood decor, resin figurines, fabric items, and anything with paint or adhesive can crack, warp, or fade in a unit that swings between summer heat and winter cold. Ski gear with moisture-sensitive components also benefits from consistent humidity.
We have short-term and long-term options, so whether you need a vault for three weeks or several months while you get settled in American Fork or elsewhere in Utah County, we can work out what fits your situation.
Labeling Seasonal Boxes So You Can Actually Find Things
A box labeled “misc seasonal” is useless six months after a move when you’re looking for one specific thing and have eight boxes stacked in a closet. Label every seasonal box with the actual contents and the time of year you’ll need them. “Christmas ornaments, gold and red set” does the job. “Holiday stuff, box 4 of 8” doesn’t.
Write on at least two sides of every box with a permanent marker. If you’re using a color-coding system for your move, add a secondary marking for seasonal storage boxes so they’re easy to pick out as a group when they come off the truck.
Mark fragile on every side of every box that has breakables in it, not just the top. Our crew pays attention to those markings, and clear labeling changes how boxes get handled and stacked throughout the move.
How Our Packing Team Can Help With Seasonal Items
Packing seasonal items yourself is manageable when you have time and the right materials. When you’re working against a tight deadline or have too much going on to spend a weekend on it, our packing team can take it off your plate.
We offer full and partial packing. Full packing means our crew handles everything, including seasonal storage, and brings all materials. Partial packing means you handle the less complicated items while our team takes care of the fragile, bulky, or specialty pieces.
Either way, everything gets packed carefully, labeled clearly, and loaded in an order that makes sense for how and when you’ll need things at the new place.
We’ve completed more than 10,000 moves across American Fork, Lehi, Highland, Alpine, Cedar Hills, and the broader Utah County area since 2013. Our crews show up on time, give you a guaranteed price in writing before anything starts, and handle your belongings carefully from start to finish.
Frequently Asked Questions
Q: Do you offer packing services?
A: Yes. We provide full packing and unpacking services. Our team brings all materials, including boxes, wrap, padding, and tape, and packs every item carefully with clear room labeling. Partial packing is also available if you want to handle some items yourself.
Q: What is climate-controlled storage, and do you offer it?
A: Climate-controlled storage keeps your belongings at a consistent temperature and humidity level, which protects furniture, electronics, clothing, and other sensitive items from damage during storage. We offer climate-controlled storage vaults measuring approximately 7 feet wide by 7 feet high by 5 feet deep, roughly 245 cubic feet per vault. Every stored item is tagged and inventoried.
Q: Can I store my belongings between my move-out and move-in dates?
A: Yes. This is one of the most common reasons customers use our storage service. If there’s a gap between when you need to leave your current place and when your new place is ready, we can pick up your belongings, store them in a climate-controlled vault, and deliver them when you’re ready.
Q: How far in advance should I book?
A: For local residential moves, 2 to 4 weeks in advance is usually enough. For commercial moves, long distance moves, or moves during the busy summer season (May through August), booking 6 to 8 weeks ahead is better. We can sometimes accommodate last-minute requests depending on availability, so call to check.
Q: Do you move specialty items like pianos, safes, or antiques?
A: Yes. We have trained crews and the right equipment for specialty items, including pianos, gun safes, antiques, oversized furniture, and delicate electronics. Mention any specialty items when requesting your quote so the right team and equipment can be scheduled.
Get a Free Quote
Have questions or want to schedule a move? You can reach Best of Utah Moving & Storage using the information below.
Phone: (385) 380-5600
Email: contact@bestofutahmoving.com
Address: 802 E Bamberger Dr Suite C, American Fork, UT 84003
Hours: Monday–Friday 8:00 am–7:00 pm, Saturday 8:00 am–5:30 pm
Prefer not to call or email? Fill out the free quote and contact form on our website, and we’ll get back to you as soon as we can.
