It's time to prepare for your move and you may not know where to start or what you need to make things go smoothly and stress free. Moving can be wasteful and there are many items we use that are not friendly to the environment, or can be difficult to dispose of later on.
Elite Self Storage is concerned about the environment and has created a list of eco-friendly moving and storage tips:
Hire Professional Movers
Check Your Food Supply
Wash in Cold Water
Use what you already have
Reduce, Reuse and Recycle
Use Eco-Friendly moving supplies
Use Eco-Friendly Cleaning products
Avoid Unnecessary trips back and forth
Hiring a moving company is one great way to reduce your carbon footprint. Professional moving companies are experts on packing and loading their moving trucks, saving space and time. Your move is done in one trip, reducing environmental impacts on your moving day. Some companies now are considered Green Moving Companies, as they follow specific guidelines to help protect the environment.
Before you move, check your cupboards to see what you have. Create meals using the food you have on hand to avoid food waste. Another eco-friendly way of dealing with your unwanted items, is to donate non-perishable food items to the local food bank.
Before storing your clothing, bedding or linens in a storage unit, wash them, using cold water and if possible, air drying them, cutting down on energy use. Plastic storage bins are also an eco-friendly storage solution.
Before you start packing your household items, look through your home to see what items you have to help with your packing. There may not be a need for bubble wrap or other disposable packing materials.
Consider using towels, blankets, reusable grocery bags or even socks to keep your fragile items safe during your move. Suitcases, duffle bags and backpacks are an eco-friendly packing alternative.
As you sort through your items, you may discover that some of them are still good, but you don't need them. Donate these items to a local Thrift Store, or shelter.
Packing these items into reusable moving boxes will save money, as well as the environment. Recycled boxes can be found on sites like Facebook, or a local Kijiji site. At the end of your move, cardboard boxes can be recycled and/or reused by someone else.
Eco-Friendly packing supplies can be found in most self-storage facilities. Consider biodegradable supplies or supplies with a Green Logo, as they contain 40% recycled content over traditional packing supplies. Packing peanuts made of corn starch are a great eco-friendly packing item that can be used to protect your most fragile items.
Once you have moved out of your home, skip the toxic cleaning products and consider making your own with a few simple ingredients, such as vinegar, baking soda and water. Diluted vinegar works wonders on windows, showers, the kitchen and even your hardwood floors. Baking soda and vinegar can help with cleaning your oven, avoiding the harsh chemical and hazardous fumes of some cleaning products.
With the rising cost of fuel, unnecessary trips back and forth can be an expensive venture, as well as, take a toll on the environment. Try to do your move in one trip. This will cut down on emissions, noise and save you some money.
If your move in and out dates do not align, renting a self storage unit can provide the space you need to store your belongings while in transition. Elite Self Storage has many storage options for your personal and household storage needs. We offer indoor climate controlled storage, outdoor drive-up storage, vehicle storage and RV Storage.
For Storage in Edmonton give one of our storage rental experts a call today at 780-452-8242 or reserve a unit online. We offer no hassle and no obligation reservations, no security deposits or admin fees.
For Storage in St. Albert call 780-459-6435.
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