Whether to a destination in Canada or abroad, preparing to move long distance tends to be a hectic, stressful time. However, planning your long distance move in advance helps control the chaos and keep everyone a bit calmer. Part of that planning includes learning what not to pack for your move. Items that are too valuable, vulnerable, dangerous, or irrelevant shouldn’t go into your moving boxes… like these 5 categories of items not to pack.
1. Flammable Or Explosive Items
It stands to reason that you should not pack flammable or explosive items, such as guns and ammunition, propane tanks, lighter fluid, pressurized containers, batteries, and nail polish remover… to name just a few examples. Learn what not to pack for your move here.
These potential hazards might endanger the safety of anyone who handles them. In fact, shipping such items in a regular moving truck may even be illegal, according to the 1992 Transportation of Dangerous Goods Act, which regulates the transport of hazardous substances in Canada.
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2. Other Chemical Products
Beyond products that could explode or burst into flame, many other chemicals are unsafe to pack. Chief among them are acidic or otherwise corrosive compounds, such as harsh cleaning solvents and lye. Poisons (think herbicides, insecticides, even lice shampoo) and some prescription drugs might be banned in your new hometown or country. If necessary, talk with your health practitioner about acceptable substitutes for the medication you take regularly.
3. Perishables
Of course, you wouldn’t stow anything easily spoiled — like cold cuts or hard-boiled eggs, for instance — in a long distance moving van. Yuck! But you might not know that there is a whole host of other food items that you shouldn’t pack because they are also considered perishable. These include frozen or refrigerated food, fruit and vegetables, and any opened food packages.
Why not? Well, some of these items might attract rodents or other vermin… which you really don’t want in your shipment. Others will go bad pretty quickly after a few hours in an un-air-conditioned moving truck. Rotting food not only smells bad, it can also lead to condensation or even mould in the rest of your belongings.
However, foodstuffs in sealed containers, cans, or cartons are generally just fine.
4. Valuable Or Sentimental Items
For sure, you must have a few (maybe more than a few) treasured items that you would never want to lose. Their value may be monetary — perhaps expensive jewelry or a coin collection — or strictly sentimental — like treasured family photos. For whatever reason, though, these objects would be virtually irreplaceable if lost or damaged. Of course, a reputable moving company will do their very best to ensure that all your possessions arrive safe and sound, but, well, life happens.
It is strongly recommended to bring valuables along with you on a long distance or international move — in your car or if you’re travelling to your new home by plane, in your carry-on luggage.
5. Plants
Being plant lovers ourselves, we know how attached you can get to your favourite potted succulent or hosta. But your little darling is a sensitive living creature, who might be traumatized by moving across Canada. (Plants can literally go into shock when faced with a radical change in temperature, amount of sunlight, or environment.)
If you’re planning a Canada to USA move, bear in mind that importing houseplants into your new country may be prohibited or strictly regulated to limit the spread of agricultural pests and disease. (In fact, certain areas within Canada won’t allow you to bring plants or soil from outside.) So do your homework and find a fellow gardening fan who’ll adopt your plants if necessary — before you go.
6. Clutter
Forgive us if we sound rude, but the cost to move long distances is calculated based on weight X distance. Anyone who willingly chooses to move clutter is spending good money on mostly useless stuff.
Think expired medicine, torn or stained clothing, broken appliances, dried-up cans of paint… no doubt you have plenty more to add to this list.
Unless you are fabulously wealthy or have to move in an incredible hurry, take a little time to sort and get rid of your clutter before moving day. Hold a garage sale, donate to charity, recycle, bin it, or drop it off at one of Ottawa’s scheduled Household Hazardous Waste Depots. Then you can take a deep breath and get off to a fresh uncluttered start at your new address. Ahhh!!!
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With over a century’s experience in the business, we know moving and packing inside out. Put “Contact Cassidy’s” at the top of your moving checklist. We’ll provide valuable advice, plus a full roster of moving services. Customize your long distance or local Ottawa move the way you want it… with Cassidy’s!
