I know what you're thinking: the laundry room is small and there's not much to do in there: it should be simple, right? You could be surprised. Not only are there some major items that you may be overlooking such as relocating the washer and dryer, but there are also likely to be numerous little items. It's easy to gather stuff, especially when you only have to look at it when doing laundry. Let's face it, for some of us, that chore might be done by a spouse or partner or loved one. We are here to  assist you with a few steps to make the process go more smoothly.

Declutter the laundry room

Packing the laundry room, like any other room, begins with decluttering. Sort through your cabinets and drawers, donate anything you don't want or need. Identify any chemicals or hazardous goods that you won't be able to transport to your new house, such as detergent and bleach. Make a strategy to use what you can before throwing the remainder away or donating it to a friend or neighbor.

If your laundry room has a connected storage or pantry area, now is the time to declutter it as well. Throw out any expired canned or boxed food, as well as any broken products, and donate or sell anything you don't need.

Packing supplies

You may want to bring cleaning supplies and laundry detergent with you if you're moving locally. To avoid leaking, place detergent, fabric softener, and other liquids in plastic shopping bags and secure them shut. Fill a labeled box or a laundry basket with them.

Now that these goods are out of the way, you can focus on packing up the remainder of your laundry supplies:

• Laundry baskets can be quite beneficial for packing and storing other items throughout your relocation. Simply wrap these goods in a towel to keep them clean while in transit.
• To protect your ironing board from accidentally opening in the back of the moving truck, wrap it in protective plastic or shrink-wrap.
• To keep your iron from moving, wrap and tie all of the cords and place it in a small box.
• Tape or rope collapsible drying racks to keep them from opening in the back of your moving truck.

Preparing your dryer

Washing machines are heavier and more difficult to transport than dryers. Here's how to get yours moving again:

• Using the electrical panel, turn off the electricity.
• Clear out the lint chute. 
• Unplug electric dryers and secure the cord to the dyer's pack with packing or duct tape. Disconnect the hose from the gas dryer and keep it inside the drum.
• Remove the metallic hose vent and disconnect it. If it's in good condition, store it within the dryer drum; if it's not, now's a good time to replace it.
• Wrap moving blankets around your dryer.

Preparing your washing machine

Drain the washing machine completely and leave the lid open for at least 24 hours to allow the drum to air dry. If you have movers on the way, they can handle the remainder. You will, however, need to take a few more procedures if you are transporting the washing machine yourself.

Unplug the washing machine on moving day or the night before, coil the plug, and tape it to the rear of the appliance. Disconnect the supply hoses from the water source with pliers, then pour any surplus water into a pail. Wrap plastic wrap around the hose and the machine.

To keep the drum steady throughout the transport, put transit or washer shipping bolts through the back of the machine.

If you need assistance with packing and moving, contact the Packers and Movers in New Haven, CT