10 Ways to Get Rid of Moving Boxes
Just moved into a rental home in Baton Rouge, LA, apartment in Los Angeles, CA, or Meriden,CT home and unsure what to do with all those moving boxes? Check out the Rent.’s 10 Ways to Get Rid of Moving Boxes article we were featured in here!
Out with the old and in with the new… like, a new home perhaps? With moving season upon us, friends, family members, and neighbors alike are saying goodbye to their space for a new one. While packaging up your whole life in boxes is daunting in itself, you’re then tasked with dealing with all the boxes after you’ve moved in.
Before you rush to throw them in the trash, we urge you to keep reading and consider these ten new ways you can reuse your moving boxes. Whether you’ve moving into a rental home in Baton Rouge, LA, apartment in Los Angeles, CA, or Meriden, CT home you’ll likely amass quite a few boxes, but we can help with the cleanup.
1. Reuse moving boxes for your pets
If you have a furry friend living with you (or have a friend with one), you can recycle your boxes as entertainment for them.
For cats, “you can create a cardboard cat scratcher by cutting the boxes into strips and stacking them tightly in a spiral or layered shape, securing them with non-toxic glue,” suggests Aaron Blevins of Cardboard Cat Homes. Another feline friendly option is to “make a hanging toy station by attaching strings or small toys inside an open-top box for interactive fun,” recommends Aaron.
Mark McKeen of Barkley and Paws suggests making a “dig box” for your dog. For this DIY, you simply fill a box “with shredded paper and treats hidden inside to help stimulate their natural foraging instincts,” Mark explains.
Perfect for any pet, Mark suggests reusing some of the “smaller boxes as elevated feeding stations which are especially beneficial for older pets or those with joint issues.”
Whether you decide to completely DIY one of these pet entertainment options or just let your feline sit in the box, pets love recycling moving boxes almost as much as we do.
2. Have a photoshoot with your upcycled boxes
Danielle Harris of Le Pepite Frenchies urges us to get creative and re-purpose moving boxes as photography props. “Whether we’re doing a Christmas ‘in the box’ style, Valentine’s Day kissing booth, or summer lemonade stand, there’s always something fun and creative to make,” says Danielle.
She personally uses these moving boxes-turned-props for her French bulldog photoshoots, but we think they’d be perfect photography props for small children and animals alike. If you do decide to have a photoshoot with your animal, Danielle suggests to “hide treats and toys [in the boxes] for added fun and enrichment.”
3. Craft moving boxes into storage containers
Instead of buying new storage containers for your home, make them out of your old moving boxes. “For smaller boxes, simply upcycle them into gorgeous storage solutions by painting them, wrapping them in fabric or paper, or adding rope handles,” suggests Christine Burrows of Christine's Crafts. For an even easier DIY you can cut the boxes into strips, decorate them if you wish, and use them as drawer dividers. These easy DIYs help to elevate the boxes from plain cardboard to useful solutions that not only fit your aesthetic, but become things you’ll actually use.
4. Re-imagine your boxes and play pretend
If you have little ones at home (or want to feel like a kid again), use your imagination and create a new world out of your moving boxes.
For example, your once boring boxes can make a “cardboard rocket ship that becomes a portal to endless play and adventure,” says Katie Mazur, marketing manager at Great Pretenders. “All you really need is two boxes and some tape: one longer box as a base and a large box cut into four triangles to tape on top to create the cone roof,” instructs Katie. “With a little creativity, [your kids] can even decorate the box with colorful markers, stickers, and even create control panels or windows, making the experience even more immersive and imaginative,” she continues.
Besides a rocket ship, with a little imagination, a cardboard box or two can become anything. “With our old cardboard, some paint, and an Exacto knife, we’ve built playhouses, kitchens, and slides for our kids,” exemplifies Juliet Jenson, blogger of Sly Spoon. “With a dose of imagination, you can turn those larger boxes into a pirate ship, a race car, or just a fun place [for your kids] to read,” continues Denise Bertacchi, blogger of STL Motherhood.
Whether you’re making “forts, rocket ships, or even a play kitchen, it’s an eco-friendly way to keep little hands busy while giving cardboard a second life,” says Johann Louarn, head of marketing at Makedo.
5. Make recycled art with your moving boxes
Before you get rid of your boxes, try using them as art supplies. For example, “You can easily repurpose your cardboard as an art canvas, in a cardboard sculpture, for textured paintings, or collages,” suggests artist Miabo Enyadike. All you need is some inspiration and you too can “reduce waste and spark creativity by transforming moving boxes into unique art and decor,” says Miabo.
6. Create upcycled cardboard postcards
Another creative way to recycle your boxes is to make them into postcards. Simply cut the cardboard into a 6” x 4” rectangle, decorate one side, write a sweet note on the other, stamp, and send. After all, you have to tell your friends and family your new address somehow.
7. Re-purpose moving boxes in your garden
Did you know that cardboard is a compostable material? “Use them in the yard to create new garden areas, walkways, and paths,” suggests Pam Carter, blogger of Hydrangeas Blue. Simply “Remove the tape, break down the boxes, and once the cardboard is on the ground, cover with mulch, dirt, or something to hold them in place,” instructs Pam. “After a few weeks the cardboard will break down and leave a grass-free space for gardening or walking,” she says.
Another way you can reuse moving boxes in your garden is as environmentally friendly planters. “When starting seeds, be sure your new plants get plenty of sunlight indoors and, when ready, place the plant (cardboard and all) into your garden bed,” says Ben Camerota of Stamped with Love. After all, “there's nothing better than something that's cost-effective and allows you to re-use items necessary in a big move,” says Ben.
8. Build a bird feeder out of old moving boxes
Our last DIY suggestion is to make a bird feeder for your new home. You can find guides online or use your construction skills to cut and secure your cardboard into a cylinder or house. Next, head to your pantry and cover the piece in peanut butter and roll it in a mixture of birdseed to attract the flock. Using a hook or other fastener, hang your feeder from an awning or nearby tree and watch the birds stop by.
9. Sell your old boxes
If you’ve tried all of our ideas and still have some more boxes, you can always sell them. “If your moving boxes are still in good shape, consider reselling them on local marketplaces like Craigslist, Facebook Marketplace, or RePackify,” suggests Jake Almeida, CEO of RePackify. You could also try reselling to local small businesses or neighbors who may need boxes for shipping, storage, or moving. Not only is this method environmentally friendly, “it’s a simple way to keep boxes in use while earning a little cash back after your move,” says Jake.
10. Donate your moving boxes
When in doubt, you can always donate your old moving boxes. If you don’t know someone who could use them, consider asking your old or new apartment complex managers if anyone does. Another option is to contact a charity or community organization that may be in need of some boxes. “Just don’t forget to pass along any sturdy boxes because sustainability is best when shared,” reminds Wesley Rankin, CEO of HiveBoxx.
All in all, recycling rules
Moving can be quite the hassle, and we understand the last thing you want to deal with is all those moving boxes. Since they can easily pile up and become quite the annoyance (let alone an eyesore), we hope we’ve inspired you to reuse your old boxes instead of getting rid of them. With that we wish you luck with your move and hope you feel better knowing you opted to help your community and environment.
