Packing up advice?

[Almostlaunched]

My son will be returning home after his freshman year. My husband and I are going to pick him up. I have heard that the best way to pack up their belongings is in garbage bags. Since I don't think there is access to boxes I guess this is the way to go. Any advice from some experienced parents out there regarding the packing process would be appreciated.

[HarrietMWelsch]

Well, plastic garbage bags are definitely cheap, and they work wonderfully for some stuff. I would never try to help pack a college room without them!

But since he's just a freshman, you'll be moving him several more times, and it might be worth investing in some inexpensive, large, flat, plastic storage boxes. They protect items that need some protection, and can be stacked in the car (and under his bed next fall), and they don't have that risk of ripping that's always there with hastily stuffed garbage bags.

If you're willing to spring for a little more, a good footlocker is a very, very useful thing to have - it can provide secure storage, it is completely protective of things inside, and it can either slide under a bed, or provide a table/footrest in his room.

Good luck! Take a big bottle of Tylenol - you'll need it.

[sax]

I am a big fan of same size plastic containers also. If you don't use them all they just stack inside each other for the trip home. Stack well in the car. His things can stay inside these during the summer too if he doesn't need them. Keeps computer equiptment all in same box, extension cords, remotes, cables etc.

Take bottled water, a roll of paper towels and second the Tylenol.

Son never dusted the entire year.............uuuggghhhh. Nor had he packed a thing before I showed up.

[Student615]

- Boxes are pretty easy to find. You don't need them too big b/c they'll be tough to carry, but if you just go ask at CostCo or most grocery stores, they should be able to give you a few. Even if you don't pack everything in boxes, I find that it's nice to have some, esp. for little stuff, books, videos, stuff with wires, etc. that I wouldn't just want to toss into a bag.

- After freshman year, I always packed my clothes ON the hangers...took 'em right out of the closet and put them in the car or in a suitcase. Bringing the hangers home in a garbage bag just made a mess, plus I had to go home and re-hang everything only to re-pack (and re-hang...) a few months later. Moving back and forth is tedious, so little time/energy savers like this were helpful. In the extra suitcase space, I'd just shove socks, little stuff, linens, etc., so I didn't lose too much room.

- Is your son storing anything? I always split a small unit with 1-2 friends, which was VERY helpful. It just meant that I didn't have a lot of only-need-it-at-school stuff sitting around all summer, and packing to go home (and return to school) was much easier. If he's not storing anything, it might make sense to pay *some* attention (i.e. it doesn't have to be an exact science, just something to keep in the back of your mind as you pack) to things that he'll need over the summer vs. things he won't. Maybe try to have one bag/case that you can just stick in the garage or storage closet and not bother with until August.

- Pack. In. Everything. Plastic drawers can stay packed and loose items can be put in the spare space; the trash can can be packed up; etc. Particularly if your son isn't storing anything, space in the car might be at a premium. If it's not, then feel free to ignore this one.

Packing up isn't that tough, and even if you're putting thought into the process, it doesn't take terribly long (and I say that as someone who had a lot of stuff). But start as soon as you can, because doing it at the last minute can just be stressful. Don't expect your son to have too much--if anything--done before you arrive (if he does, be impressed!). Of course, these are only suggestions. I had friends who put everything in garbage bags, stuffed the bags into the car, and got home just fine! I just hate both packing and unpacking, so the more I was able to organize things in the beginning--while everyone around me was stuck doing the same thing and while my parents were around to help out--the less I had to worry about it later down the line, and I liked that. Good luck

ETA: I second the water and paper towels, and third the Tylenol. One other note...my mom actually found that it was cheaper, given the price of gas, to fly down to my school, rent a car, and return it in my hometown. I happened to be at a school where we could get really cheap flights, and I only had one parent coming down. Just a counterintuitive tip for anyone who comes across it, though.

[kathiep]

We just let the kids figure it out for themselves. My son packs his car to the brim and drives home. Our daughter always shared a car with a friend and left her bulky stuff at school. Plastic bags and hard plastic containers were both used.

My job was to make their favorite cookies and have them waiting in the cookie jar.

[Chedva]

Hefty and Ziplock now have those gigantic plastic bags. I really like those better than garbage bags because they have secure closings (like on sandwich or storage bags), handles to carry, and they're clear so you can see what's in them. We just used them for my d and it worked great. The flexibility to put them in odd spaces are great. (Of course, these were in addition to the plastic drawers & under-the-bed storage boxes she used all year, and to the suitcases we brought for her clothes!)

[cmbmom]

We went up 5 days before she finished and used $4 storage bins from Home Depot for all the stuff that will be going back in the fall, not including clothes. She packed the stuff up and we brought it home and stored it. She was left with a fan, tv, computer, bedding, personal care items, and clothes for 5 days. She used a duffel for the clothes, bedding went into large trash bags (those foam mattress pads take up a lot of space), and that all fit into her car. I am washing the bedding as I type and it will go into plastic storage bags and then into another bin all ready for fall. At least that is the plan.

[Almostlaunched]

Kathiep- Sure wish it was that easy. My son does not have a car on campus and also suffered a stress fracture running for the track team. I think Dad and I will be doing most of the lugging from dorm to car.

Thanks for the advice everyone, I really appreciate it.

[ebeeeee]

I like the long flat plastic storage on wheels. They fit under the bed and each time, DS can just fill them, take them to the next place and slip them back under the bed. During the summer last year they just lived in my parent's garage.

[FauxNom]

The plastic storage boxes sound ideal. Has anyone ever tried to check them on an airplane? What a luxury it would be to move back and forth in a car, but my kid is going too far for that.

[icesk8mom]

We used the large plastic bins and rented a storage locker for the summer. Keeps all the "stuff" out of the house

[sharonohio]

Well I just brought my son home on Wednesday. He's a junior and 2 1/2 hours away. In prior years we used laundry baskets and boxes but found that didn't pack the car very efficiently. This year I bought a smaller car (Prius) so we needed a different solution. His sister was going to visit a few weeks ago so I took all the winter clothes home then along with a comfy chair. Wed we brought the remainder of things home in several small boxes, his duffle bag and lots of trash bags. It all fit nicely into the car with the back seats down.

I think the real key is to limit the stuff that the kids have at school and for any larger items try to find things that fold up (his bookshelf and chair). He and I watched in amusement last year as others were packing trailers and overstuffed car as well as numerous storage boxes.

Just remember, that all the stuff has to go back in 3 months and will clutter your house all summer. Also, I got to his dorm at 11:30 and we were on the road coming home at 1pm because we didn't have that much stuff to take.

[Packer]

Don't forget to have them defrost their fridge/freezers.

[2VU0609]

Also, add a box of baking soda slightly opened in the fridge as well!

[Chedva]

And don't forget to have your child forward their mail back home for the summer!