New and Used Moving Boxes and Packing Supplies

Used Moving Boxes

Used moving boxes may sound like a good idea at first, but with used moving boxes there are the obvious pros- (inexpensive or sometimes even free) there are some serious cons.

First we have to look at how corrugated cardboard boxes are built.

Linerboard (a type of flat cardboard sheet) is softened with steam to make it pliable. Then the linerboard is fed between huge meshed metal rollers with gear-like teeth that press the board into a series of permanent wavy curves (known as flutes).

A cornstarch adhesive is applied to the tips of the flutes (top and bottom) to which the linerboard is glued.

So basically if you look carefully at corrugated cardboard boxes you will see small mazes of air pockets ( flutes ) sandwiched between two smooth linerboards ( cardboard ). These flutes, which are essentially a series of connected arches, give the corrugated box it's strength, but they are also hiding places for unwanted stowaways.

Now where did I pack that dog brush?

You move into your new home and then find out you have a flea problem. If you have moved with used moving boxes, you might have brought them in yourself. By using used moving boxes you risk the chance of unwanted guests that are hiding in the flutes of the corrugated cardboard. This infestation can occur if any prior owners of the used moving boxes have had to put their household goods in a storage facility.

What about cockroaches and spiders and other icky bugs?

As explained above, the same applies to any other insect.

A lot of storage facilities have excellent security against thieves, but are not too concerned with insects infiltrating your used moving boxes.

The flutes in the corrugated cardboard walls of the used moving boxes are nice warm dry breeding grounds for all kinds of insects. An insect could lay it's eggs in a flute in your used moving box and hatch in your nice warm new basement.

So, if you have to use used moving boxes, unpack them in your garage or outside and recycle the corrugated cardboard right away (new recycled moving boxes have been heated to a temperature where any living organisms would have been vaporized).

Using Grocery store boxes as used moving boxes

Some grocery stores will let you have boxes for free. But, what was shipped in the grocery store box? Corrugated cardboard boxes have a tendency to absorb the odor of the contents of whatever has been shipped in the box, this applies not only to grocery boxes, but any used moving boxes. This odor is also transferable to whatever you re-pack into the box.

Grocery store boxes are also most likely to be of every size and shape imaginable, with some having no tops or the flaps have been cut off. This might seem okay while you are packing, but it becomes a nightmare when it comes to packing a truck or even stacking the boxes on a handtruck. The bottom line is that new moving boxes are consistent in sizes and will save you time and money in the long run.