How to pack a closet for moving
Clothes are light, but they take up a surprising amount of space, and closets hide a lot more than clothes. A closet packed with a plan unpacks in an afternoon. One packed in a rush becomes a pile on the bedroom floor for weeks.
Sort before you pack
Pull everything out and sort into keep, donate and toss. A simple test: if it doesn't fit, you haven't worn it in a year, or you wouldn't buy it again, let it go. Donation centers across DFW accept clean clothing; check their current guidelines before dropping off.
Pack off-season first
In Texas, that usually means heavy coats and sweaters in summer, or shorts and swimwear in winter. Pack off-season clothes several weeks early — you won't miss them, and it shrinks the job later.
Hanging clothes
- Garbage-bag method: gather 10–15 hangers together, pull a drawstring bag up from the bottom and tie it around the hooks. They go straight back on the rod at the new place.
- Lay bundled hanging clothes flat across the top of a filled container so they don't crush.
- For formalwear, use garment bags and keep them on top of everything in the vehicle.
Folded clothes
Fold or roll clothes into containers by category — workout, kids, pajamas — so unpacking is just moving a stack into a drawer. Rolling saves space and reduces creases for T-shirts and casual clothes. Light dresser drawers can sometimes travel with clothes inside if the dresser is being carried by capable helpers; heavy dressers should be emptied.
Shoes
Stuff shoes with socks to keep their shape, pair them with a rubber band, and pack heavy shoes at the bottom. Keep a separate bag for muddy or outdoor shoes.
Accessories and closet shelves
Belts, scarves and ties roll neatly into small bags. Jewelry should travel with you. Closet shelves often hold paperwork, games, luggage and keepsakes — give these their own labeled containers rather than mixing them with clothes. Luggage is useful: fill suitcases with clothes and roll them.
Keep a week's worth out
Pack a bag with a week of clothes for everyone in the household, plus a towel each, as if you were going on a trip. It takes the pressure off unpacking the rest.
Why totes work for clothes
Clothes are light enough that a 27-gallon tote filled with folded clothes stays easy to lift, and the snap-on lid keeps dust and moisture out during the move. Mark each tote with the person and category.
Unpacking the closet at the new home
Hang the bundled hangers first — it takes minutes and immediately makes the bedroom feel livable. Then unpack folded clothes by category straight into drawers. Before you fill the new closet, decide where shoes, bags and accessories will live; adding a shelf or hooks is easiest while the space is still empty.
Use the move as a reset: anything you didn't miss during the move is a good candidate for the donation bag you kept from the sorting step.
How STORVA tote rental works
STORVA rents reusable 27-gallon black totes with yellow snap-on lids across Dallas–Fort Worth. We drop the empty totes off at your door, you pack, move and unpack your own belongings, and we pick the empty totes back up on the date you chose. We don't move, pack or haul anything for you — we supply the equipment.
Packages start at $79. The 1 Bedroom package and larger include black 4-wheel dollies; extra dollies are $9 each. Next-day drop-off is available across DFW; for weekends and the end of the month, book 2–3 days ahead.
- Dorm / Studio: 10 totes, 1 week included, $79.
- 1 Bedroom: 20 totes + 1 dolly, 2 weeks included, $109.
- 2–3 Bedrooms: 40 totes + 1 dolly, 2 weeks included, $189.
- 4+ Bedrooms: 60 totes + 2 dollies, 2 weeks included, $239.
Rent totes · Use the tote calculator
Frequently asked questions
Do I need wardrobe boxes?
Not necessarily. Bundling hangers in drawstring bags and laying them across the top of filled totes works for most clothes. Use garment bags for formalwear.
Can I leave clothes in dresser drawers?
Light clothes in a light dresser may be fine if your helpers are comfortable carrying it. Empty heavy dressers before moving them.
How many totes do clothes take?
It varies widely by household. Use the tote calculator for a starting estimate by room.