What to do with used moving boxes?

You’ve made it through your move. The boxes are unpacked and the new house is filled with all your favourite things. You can choose to toss those boxes in the garbage, but there are other things you can do with them. Here are our best moving tips to utilize those boxes one more time.

Sell them to someone else

There are a few options for selling your used boxes to someone else who can use them. There are websites where you can post for sale your used boxes, but the actual site may depend on your area. You can find a box broker, which is a company that actually specializes in the sale of used boxes. They’ll buy the boxes and take care of finding customers. You can also try Craigslist or the U-Haul boards, both of which have listings for boxes and other packing supplies.

Give them to someone who needs them

You may have neighbours who are interested in taking your used boxes. If you are moving into an apartment, the manager may be able to notify tenants who can come get them. Another great place to try is NextDoor, which is a neighbourhood app. You can sell or give them away. In addition, the site is great for getting to know others in the area when you’re new. A final option in this realm is to contact a charity organization that could use them. You may need to call a few places to find the right organization, but with persistence, you’ll find someone in need.

Recycle them locally

Most towns and cities with recycle centers offer the ability for people to recycle large amounts of cardboard. You may have to drive it over to the location or they may be available to pick it up. You can find out specifics online or make a phone call. Just be sure to let them know how many boxes and the sizes so they can give you accurate information.

Use them for your garden

Cardboard boxes can be an excellent option for a compost bin, because the cardboard will break down fairly well. The only real issue is that this will only take care of a box or two at a time, so you may want to do something else with the rest of the boxes you have available.

Activities for the children

If you have kids, there are many ways you can use boxes to have a great time with them. Here are a few ideas that might work, depending on your children’s interests and ages:

• Create a track for miniature cars by unfolding a box and drawing some lanes.
• Make a playhouse with any box of a reasonably large space.
• Make a lap art desk for travelling. You can use cardboard for the top, add a slot for a device, and some tubes or cups for supplies.
• Turn stairs into a slide by opening up boxes and taping them together, then laying them on the stairs.
• Go sledding on grass using a piece of cardboard from a box.
• Create play stores using cardboard, paper, and paint.

Household uses for used boxes

Of course, there are some very adult ways to use boxes, as well. You can use these versatile items for many uses, some listed below:

• Keep a box and use it to put emergency items in for your home, car, or both. You can add chargers, flashlights, tools, and more.
• Package gifts for birthdays or Christmas. Keep the boxes around for the holidays and you’ll never have to worry about having the right box for a gift.
• Place a portion of a cardboard box under your car if you think you might have a leak. Leave it there a while and then pull it out to see if any fluids are there.

There you go, a handful of options for using your old cardboard boxes. Hopefully, these spark some interest for you or lead you to even more creative uses. Good luck!