Moving Crates: How to Choose Between Plastic and Cardboard

When moving to a new home or office people need to pick the right packing materials to ensure the safe arrival of their belongings. Often the choice is between plastic crates and cardboard boxes. Both have their pros and cons, so our expert London movers are here to guide you towards the right option in your particular case. Here is what you need to know in order to make an informative decision.

Pro and Cons of Cardboard Boxes

The most popular packaging material in the world is no doubt cardboard boxes. But with the growing environmental crisis, they might not be the best possible solution.

Pros

• Easy to get. You can receive cardboard boxes from practically everywhere from your moving company to your local store.
• Recyclable. Once you are done with your moving box, you can easily recycle it and avoid polluting the environment.
• You can write on them. This is actually very important. Every professional mover will tell you, you must label and mark each box before you load them in the truck. Since cardboard is essentially paper, you can write everywhere on the box without the need for special markers.

Cons

• Not very strong. Carboard can get easily damaged during transportation. These boxes are not safe for transporting valuable items.
• Short life span. You can reuse them at most two times and need to toss them. Cardboard boxes lack durability and can’t be used for long periods of time.
• Mould. If they get wet, you can be certain some of your items will get mould. Cardboard absorbs liquids and provides great opportunities for the development of all types of dangerous fungi.
• Insects and rats. Lots of bugs and rodents find paper quite tasty, so it’s common to attack and destroy not only the box but its content as well. That is why you don’t want to use these types of boxes when storing items for a long time.

Cardboard boxes are perfect for:

• Storing items for short periods.
• People who don’t want to spend much and are transporting nothing of value.
• For fast house/office moves

Pros and Cons of Plastic Crates

People slowly start to pick plastic containers as they have a lot more positive qualities than cardboard boxes.

Pros

• Protection against the elements. Plastic crates create a barrier between your belongings and the outside world. Plastic doesn’t absorb water, so your items are completely safe from soaking.
• No pest problems. In general, your things will be out of harm’s way as long you store them in plastic moving crates. You don’t have to worry about insects or mice.
• Easy to carry. Most crates have plastic handles which make them very comfortable to load and unload from the moving truck.
• Environmentally friendly. Altho made of plastic, these crates allow to be used multiple times and for an extended period.
• Avoid clutter. Many moving companies in London offer to their customers to rent these containers. This means once you relocate, you return the plastic crate and don’t have to wonder where to store it.

Cons

• It’s still plastic. Altho they can be used multiple times, not all are made from materials that can be easily recycled.
• Expensive. Many London companies offer renting crates as part of their moving services, however, if you decide to buy the containers you may need a bigger budget.

Plastic crates are ideal for:

• People with lots of valuable items who are relocating to a faraway destination.
• Places with bad weather conditions.
• Keeping your belongings organised in your storage unit.

How to Pick the Right Box/Crate for Your London Removals?

When choosing a container, you need to consider the following requirements:

• It needs to be easy to pick up and carry. Look for boxes with handles.
• Medium-sized containers are ideal for house moves.
• Consider the weather conditions. For example, if you move from/to a rainy city like London, use plastic crates.
• The lid needs to fit properly.
• Think about your budget at all times.

Now you are ready to pack your belongings and move and start your new life!

Stephanie Cooper

Stephanie is a content marketing specialist for Top Removals for the past several years. She has extensive experience working with moving companies and knows her audience. Stephanie creates engaging and useful content helping the customers of Top Removals with their struggles and providing them with the most accurate insight.