How to Pack Electronics for a Move in Kelowna (TVs, Cords, PCs)
Updated: 2 days ago
The safest way to pack electronics for a move in Kelowna is simple: photograph every setup before you unplug it, bag and label every cord, wrap each device in soft linens, and pack it snug in a rigid plastic moving tote with a snap-on lid. TVs ride upright in a moving blanket, and laptops, chargers and hard drives ride with you in the car. Here is the full plan, from the first cable to the first movie night in your new home in Kelowna, West Kelowna or Lake Country.
Why electronics need their own packing plan
Electronics break in boring ways. A screen gets pressure on it, a port cracks when a box gets squashed, or a cord goes missing and the TV sits dark for a week. Most of that damage comes from soft cardboard that crushes when it's stacked, and from cords thrown loose into a box. Rigid totes fix the first problem, and a little labelling fixes the second.
Bin Ready's 102L moving totes have stiff walls and solid bottoms, so a full tote doesn't sag or crush the one under it. The yellow snap-on lids close in a second and keep dust and rain out on the way to the truck. No tape needed, so you can open a tote, check a cable and snap it shut again.
Two weeks out: photograph and sort
Start with a five-minute walk around your home with your phone.
Take a photo of the back of the TV, the router, the gaming console and the desk setup before you unplug anything. These photos are your wiring diagram on the other end.
Back up your computer and phone to the cloud or an external drive. Pack that drive separately from the computer.
Gather spare remotes, old chargers and dead gadgets. Recycle what you don't use so you aren't packing it.
Look for original boxes for the TV or monitor. If you kept them, great. If not, a moving blanket and a few towels will do the job.
One week out: cords, cables and small electronics
Cables are where most of the frustration happens, so give them a system.
Bag and label every cord
Unplug one device at a time. Coil each cord loosely, secure it with a twist tie or a reusable hook-and-loop strap, and put it in a zip bag with a note that says which device it belongs to, like "living room TV" or "office printer". Put the remote, the power cord and any small parts for one device in the same bag.
Pack small electronics in one tote
Speakers, game consoles, routers, cable boxes, small kitchen appliances and printers can all go in totes. Wrap each one in a towel, a sweater or bedding, so the soft stuff you're moving anyway becomes padding. Put the heaviest item on the bottom and fill the gaps so nothing slides. Keep each tote under about 20 kg so it's easy to lift.
Label the tote, not the device
Slide a card into the clear label sleeve on the side of the tote: the room, "ELECTRONICS", and a short list like "TV cords, router, speakers". Write "THIS SIDE UP" on the card if it matters. Never write on the tote itself, and no tape.
TVs, monitors and computers
Big screens are the one thing that doesn't go in a tote.
TVs: remove the stand or wall mount and put the screws in a small zip bag and drop it in the TV's cord bag. Wrap the TV in a moving blanket, screen side protected with a towel, and keep it standing upright, never flat. In the truck, put it between two mattresses or along the side wall.
Monitors: wrap the screen in a soft towel, then a blanket, and stand it upright in an empty tote with bedding around it.
Desktop computers: unplug everything, remove any loose discs or drives, and wrap the tower in a blanket. It can ride in a tote on its side with padding all around.
Laptops and tablets: these ride with you in the car, in a backpack or a laptop sleeve, along with your phone and chargers.
Move day: load smart, keep it warm
Kelowna fall and winter mornings can be cold, and electronics don't love a cold truck bed. Load the electronics totes last so they come off first, and keep laptops, cameras, hard drives and anything with a battery in the heated car.
Use the free dolly that comes with every package. Stack 3 or 4 totes, heaviest on the bottom, and roll them to your vehicle instead of carrying them down the stairs. When you get to the new place, let cold electronics sit for an hour or two to warm up before you plug them in.
Unpacking: plug it back in the right way
Set up the router first, so everyone has Wi-Fi while they unpack. Then the TV, using your photo of the back panel. Open each cord bag next to its device, and you won't be hunting for the HDMI cable at 10pm. Once a tote is empty, snap the lid back on and nest it. When you're settled, we pick up the empties.
Want more room-by-room help? Read our moving tips, see how many moving totes you need, or browse the Bin Ready blog.
Moving tote rental in Kelowna from $99
Bin Ready Tote Rentals drops off clean, sanitized 102L moving totes with yellow snap-on lids and a free dolly, then picks up the empty totes when you're done. We serve Kelowna, West Kelowna, Glenmore, Dilworth, the Upper and Lower Mission, Rutland, Peachland, Lake Country, Vernon and Penticton.
Start: 20 totes, $99
Apartment: 30 totes, $149
Home: 40 totes, $189
Family: 65 totes, $249
Every package covers 14 days, about 35¢ a tote per day. Need longer? Just $2 a tote per extra week. Questions? Check our FAQ or book your moving totes online.
FAQ: packing electronics for a move
Can I pack a TV in a moving tote?
No. A TV should travel upright, wrapped in a moving blanket, with its screen protected. Use totes for the cords, remotes, speakers, consoles and other small electronics.
How do I keep track of cords when moving?
Photograph each setup before you unplug it, then coil each cord and put it in a zip bag labelled with its device. Keep every bag for one room in the same tote, with a label card in the clear sleeve on the side.
Are plastic totes better than cardboard boxes for electronics?
Rigid plastic totes don't crush when they're stacked, and the snap-on lids keep dust and rain out. Bin Ready rents 102L totes in Kelowna from $99 for 14 days, with a free dolly and free pickup of the empties.
Comments