Cardboard is an amazing material with plenty of useful and practical applications aside from carrying things in.
Last week we looked at what to do with bubble wrap after you have finished unpacking. Now you are faced with the conundrum of what to do with leftover cardboard boxes after moving home.
The fact that you need to know what to do with your used packing boxes means that you have unpacked everything you needed to, so congratulations.
No doubt unpacking all your moving boxes has made your new place feel like home, but the sooner you get rid of that pile of empty boxes the better, then you can truly start to settle into your new home.
The average home move uses 60 cardboard boxes so you will no doubt be asking yourself what can you do with lots of cardboard boxes.
There are a few options that you can consider:
Donating the boxes to someone who will make use of them.
Sell them to recoup some of your moving costs.
Recycle the cardboard boxes.
Reuse the boxes for crafts or practical ideas.
The quickest and easiest way to solve the problem of what to do with leftover cardboard boxes is to give them away. It is also good for the environment too.
How to Get Rid of Unwanted Cardboard Boxes For Free
During the summer when most people are looking to move home, it can be as easy as putting the boxes out the front of your new home.
If you have moved into an apartment block speak to the caretaker who will likely know if some people are moving out of your block and may like the boxes.
The chances are that someone local needs them and will happily take them off your hands.
If that is not an option you can ask your removal company if they would like them. Often they will willingly take them if they are still in good condition.
Free ad websites such as www.freecycle.org or www.gumtree.com are great places to find someone who is moving home and will be grateful for your free boxes.
Social media can get the word out that you have cardboard boxes to give away and it is free to use too.
Ask your local charities if they need them. Often they will need to move stuff for fundraising events and may be glad of your free boxes.
Donate your used cardboard boxes to the local animal rescue centre who can shred the boxes for animal bedding.
Flatten out an old box and draw a road network, airport runway, or train station for your children. You can then make ‘buildings’ for their new city out of odd bits of cardboard.
Got a children’s party coming up? Build a maze by connecting many boxes together and cutting out holes that the kids can crawl through to find their way out of the maze.
You could also make a kids obstacle course by making cardboard box tunnels, a cardboard box wall to break through, make huge dice and throw a double to move on, knock over a stack of boxes with balls and cut holes in a box to putt golf balls through.
What to make with small cardboard boxes? Cover smaller, sturdy boxes in fabric to make stylish storage containers.
There are many uses for small and medium size boxes which you can learn about in the garden section below.
Keep your junk drawer organised by using odd bits of cardboard to make dividers in the drawer.
Compost damaged boxes. Ripped boxes or odd bits of cardboard can easily be composted in your garden. Be sure to take off all the packing tape as this will not break down in the compost heap.
Moisten the cardboard first which will help it rot quicker and easier to tear up.
Rip them the cardboard into small bits
Make a pile of cardboard and dead leaves about 10cm deep.
Add 10cm of nitrogen-rich materials such as grass cuttings or rotting vegetables.
Lastly, add about 5cm of soil.
Keep the compost pile moist with water and turn with a fork every 5 days.
After about 6 months the compost will be ready to spread on your garden.
Block weeds with cardboard. If your new garden is a bit overgrown or has loads of weeds you can flatten out cardboard boxes and use them as a weed barrier. They will decompose over time and rot back into the soil. Ensure there is no packing tape left on the boxes as this will not rot.
Place a cardboard box around young seedlings to protect them from harsh winds.
Shred thinner boxes to lay around your strawberries to stop water splash.
Cut down boxes to make seed trays. Just cut the boxes down to the depth you need and then seal the flaps to make seed trays.
Create a pathway by laying out your path with flattened boxes. Edge with bricks, fill in with soil and mulch and you have an instant path. Weeds won’t grow through the cardboard either.
Make planters from boxes. Decorate the box with whatever takes your fancy, line it with plastic like a thick rubbish bag or several carrier bags, then fill with soil and plants.
Prep new borders by laying out cardboard over the shape you want the new borders to be. Water the cardboard, weigh down with mulch or soil. Do this over winter and by the spring the cardboard will have decomposed and you will be ready to start planting.
Bonus use for leftover cardboard boxes: Line the rabbit’s hutch with shredded cardboard to make eco-friendly bedding. It is a good insulator too so will keep bunny warm.
What to do with packing peanuts. If you have used polystyrene packing peanuts to protect your items during your home move you may want to keep them for sending out birthday or Christmas presents. They can also be used for lining the bottom of plant pots to help with drainage. You can also donate your unwanted packing peanuts to local schools who may like them to do arts and crafts with.
Packing paper is recyclable so can be put into paper recycling bins although again, you may want to keep some for protecting any gifts that you post. And of course, it can be shredded and added to your compost heap or used for pet bedding.
We hope everything went well with your home move, but sometimes that is not always the case and you may have some issues with the removal company that you need to resolve.
Equally, your home move could have been faultless, in which case it would be useful for other home movers to know what made your removal company so good. So please leave a review for them.
And you may also now want to meet your new neighbours and say thank you to those people who helped you move home. A home warming party can be a great way to do this.
*At RemovalReviews we will connect you with a professional moving company. Please note that we may not be affiliated with
and you may be speaking with another licensed provider.
Best removals nearby
We use cookies to optimise your experience.Accept and close or Learn more
Share your thoughts by leaving a comment