Moving season is here! Use this helpful guide with our sustainable tips to cut back on waste during your move. 

1. Wrap fragile pieces like framed photos or dishes in fabrics you plan to bring with you.

T-shirts, towels, blankets, etc. make great replacements for bubble wrap or other single-use options. 

2. Make a DIY all-purpose cleaner to clean any dirty surfaces when you arrive. 

Trash is for Tossers offers a very simple recipe: fill a spray container halfway with water and the other half with white vinegar. Then add in 10 drops of an essential oil of your choice. One of our team members used eucalyptus essential oil and loved it. We also love using old t-shirts, towels, or reusable cloths instead of paper towels.

3. If you're looking to add furniture pieces to your new home - try finding secondhand items, vintage pieces, or new products that are sustainably made.

If you're in the NYC area, here are a few of our favorite spots: 

- Dobbin St. Co-op

- Humble House Brooklyn

- Furnish Green 

- Olde Good Things 

- Cure Thrift Shop 

- Small Furniture

- Brooklyn Flea

Online sources:

- AptDeco

- Chairish

- Kaiyo

- Craigslist 

- Facebook Market Place

- Etsy

4.  Donate or give away any food that is shelf-safe.

Bring anything from your cupboards that you can salvage. Reusable freezer bags are great for any frozen goods if you're moving a short distance away. Consciously dispose of any food that is no longer good, and be sure to rinse off any recyclables. 

(Don't forget to pack reusable water bottles to stay hydrated and snacks in reusable containers like Stasher Bags for move-in day!)

5. Clean out your closet before your move.

For items you no longer want, there are awesome re-sale or donation opportunities like Plato's Closet, Beacon's Closet, Goodwill, The Salvation Army, and Buffalo Exchange. For online options, Poshmark, ThredUp, and the RealReal are great too! You could also host a "purge party" for your friends to come over and shop what you're giving away. 

A great way to pack clothes is by keeping them on the hanger and putting them directly into your car or into reusable hanging bags. This way, you don't need a separate container for your hangers and there's no need to spend money on moving boxes. Bins and laundry baskets are also great for moving clothes or shoes. If you do need cardboard boxes, see if your building has cardboard collection or go to a hardware store to see if they have leftover boxes.

6. Disposing of old furniture? Sell or donate them.

A great way to keep used furniture in use is to sell it at local secondhand stores or online att sites like Craigslist or AptDeco. You can also donate furniture to organizations like Habitat for Humanity or Goodwill. Our closed-loop program Sabai Revive keeps furniture out of landfills too. Fill out our buyback form to get started. 

If you own our Sabai furniture:

If you have a Sabai sofa or plan to get one - you're already on track for an easy, waste-free move. You can quickly disassemble your sofa and carry it in individual pieces to your new home. No need to wrap it in plastic for extra protection! Place the individual pieces on towels, sheets, or blankets that you plan to bring to your new home for extra protection during transit. 

If you're in the process of moving or planning it out, we wish you the best of luck with your move! And if you're in need of some new furniture, check out our sustainable and non-toxic pieces here.