What To Do With Cardboard Boxes After Moving: Practical, Fun, Useful Ideas

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.

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.

But read on to discover lots of other useful and fun things you can do with cardboard boxes.

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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 which can shred the boxes for animal bedding.

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Where to Sell Used Cardboard Boxes

• Online auction sites such as www.ebay.co.uk are simple to use and you should sell your surplus boxes easily.

Sell your used packing boxes on www.preloved.co.uk or www.gumtree.co.uk

If the quality of the moving boxes is good, your removal company may be interested in buying them off of you.

If you see a home with a ‘For Sale’ on it, knock on the door and ask them if they want to buy your boxes.

Let your friends, family, landlord or apartment block caretaker know you have boxes for sale, they may know someone who is moving.

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What Can You Make with Cardboard Boxes?

Are you feeling artistic or practical? Then get ready for some great ideas about what you can do with cardboard boxes.

• What to make with a large cardboard box? How about making a fort, house, or shop for your kids to play in?
• Make an indoor kennel for your cat or dog.
• 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, or 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-sized 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.

You may also like to read: How to Make a New Place Feel Like Home. In this guide, we share tips for making getting to know your new neighbourhood easier.

How to Reuse Cardboard Boxes in the Garden

• 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.

1. Moisten the cardboard first which will help it rot quicker and easier to tear up.
2. Rip the cardboard into small bits
3. Make a pile of cardboard and dead leaves about 10cm deep.
4. Add 10cm of nitrogen-rich materials such as grass cuttings or rotting vegetables.
5. Lastly, add about 5cm of soil.
6. Keep the compost pile moist with water and turn with a fork every 5 days.
7. 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 splashing.
• 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 it with soil and plants.
• Prep new borders by laying out cardboard over the shape you want the new borders to be. Water the cardboard, and weigh it 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 the bunny warm.

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Where to Recycle Cardboard Boxes

To find out where you can recycle cardboard boxes that are just no use to anyone else, click on the links below.

• Wales
• Scotland
• Ireland 
• England

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What to Do With Packing Materials After You Have Moved Home

• Packing tape is not recyclable and should be thrown away along with your normal household rubbish.

• 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 that 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.

You may also like to read: How to Throw an Unforgettable Housewarming Party. Now you have unpacked and got your new home straight perhaps you would like to get to know the neighbours by throwing a housewarming party. This guide tells you all you need to know about throwing the ultimate housewarming party.

Have fun, and congratulations on moving to a new home.