So, the move is finally over. You’ve successfully navigated the chaos, the bubble wrap is mostly popped, and you’re finally sitting on your actual sofa instead of a milk crate.
But then you look in the corner. Or the garage. Or the middle of the hallway. There they are: the extra large moving boxes that held your pillows, your winter coats, and that one oversized lamp you probably should have sold. They’re huge, they’re awkward, and they’re currently taking up more square footage than your kitchen table.
Tossing them feels like a waste (good boxes aren't cheap!), but living in a cardboard fortress isn't the vibe either. Here is how to store those behemoths properly so they’re ready for the next adventure—without ruining your new home’s aesthetic.
1. The "Slice and Flatten" Technique
It sounds obvious, but you’d be surprised how many people try to stack assembled boxes inside one another. Don’t do that. It creates pockets for spiders and dust, and it’s a total space killer.
- Cut the tape: Use a box cutter to slice the tape on both the top and bottom.
- Fold it flat: Once flattened, an extra large box for shipping or moving goes from 24 inches wide to about half an inch thick.
- Pro Tip: Group them by size. Use a piece of twine to bundle 5–10 flattened boxes together so they don't slide around like a deck of giant cards.
2. Find the "Dead Space"
Once they’re flat, you need a home for them. Think about the areas in your house that you never actually look at:
- Under the Bed: If you have a standard bed frame, 3 or 4 flattened XL boxes can slide right underneath.
- Behind the Wardrobe: Most closets have a 2-inch gap between the back of the clothes and the wall.
- Attic Rafters: If you have an unfinished attic, tucking them between the rafters keeps them off the floor and out of the way of your actual storage bins.
3. Protect Against the Elements
Cardboard is essentially a sponge for humidity. If you’re storing your extra large moving boxes in a garage or basement, you need to be careful.
- Keep them off the concrete: Concrete "sweats." If you lean boxes directly against a basement wall, they’ll be soggy and moldy by next year. Rest them on a wooden pallet or a few scrap 2x4s.
- Wrap them up: If the area is dusty, wrap your bundle of flattened boxes in a single layer of plastic stretch wrap or a large trash bag. This keeps the edges from fraying and the surfaces from becoming a dust-bunny habitat.
4. When to Give Up (The "Purge" Rule)
Be honest with yourself. If the box is structurally compromised—meaning the corners are crushed, there’s a giant hole, or it got wet during the move—recycle it. A compromised box won't protect your stuff next time you use it. Only save the ones that are still "crisp." If you find you have way too many, keep the specialized ones (like wardrobe boxes or heavy-duty extra large shipping boxes) and donate the standard ones to a neighbor who is just starting their moving nightmare.