Even if you have months to plan your moving day, it’s probably going to be stressful. This is especially true if you leave everything until the last minute.

But sometimes, you don’t have a choice. Things come up: a new job, an emergency, an opportunity. If you’re struggling to figure out how you’re going to do the impossible in the next 24 hours, don’t worry. We’re here to help.

Since we know a thing or two about same-day moving, NYC residents hoping to make their life a little easier today can find 7 simple and creative tips below on same day moving. We know you’ve got a long day ahead of you so let’s jump right in.

1. Start defrosting your fridge right now

If you’re planning on taking your refrigerator and you’re moving more than 30 minutes away, start defrosting it immediately. This will give the ice in the freezer some time to start melting. If you just load your fridge straight into the van, it can leak water all over your stuff.

If your new place is closer than 30 minutes, you may be in the clear. However, it’s still better to be safe than sorry.

And if it becomes a point of concern, you could always hire some same day movers. They have provisions in place to deal with that not-completely-defrosted fridge (if it comes to that).

2. The Purge

If you’ve been thinking about finally taking Thoreau seriously and simplifying your life, today is the perfect time to get started. You will save you a huge amount of time and energy by getting rid of as much stuff as you can.

Here’s one rule-of-thumb that you can use: if you haven’t used an item in over a year then donate or toss it. You can also use your old stuff as a bargaining chip in our next tip below.

3. Bring in reinforcements

What are friends for if not to help you move? But if you do ask for help make sure you follow the basic etiquette. Buy some food and beverages for your friends to show you’re grateful for their help. You can also sweeten the deal by letting them take any of your stuff that you’re getting rid of that day.

4. Get creative with boxes

There’s no need to panic if you don’t have boxes for all your stuff. If you think outside the box (literally) you can find lots of different items around your house to use. Your luggage is a great place to start. Your decorative baskets and rustic crates make perfect impromptu boxes for emergency-moving.

NYC seems to have a grocery or convenience store on every corner. If you run out of containers check with your local stores (especially hardware or big-box stores) to see if you can grab any of their used boxes.

Of course, moving companies will often provide you with packing materials as part of their service, but you can also find a green, environment friendly solution using reusable bins. They’ll even deliver the bins before and pick them up after!

And if you don’t have time to do the packing yourself, all of our moving companies can do the packing for you.  

5. Tips on protecting your packed stuff

Before you start packing up your soft towels, clothes, and blankets, keep some of them out to wrap your plates, glassware, electronics, and other breakable items. Your linens and hoodies can save you space and keep your stuff from breaking if you don’t have time to run out for packing supplies.

Make sure you pack your plates, bowls, and dishes vertically. You’re going to be moving fast today and the last thing you want is to end up with a bunch of broken dinnerware at the end.

Here’s a tip to prevent pump or squeeze bottles from leaking lotion, shampoo, or conditioner on your stuff. Before you pack them, remove the cap and cover the opening with a plastic baggy or plastic wrap. Then screw the lid back on.

If it sounds like too much hassle, a moving company will surely provide bubble wrap and cushioning for all of your possessions.

6. Know your street

When it comes to emergency-moving, New York City definitely does not make it easy on you. Street sweeping, parades, and other public events can shut down roads, cause traffic delays, and generally make your day more stressful. Here’s the NYC.gov website where you can check the street sweeping schedule for your area. This is a link to the official city event schedule.

It also helps to keep a lookout. Getting hit with an expensive ticket would only add insult to injury when you’re dealing with same-day moving. New York City is notoriously harsh when it comes to double-parked vans and cars. To avoid these kinds of costly penalties, you can designate one person to be a lookout for meter maids, police, and street sweepers.

7. Plan your route

After you’re all packed, spend some time planning out the route that you’ll take to your new home. This is all about convenience and efficiency. There are apps like Waze that can show you accidents, road work, and even speed traps along your route.

We hope this helps you get through your day with as few headaches as possible. If you’re trying to do this on your own and need some help, we’re always available. We handpick all of the moving companies we work with and only choose businesses that share our commitment to quality and honesty.