I Tried It — This $20 Amazon Buy Made Packing for An Out-of-State Move That Much Easier
This flat twine, also known as stretch wrap, saved my life when I moved. Here's why
![an apartment being packed up to move](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/WJSuZuq3KkmujH7pB7mFvB-415-80.jpg)
So I've been keeping a secret. If you are a dedicated Livingetc reader and you happen to love shopping content, you probably know by now that I live in a tiny shoebox apartment in New York City. Well, used to live. That's right — as of a little over 48 hours ago, I am now a full-time Pennsylvania resident.
In lieu of Manhattan, I am shacking up in Pittsburgh, a city best known for its once-booming steel industry and an infamous urge to put fries on sandwiches. It's a comforting change — I grew up here — and one I must admit excites me no matter how much I'll miss the omnipresent sirens of Eighth Avenue and my favorite corner bodega. (And don't you worry — I can shop all the best home decor brands just as efficiently and feverishly from here.)
But what certainly didn't excite me was the prospect of moving. And I'm not talking about the emotional damage, although I wasn't looking forward to that part either. I'm referring to the physical and logistical toll of packing your whole life into a few suitcases and cardboard boxes, lugging those suitcases and boxes down five flights of stairs (greatest city in the world!), then shoving everything in the back of the Toyota your parents' so generously let you borrow for the drive home. It is truly enough to make one 28-year-old go insane.
But I'll tell you what — the experience went much smoother this time thanks to a product known as Flat Twine, something I had never tried but will now never move without.
The miracle moving buy
Livingetc knows design.
A true moving miracle, flat twine is nothing more than a roll of deceptively strong plastic that binds one item to another or wraps multiple items together. Think of it as saran wrap for your furniture. Are you moving a bunch of medium to large-sized frames? Flat twine. Transporting all of your bed pillows, but looking to carry them all at once? Flat twine. Stacking chairs on top of one another, but wanting to secure them in place? You guessed it — flat twine.
The wrap sticks to itself so there is no need for tape or adhesive, and it doesn't leave a mark or residue once removed. Not to mention one roll would have lasted me forever. It's a common solution for event companies during set-up and breakdown, as well as palette operators bringing supplies in and out of grocery and convenience stores, so think of it as an insider trick.
I found the twine particularly helpful when packing the large frames from my gallery wall. It was so nice to pack and store them together without the smaller portraits slipping and sliding all over the place. The wrap lasted the whole 7-hour drive, too; no rips or tears, and everything stayed in place.
It might not look pretty, but it certainly got the job done. And when you're moving, that's really all that matters.
Although I experimented with this particular brand, there are similar options all over the internet; I'm sure any brand of stretch wrap would work just as well, even if it's meant for something more heavy-duty.
Price: $15.89 for 2
This stretch wrap from brand Sam Wrap looks identical to my beloved flat twine, and comes in a 2-pack for just $15.89. It's also quite popular; 600+ units purchased in the past month alone, and a 4.7/5-star rating across 4,512 customer reviews.
Price: $19.95
Was: $24.99
According to Amazon, this 1000-foot roll of industrial strength wrap is the #1 best seller in the stretch film product category (and it's 20% off right now). The real differentiating factor here from my POV is the two-sided handle, which looks to make wrapping large items just a bit easier. Reviews are unsurprisingly strong.
Price: $17.98 for 2
And because variety is the spice of life, I had to include the International Plastics Co. Stretch Film as a third option. Like the others, it sticks to itself, not your furniture, and boasts an up to 500% stretchability. Customers love it, so I'm sure you will too.
Don't get me wrong — I'm sure there are plenty of people who have tried a product like this before. But I was not one of them. And any hack or tip that eases a move is a hack or tip I have to share, especially if it costs just $20 to replicate. What kind of style editor would I be if I didn't?
Moreover, the use case goes beyond packing for a change in address; I could see this proving helpful when organizing a storage unit or attic, wrapping Christmas and Halloween decorations together for easy access, or securing a stack of old chairs in place. So go ahead and give it a whirl — I promise you'll be surprised at just how helpful it really is.
6 additional moving tools
They might not be that stylish, but let's be honest — moving tools aren't meant to look good. Here are 6 buys you can 'add to cart' to make the process a bit smoother.
Price: $18.98
I didn't have to move any large pieces of furniture this go around, but a dolly is a must-have for anyone that does. This affordable Walmart best-seller is perfect for the job, with its 660-lb capacity and easy-to-maneuver wheels. Even if you're not moving, it's a smart tool to have on hand for ad hoc home improvement projects.
Price: $20.89 for 8
Was: $29.99
These reusable furniture movers slip underneath the legs of your chair, dresser, or couch, where they can easily slide across your hardwood or carpeted floor without scratching or harming the surface. They're perfect for moving heavy or bulky objects, and can stay in place or be removed once you're done.
Price: $39.98 for two
They might not make your OOTD, but they're definitely helpful — these one-size-fits-all harnesses (designed for two people to use) encourage safe lifting techniques and reduce the risk of injury by leveraging the load onto the leg and shoulder muscles rather than your lower back and hands. While they might require some baseline strength to use, they are likely more efficient than a dolly or furniture sliders and free up your hands to open doors.
Price: $49.95
Was: $69.95
For a heavier load, I'd suggest this heavy-duty dolly from Stalwart, available at a discount at Target.com. Rather than wood, the piece is made of a non-porous plastic, which prevents splintering and encourages durability, and boasts two tread rubber pads on either end to prevent sliding. As far as capacity goes, it can hold up to 1000lbs.
Price: $19.56
This 4-piece tri-dolly set from Home Depot answers the question: What if sliders were also dollies? Hike all four, three, or two corners of your furniture onto these solid stamped steel movers and push into the next room or destination with ease. Each individual dolly can hold up to 165 lbs for a combined total capacity of 660 lbs per set.
Price: $6.39 for four
Less heavy duty, but helpful for smaller items like bar stools and accent chairs, these affordable furniture sliders operate exactly as you'd expect. Scotch makes a point to mention that they are best for carpet, but will work on all kinds of flooring.
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Brigid Kennedy is a Style Editor at Livingetc.com, where she scours the internet for the best and most stylish deals on home decor and more. After earning a degree from the S.I. Newhouse School of Public Communications, she spent the first 2.5 years of her journalism career covering U.S. politics and culture at TheWeek.com. She describes her design style as colorful and clean, and in her free time enjoys reading, watching movies, and curating impossibly niche playlists on Spotify. She recently relocated from Manhattan to Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, where she's decorating and DIYing a new home downtown.
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