What Not to Move Long Distance & Why

It’s never easy when moving homes, especially long distance; it takes time, plenty of organisation and a willingness to part with many items or belongings you either don’t need anymore or cannot take with you.

Through careful planning, however, you can save money, space and stress all at the same time. Whether you’re moving to the country or out of state, this guide provides helpful advice and tips on what not to move long distance. By the end, you’ll feel more confident, organised, and ready to make your move a success. Let’s begin!

Key Takeaways

Too busy to read the whole article? We’ve summarised it all here for you!

• Big & Cheep Furniture – Pool tables and those massive sofas are a real pain to move; sell or replace them.
• Old Electronics – VCRs, DVD players and landline phones are better replaced than moved.
• Perishable Food – Fresh produce, dairy and frozen items will go bad in transit – use them up or donate them before you move.
• Hazardous Materials – Propane tanks, bleach and fireworks are not allowed by movers and are a safety risk.
• Plants & Greenery – Many states have biosecurity restrictions on moving plants; check before you move.
• Unused Clothing & Household Items – If you haven’t used it in 6 months, donate or sell it to lighten your load.
• Old Mattresses – Heavy and hard to move; buying a new one at your destination is often the way to go.
• Expired Medications & Toiletries – Dispose of old pills and half-used products safely before you move.
• Fragile or Excessive Glassware – Mismatched cups and chipped plates are just extra weight; keep only the essentials.
• Outgrown Kids’ Items – Cribs, strollers and unused toys can be donated to families in need.

Cheap And Oversized Furniture

Oversized furniture and other items can be a logistical nightmare, especially when shifting them across large distances. Consider items such as bulky dining tables, pool tables, or huge sofas.

Although you may have an emotional attachment to these items, you should look at the bigger picture and consider the costs involved in transporting them. It may, for example, be easier and cheaper to buy the same furniture at your new address. Finding suitable movers, for example, can be time-consuming and may not be worth the effort and the cost of transportation.

With these considerations in mind, you may want to consider selling, donating, or storing them. If you are storing items, you can use Zoom Removals and Storage facilities, which are highly affordable at only $2 per day.

Outdated Electronics and Appliances

Technology is advancing at an alarmingly rapid pace and no doubt many of us have accumulated dozens of old phones or other outdated gadgets that are no longer needed or used.

Items such as these may not be practical to transport when travelling long distances to another region.

Consider leaving behind devices such as these:

• VCR Players
• DVD Players
• CRT Monitors
• Old Cameras (old film)
• Landline Phones
• Answering Machines
• Cassette Players/Recorders
• Fax Machines
• Portable CD Players
• Old Radios
• Old Microwaves
• Old Mobile Phones or Tablets

You may be surprised to learn that replacing these items with newer models may be a more cost-effective option once you settle in at your new address. This also means fewer items to load onto a removal van if you are using a professional moving company for your relocation.

Perishables and Opened Containers

Perishable foods can wreak havoc and spoil easily, especially when moving across borders. Foods such as frozen meals, open jars, or half-eaten produce are never a good idea to transport.

These types of products can leak, rot, or even attract pests, leading to a messy and unpleasant start at your new address. For this reason, it is always best to use up perishables before your journey begins or donate them to local friends or food banks in advance.

Here are a few examples of what we are talking about:

• Fresh Milk
• Raw Meat (Beef, Poultry, Pork)
• Fresh Fish and Seafood
• Eggs
• Fresh or Frozen Berries (Strawberries, Blueberries, Raspberries)
• Leafy Greens (Lettuce, Spinach, Kale)
• Fresh Herbs (Cilantro, Basil, Parsley)
• Soft Cheeses (Brie, Mozzarella, Cottage Cheese)
• Yogurt
• Fresh Bread (without preservatives)
• Cut Fruits (Melons, Pineapple, Mango)
• Prepared Salads (with dressing or mayonnaise)
• Fresh Pasta (not dried)
• Tofu

Hazardous Materials

This one’s a no-brainer, but highly flammable, corrosive, or explosive chemicals pose serious risks during a move and should be left behind. For safety reasons, most professional long distance removalists, such as ZOOM Removals, have rules against these types of hazardous substances.

Examples of these types of items include:

• Aerosol Cans
• Propane Tanks
• Petrol
• Bleach and Ammonia
• Pool Chemicals
• Pesticides
• Fireworks
• Car Batteries
• Paint Thinners
• Lighter Fluid

If you are unsure of how to dispose of these items, you can read more on the following website: https://www.epa.nsw.gov.au/Your-environment/Waste/industrial-waste/hazardous-and-liquid-wastes.

Plant And Other Greenery

Plants often do not fare well during long-distance moves. Changes in temperature or other atmospheric factors, such as reduced sunlight or irregular watering, can damage them irreparably.

Furthermore, it is important to know that different regions or states in Australia may have varying regulations regarding the transport of particular plants across borders. This is due to unwanted pests that can be introduced via the soil or leaves of your plants, which is why many areas have biosecurity laws in place.

For this reason, you may want to read up on quarantine rules or more on transporting plants to a neighbouring state. Visit the following website for more information.

If you cannot bear to leave your plants behind, you could gift them to friends, family members, or even a local community garden, ensuring they will be well looked after.

Clothing and Household Items You No Longer Use

Starting a new chapter in a new state is a perfect opportunity to declutter and minimise what you take with you. For example, many of us likely have too many clothes, shoes, or other household items that have been collected over the years that we simply haven’t worn or used in a very long time.

As a rule of thumb, if you haven’t worn your clothing in over six months, it doesn’t fit, or you’ve lost interest wearing them, then it’s time to let it go. Consider donating or selling clothing you consider expendable.

Not only can you make a few bucks from doing this, but it will also reduce your moving costs. Most charity shops welcome these types of donations.

Here are a couple you can consider in Sydney:

• The Salvation Army
• Vinnies (St Vincent de Paul Society)
• Australian Red Cross

Cheap And Easily Replaceable Furniture Or Other Items

Inexpensive or easily replaceable items should be carefully evaluated before the move. Just as with clothing, it represents an excellent opportunity to declutter and simplify your life (not to mention travel costs).

Think of items such as the following:

• Batteries
• Bins
• Low-Cost Or Worn-out Mattresses
• Folding Chairs And Tables
• Basic Lamps
• Disposable Décor (E.g., Posters, Cheap Wall Art)
• Basic Kitchenware (E.g., Plastic Utensils, Low-quality Dishes)
• Worn-out Rugs Or Mats
• Printing Paper
• Old Magazines Or Books

Consider the price of transporting old furniture versus purchasing them again at your new destination.

If you want to compare costs, you can look at pricing for new furniture online and then get a free Sydney removalist quote from us if you want to have an idea of what bringing your current furniture may cost.

Cheap furniture may quickly bring up your removal fees. Consider flat-pack chairs, outdated coffee tables, and flimsy shelving units. It might be simpler to leave them behind. Often, you can find replacements or second-hand treasures in your new area. If you are moving from a large city to a smaller town (or vice versa), you might even discover a whole new style of decor to embrace. Consider replacing the cheap items a fresh start to your new adventure, and focus on transporting only higher-value or sentimental pieces you genuinely adore.

Old Mattresses and Bedding

Old mattresses are notoriously cumbersome. They are heavy, awkward to carry, and take up a lot of unnecessary space in vehicles. If you have a mattress that is past its prime, then we recommend buying a new one at your new destination. Not only will it be free from bed bugs, but the springs will be brand new, and it will save you money on hauling an old mattress across countless miles.

Pro Tip – You can usually tell if your mattress is already showing signs of wear and tear because you will find more lumps, sagging, or even broken springs.

Here are a few more practical tips you can consider when dealing with an old mattress:

Research Ahead of Time: Before your move, look online at mattress options in your new suburb. Look for sales and reviews about certain mattresses, and be sure to compare prices to find the best deal once you have found the perfect choice.

Measure Your New Space: Make sure that your new mattress fits comfortably in your new bedroom. If you can, take note of the measurements at your new address, including the doorways and staircases, to avoid any delivery issues.

Plan for Temporary Sleeping Arrangements: If worse comes to the worst and there is a gap between your move and the delivery of your new mattress, consider borrowing or using an air mattress. Alternatively, stay in temporary accommodation. You will want to make sure that this is arranged in advance if you can anticipate this happening.

Expired Medications and Toiletries

Often not the first thing we think about, but many of us forget to clear out bathroom cabinets before moving. This leaves items such as expired medication or half-used toiletries that serve little or no purpose.

Transporting expired medications and half-used toiletries long distances can be messy or potentially unsafe. For this reason, it is best to dispose of outdated pills in an environmentally friendly way, if possible. Either dispose of them responsibly or return them to a pharmacy.

Excessive Glassware and Dishware

Breakables are always the trickiest items to move; they are fragile and can shatter easily. For this reason, if you find your cupboards overflowing with mismatched cups, chipped plates, or redundant sets of dishes, now is the time to part ways.

Just like many other items on our list, consider donating them to family or friends, or even a charity, or selling them online.

For your new chapter, we recommend keeping only the bare essentials or sentimental pieces that cannot be easily replaced, mainly for simplicity.

If you are unsure about moving certain breakables that you want to keep, consider using disposable or lightweight alternatives during your transition. Alternatively, you could ship these items separately if they are extremely fragile.

Outgrown or Unused Children’s Items

If you have children, you will know better than anyone how quickly they can outgrow their clothes and other belongings.

For your own peace of mind and as part of your decluttering strategy, we highly recommend making a list of what items should be taken and what can be left behind.

Here are examples of what we mean:

• Outgrown Clothing
• Baby Cribs
• Strollers
• Infant Car Seats
• Old Toys (broken or perhaps unused)
• Board Games (missing pieces or damaged)
• Stuffed Animals (worn out or unused)
• Baby Swings or Bouncers
• Tricycles or Small Ride-On Toys
• Nursery Décor

For these types of toys, we invite you to embrace minimalism and remember that many of these items can be used by other families and be donated.

Conclusion and Final Thoughts

Long-distance moves can be both exciting and challenging. In either case, it’s essential to plan everything, including a comprehensive cost breakdown.

Reducing unnecessary items streamlines the moving process, lowers expenses, and makes it more liberating. Be systematic and selective with what you take to save costs and reduce fees.

Heavy Lifting, Hassle-Free—ZOOM Moves It All, Near or Far!

If you cannot part with heavy or oversized items, you can use ZOOM’s heavy furniture movers Sydney team, which specialises in the long-distance transport of these items.

The ZOOM Sydney team also moves furniture across all states, including: