Summertime Move: Don’t Sweat It

Just after we published our blog about how wonderful summer time moves are, the comments started flooding in. Summer may be sunny, but it’s also hot. People want to know how to keep cool and comfortable during a summer time move.

It is important to keep an eye on your health and well being during a move. Heat stroke is a very real problem, and you don’t want to start your life in a new place by having making a trip to the ER. Children and the elderly are prone to heat exhaustion, so you’ll want to keep a special eye on them.
Here’s what you need to know:

Drink, drink, and drink some more! Water and sports drinks are best.

The single most important summer time moving tip we can share with you is to stay hydrated. Having plenty of cool drinks throughout the day will help keep your body temperature down and will replace vital nutrients your body loses through sweating. Save that icy cold beer for after you’re done moving: alcohol can impair your judgement, which is not a good thing when you’re carrying heavy boxes or furniture.

Dress in Light, Comfortable Clothing.

You want to have sensible shoes that protect your feet and provide good support during your move. Combine those with shorts and a short-sleeved shirt. Light colors and fabrics are best for keeping cool. Choose natural, breathable fabrics: these wick the perspiration away from you, making it easier to maintain a desirable body temperature.

Don’t Try to Move Your Food.

 Unless you’re conducting a very local move – in the same building or neighborhood – it’s not a good idea to try to move perishable food items. It’s just too difficult to maintain food safety. Foods that need to be kept refrigerated to avoid spoilage should be consumed, given away or disposed of prior to the move.

Rent an Air Conditioned Motel Room.

If you’re worried about how older family members, children, and pets will handle the heat of a summer time move, consider renting an air-conditioned motel room for them to stay in while the actual move takes place. This way, whether you’re doing the move yourself or you’re having professional movers do the heavy lifting for you, they’ll have a safe, comfortable place to be. Make sure young people are appropriately supervised!