How to Pack Medicines and Toiletries

2. Sort and organize 

Go through your bathroom essentials and sort things into piles: discard, do not ship, essentials and everything else. 

Discard 

Get rid of anything you don’t use and any products that have expired. Check with your trash service or city hall for proper disposal instructions for liquids and medications. 

Do not ship 

Separate items that can’t be shipped in moving equipment. “Do not ship” toiletries include aerosols (hairsprays and deodorants), liquids containing alcohol (astringent and mouthwash) and anything flammable (nail polish and remover).  

Consider taking these items with you or using them up before you move.  

View U-Pack’s Do Not Ship List. 

Essentials 

Keep out any essential items — like daily medications, travel-sized shower supplies, razors, toothbrushes and toothpaste — to travel with you. 

Everything else 

Pack whatever is left over after sorting. These items might include extra shampoo, body wash, conditioner or other hygiene products.  

What about makeup? Check out U-Pack’s helpful guide to packing makeup for moving. 

3. Reinforce and cushion the boxes 

Reinforce the bottoms of small or medium moving boxes to support the weight of the toiletries. Add crushed packing paper to the bottom to cushion the items. 

4. Prepare liquids and small items for travel

Seal the lids of any containers containing liquid with packing tape. Then, place the bottles into zip-top bags. This helps prevent products from spilling and making a mess during transit.  

Zip-top bags can also be used to keep small items together (hair ties, nail clippers, tweezers) so they don’t get lost during the move. 

5. Secure medications 

Medications in their original packaging can usually be placed directly into a box. If any medication boxes are opened, it’s helpful to secure the package with tape to keep anything from falling out, or you can place the medicine inside a zip-top bag. 

Prescription medications should travel in their original bottles or packages, if possible. Place medications in a labeled zip-top bag or pill box if the original packaging is unavailable. 

Note: Any items sensitive to changing temperatures should travel with you.  

6. Protect fragile items 

Wrap any fragile items in packing paper before placing them into the box. Pack heavy items (like shampoo and conditioner bottles) at the bottom and place wrapped delicate items (like glass perfume bottles) on top. Fill in any gaps with soft items (like facial cloths or packages of cotton balls) and extra packing paper. 

7. Seal and label the box

Close the box and shake it gently to make sure nothing shifts. If there is movement inside the box, reopen it and add more packing paper. Once the box feels secure, seal it with packing tape, label it with “Fragile” and “Toiletries” and indicate the correct side up to help prevent spills.

Do you have packing questions? 

If you have packing questions, please let us know in the comments. We’re happy to help! You can also check out our packing tips for specific information on packing everything in your home. 

Still planning your out-of-state move? Reach out to U-Pack at 844-362-5303844-594-3077 or use our free online quote form.