Moving house in Sydney: a practical pest-prevention checklist for boxes and storage

Check before packing

Start with the places where items have been stored for a while: pantry shelves, kitchen appliances, linen cupboards, garage corners, under-sink cabinets and rarely opened cartons. Look for repeated activity, damaged packaging, droppings, webbing, shed material or an unusual odour. Record the room and take a clear photo if it is safe to do so.

Do not empty every cupboard onto the floor. Work in small groups and keep items with the same storage history together. If you are renting, notify the appropriate property manager about a repair issue or repeated activity before moving day, and keep the message and photographs with your records.

Choose and handle boxes sensibly

Use clean, dry cartons in good condition and avoid packing items into boxes that are damp, heavily soiled or stored beside known waste. Do not leave packed boxes open overnight in a garage, shared hallway or garden area. Seal them in a normal, practical way, but keep a simple list of what is inside and where the box came from.

For books, documents and clothing, check condition before packing rather than relying on a spray or fragrance. Keep cardboard off a damp floor and do not stack it against a wall with visible moisture. If a box contains mouldy, wet or deteriorating material, pause and seek suitable building, cleaning or conservation advice before deciding what to discard.

Separate food and household items

Pack dry food in unopened, intact packaging where possible. Dispose of food that is spoiled, leaking or clearly compromised, and transfer remaining items into clean, labelled containers at the destination. Keep pet food, medicines, cleaning products and personal-care items separate from anything that needs review.

Give plants, outdoor equipment and stored timber a deliberate check before loading. Shake nothing into a living area and do not move an active nest or unknown animal yourself. For shared-building moves, keep trolleys, lifts and common corridors clear and report repeated signs in a bin room, loading bay or basement to building management.

Make arrival checks easy

• Place boxes on a dry, accessible surface rather than tightly against walls or plumbing.
• Unpack food, bedding and everyday kitchen items first, keeping the original box list nearby.
• Keep one small area clear so you can recheck a concern without moving the whole room.
• Note the new room, date and item if activity appears after arrival; do not assume it came from the old home.

Normal cleaning and ventilation can help you see what is happening, but avoid fogging rooms, mixing chemicals or applying a household product to cartons, food, fabrics or furniture unless the current label specifically permits that use.

Know when to ask for help

Arrange a property-specific assessment if activity is repeated, appears in more than one location, involves a suspected nest, or continues after obvious storage and maintenance issues are addressed. Share the original and new locations, dates, photographs, property type and any access limits. A professional can help separate a pest concern from a packaging, moisture or building-maintenance issue.

If a pesticide is being considered, use only a product registered for the intended use and follow the current label. The APVMA registered-product search is an official reference. Do not treat belongings, food or occupied rooms off-label.