There are many removal services available to you, varying from full service removals to self-removal services. If you have decided to save yourself a little money by opting for a self-removal service, you have the weight of the world on your shoulder. You are in charge of everything from packing to loading. This article aims to provide you with some hints and tips which you should consider during packing and loading. These hints will ensure that you are packing and loading correctly and safely. Health and Safety is a big part of our lives. Everywhere we look hazards are highlighted. Every building now has a fire extinguisher for that ‘just in case’ moment. Health and safety is equally important during a self-removal, especially since you will have no professional with you to guide you in the right direction. Heavier items should be packed into small boxes. Using a large box to pack large objects is going to make it more likely to over pack the box. As a result, it would be too heavy to carry and you could risk injuring yourself during lifting and loading. Additionally, your over packed boxes could tear and your items could fall out and break, which is certainly not what you want. Sharp objects should be wrapped separately. Knives, scissors and other sharp items should be wrapped in newspaper or packing paper in order to keep yourself from getting cut. Labelling the box will mean that you know exactly which box contains the sharp objects, and you will know to take extra care when handling that particular box. When moving the boxes in order to load the van or truck, do not use your back. Lifting with your back is going to put a lot of strain on your back and you could even end up seriously injuring yourself. Instead, lift with your knees. Your lower body has the perfect strength to support the rest of your bodyweight. Hold on to the boxes firmly and from the bottom. Do not attempt to lift boxes by holding on to the lids. Also, always make sure that you use both hands when lifting a box. This provides you with a little more stability and prevents the box from falling. Moving tools should be used where and when they are needed. If a box is too heavy to carry, always ask for help. However, sometimes help is not at hand. If this is the case, you need to make sure that you have the appropriate moving tools. Many removal companies will allow you to hire these if you do not already own them. Similarly, many do it yourself stores will also have these tools for sale and to rent. Furniture pads should be used when moving furniture. This way, you do not have to strain yourself trying to lift a heavy piece of furniture. But even when using a furniture pad, you need to ensure that your furniture is equally balanced to avoid it falling off of the furniture pad. Heavy boxes which cannot be lifted manually should be lifted using a dolly. However, you also need to insure that you have a ramp. This way, you can drive the dolly straight up to the back of the van or truck. These hints and tips should make your packing, loading and unloading processes a lot easier and a lot cheaper since you are choosing a do it yourself removal. It will also make sure that health and safety is not forgotten and that you can still be excited about your move without having to take a trip to the emergency room.