Packing can be a labourous process, made more so when you realize how many breakable items you own. Your everyday dishes and glassware, Grandma’s fine china, and all those random knickknacks you have lying around – you can’t just throw them into a box like your clothes and books!
Our professionally trained packers and expert movers have put together some advice for packing breakables for a move.
Whether you’re packing dishes, packing fine china, or packing bookshelf knickknacks, following these ten tips will ensure your belongings arrive at your new house safe and sound!
- If you can, use dish barrels. They are specially designed for packing dishes and glassware. Most moving companies sell dish barrel moving supplies.
- Always pack breakables over a soft surface. One trick is to pack on your bed. You can also try sitting down on a carpeted floor while packing.
- Don’t use newsprint to wrap your items – it can rub off on your dishes, especially fine china. Use white packing paper instead.
- Use multiple layers of packing paper when rolling up breakables – the more crumpled the paper, the more protection for your fragile items.
- When wrapping up glasses and cups, stuff packing paper inside for extra protection.
- Put the heaviest items in the bottom of the box and place lighter items on top.
- Always leave room for extra packing paper near the top of the box. When the boxes are stacked in the moving truck, you want to make sure there is enough room between your breakables and anything sitting on top of them.
- After you’ve packed everything up, and before you tape the box close, give it a shake. If you hear any clinking or shifting, you probably need to re-pack a few things
- Make sure both ends of the box are securely taped up. Use several layers if you’re not sure!
- Mark all these boxes with FRAGILE in big letters on all sides, preferably in red marker.
Sneaky tip: If you have any tacky knickknacks you’ve been gifted and feel forced to display, ignore all these tips! It’s such a shame that glass rainbow unicorn bookend broke in the move, isn’t it Aunt Margaret?
photo credit: susan402 via flickr
