Homeowners often find packing their fragile belongings to be one of the most nerve-wracking parts of moving. As your boxes and belongings will go through a lot of handling during your move, it’s normal to be concerned about your valuable items getting broken or damaged during the packing and moving process. So, it’s essential to take extra caution to ensure the safety and security of these items. Protecting your fragile items is all based on the way you pack them. As professional packers and movers, we can provide you with important tips regarding the tools and techniques that will help you effectively pack your most valuable and fragile belongings.
1) Take Your Time and Prepare in Advance
When packing up your home, it’s important to begin early to ensure you have ample time to get it all done. You don’t want to rush the packing process, especially when it comes to your fragile and valuable items. We recommend beginning your packing process at least 3-4 weeks in advance of your moving date as it is definitely worth taking the extra time to pack your belongings properly. By slowing down and dedicating extra time for packing, you will be able to take extra care of your items, as well as refrain from cutting corners and making mistakes due to being rushed. Trust us, the closer you come to moving day, the more you will thank yourself for starting to pack early.
2) Have the Right Tools
We can’t stress how critical it is to use solid boxes! The thicker and sturdier the box – the better. There’s nothing more devastating than losing a valuable item because a box was too flimsy to transport properly. If a box has any give before you put any items inside, don’t use it. It’s better to be safe than sorry!
Some other tools that you will need include:
- Packing Paper
- Bubble Wrap
- Scissors
- Packing Tape
- A Large Surface Area – for laying out items and packing on
3) Wrap Each Item Individually
Rule number 1 when it comes to packing your fragile and valuable belongings is to wrap each item and piece individually. Anything from glasses and plates to fragile decorative items should be individually wrapped based on the size, weight, and material. Any loose pieces such as lids should be removed and wrapped separately, and your most delicate items including fine china should be wrapped in bubble wrap and secured with packing tape. Also, be sure to pack these items into smaller boxes rather than using a big box to stack your items on top of one another. Doing so will ensure that nothing gets crushed or damaged during the packing and moving process.
4) Use Smaller Boxes for Fragile Items
You probably already know that moving boxes come in a variety of sizes. But, did you know that you should save your smaller boxes for your most fragile items? Small boxes are not only easier to handle, but they also allow less space for your belongings to move and shift around. Also, be sure to fill any extra space with lots of packing paper to allow extra padding for your fragile belongings.
5) Layer the Bottom of the Box with Soft Packing Material
Soft packing materials such as packing paper, bubble wrap, foam, and styrofoam peanuts should be layered at the bottom of all boxes containing fragile items. These materials will act as a cushion for your belongings and will account for an extra layer of protection. Other household items that can provide extra padding and support include linen, towels, and bedsheets.
6) Pack the Heaviest Items at the Bottom
The order in which you pack your belongings also plays a key role in successful packing. Layer all of your belongings from largest and heaviest at the bottom to smallest and lightest at the top. Doing so will ensure that the base of your boxes are well-supported, and that your smaller items don’t get crushed.
7) Fill Hollow Items with Packing Paper
Hollow items such as glasses, vases, bowls, and jars should be stuffed with packing paper to prevent damage and help soften any movement and vibrations.
8) Use Dividers for Glasses and Stemware
When it comes to your glasses and stemware, the easiest and safest way to pack them are with cardboard dividers. You can purchase cardboard divider inserts for your boxes or special boxes that already have dividers built in. These dividers will keep your glasses and stemware from shifting and colliding with one another during the transport process.
9) Use Plenty of Packing Material
In terms of wrapping your belongings and filling your boxes with packing materials – the more material the better! You can never be too cautious as you want all of your belonging to arrive to your new home in one piece. Secure your fragile items with either packing paper or bubble wrap, and then ensure extra protection with a generous amount of packing tape to keep everything intact. Don’t forget to be generous with taping the bottom of your boxes as well; extra strips of tape will account for much more support!
10) Clearly Label Your Boxes
Each box that contains your fragile belongings should be clearly labelled as such. Dedicate an area of your home for these boxes, so when it comes time for moving day, your movers and family members will know to handle these boxes with extra caution and care. Labels will also help with loading your moving truck, as well as unpacking and organizing your new home.
11) Hire a Moving Company to Take the Stress Off Your Hands
We hope this blog provided you with valuable tips on how to effectively pack your fragile and valuable belongings! However, if these tips seem too overwhelming or if you would like to leave the packing to the professionals, we’ve got you covered! The Deluxe Moving & Storage team can take the packing stress off your hands, and rest assured, all of your belongings will arrive to your new home safe and sound. Not to mention, depending on the size of your home, our team can pack all of your household belongings in just one day! Better yet, our Full Pack and Unpack Services can take care of your entire move for you!
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Need more information about our Packing, Moving, or Full-Service Moving services? Head to the Deluxe Moving & Storage website for more information, or contact our team to get started on your seamless and stress-free move. We look forward to working with you!
Want more moving tips and advice? Don’t hesitate to contact our team with any questions you may have regarding the moving process. Whether you’re moving across the street or to a brand new city, choosing Deluxe Moving & Storage for your next move is the best thing you can do to ensure a safe and healthy moving experience for you and your loved ones. Don’t forget to fill out our FREE, no-obligation quote form, and leave the work to us!