Movers - 8 Things To Remember When Packing Fragile Items

TRUSTED • PROFESSIONAL • FRIENDLY

MOVING SERVICES

Making Friends with every move!

8 Things To Remember When Packing Fragile Items

February 3, 2020 7:36pm

There are many stages to the moving process, from the initial consultation with a moving company to the delivery of your belongings to your new home and everything in between. One of the most stressful parts of the moving process, though, is packing. As the moving day gets closer and closer, anxiety creeps in. Packing takes some serious skill and patience — especially when it comes to the fragile items. When preparing for a move, many people have a fear that their most valuable, delicate items will not make it to their new home in one piece. Some people choose not to bother with the worry and instead utilize professional packing services offered by the residential moving company they choose to work with.

If you are planning a move, chances are you own several fragile items, so determining risks and exercising safety precautions is necessary to ensure everything arrives at your new home safely and in one piece. Make sure you set aside an adequate amount of time to specifically focus on carefully packing your fragile belongings and follow these tips to avoid running into a moving catastrophe.

PREPARE IN ADVANCE

Before you start packing up your fragile items, it is a good idea to get an estimate of what fragile belongings you own and start thinking about which items can be packed together and which will require extra care and caution. Properly packing fragile items can take a lot of time and is part of the packing process that should not be rushed. By preparing a month or two before your moving date, you should be giving yourself enough time to pack your fragile and delicate items in a protective manner to ensure there are no surprise damages when you unbox everything in your new home – the last thing you want to do is find your set of good wine glasses broken as you reach the packing paper.

PROTECT FRAGILE ITEMS WITH THE RIGHT MATERIAL

It’s going to take a little more than bubble wrap to give all your delicate belongings the protection they deserve. Therefore, it is important to stock up on the right moving packaging materials before you begin putting things into boxes or totes. The first line of defense for fragile items such as glasses, plates, and mirrors is packing paper. Packing paper acts as a shock-absorbing layer. Fragile items can be carefully wrapped with packing paper and any material leftover can be used for filling up the empty space inside your moving boxes. Bubble wrap makes a great second layer as it adds some insulation to protect your delicate belongings during the move.

Professional, Affordable, and Simple. Schedule Your Free, In-home estimate!

USE AN ASSORTMENT OF BOXES

While it seems like purchasing boxes that are comparable in size would be beneficial for packing, it’s better to get a variety of different sized boxes. The best strategy when it comes to packing and box sizes is to put the heavier items into smaller boxes with the lighter items into larger boxes. Of course, on top. With a variety of boxes that vary in dimension, it’s easier to manage your space while ensuring the boxes are secure in the back of the vehicle they are being transported in.

THINK ABOUT THE KITCHEN

Most people would agree: a large percentage of fragile items come from the kitchen. From glasses and mugs to bowls and dinner plates, there are a lot of fragile items that can be found in the heart of the home. Even though these items can withstand use on a daily basis and some less-than-gentle handling, they are still at high risk of being damaged during the moving process. Make sure that all of your fragile glassware and other delicate items are properly protected with the right material and placed in boxes that are the appropriate size and have the proper filling amount.

FRIENDLY MOVERS TIP: PACK YOUR PLATES VERTICALLY! EACH OF YOUR PLATES SHOULD BE WRAPPED IN PACKING PAPER AND BUBBLE WRAP FOR THE UTMOST PROTECTION AND STORED VERTICALLY IN A BOX TO REDUCE THE SPACE THEY TAKE UP.

SECURE ELECTRONICS

Wine glasses, ceramic mugs, and vases are not the only fragile items you need to worry about — you may have electronics that require extra care, too! Electronics are not very cheap, and gaming systems, desktop computers, 4K HDTVs, and other high-end electronics are likely considered some of your most valuable possessions. Therefore, it is vital to ensure that your fragile electronics are properly secured when packing. Original boxes are a great start for packing these items, but if you no longer have them, you can find boxes that will have the space to accommodate your electronics. Any large electronics with exposed screens, such as TVs and desktop computers, should be wrapped with thin foam wrap and a layer of bubble wrap to ensure nothing is damaged.

USE CARDBOARD FOR SPECIALTY ITEMS

Finding boxes for large, oddly shaped fragile items is not easy. If you can’t find appropriately-sized boxes for these specialty moving items you will need to improvise. Specialty items should be wrapped in bubble wrap until fully covered on all ends. Then, these items should be placed on pliable cardboard and the overhanging cardboard should be bent until its ends meet. Other pieces of cardboard can be placed on top of the item and bending the overhanging sides down until the item is secure. Once covered sufficiently with cardboard, packing tape can be used to hold everything together. Be generous in your taping — you can even wrap the entire item with tape if necessary. Ideally, the goal here is to construct a makeshift box that will keep your item secure during transportation.

LABEL YOUR BOXES

Label, label, label. There will be more than just fragile and delicate items going into your moving boxes, so you should clearly label those that do and those that don’t. Chances are you won’t be the only person handling your boxes during the moving process, so it’s important to label which boxes need to be handled with care. In addition to writing “FRAGILE” – if you enjoy dad jokes you may go with the classic, “FRA-GEE-LAY” – you can save yourself time during the unpacking process by also labeling what is inside each box.

COMMUNICATE WITH YOUR MOVING COMPANY

Turning to a professional residential moving company to help with your relocation will make the moving process much easier. Working with the best movers means you will save time and your items will be handled with care. Still, it’s a good idea to talk with your movers before the loading process begins so that the crew will know which boxes need that extra-gentle handling. When the movers arrive at your home on moving day, you can show them the section of your home where all of the boxes with fragile items are, maybe even see if you get a laugh from your A Christmas Story reference. Haven’t hired a moving company yet? Check out our tips for finding the best moving company!

PLANNING A MOVE? CONTACT FRIENDLY MOVERS!

Specializing in moving services in Washington DC, Maryland, and the Northern Virginia area, and the surrounding areas, many people have trusted the professionals at Friendly Movers for their residential moving needs. If you don’t have time for packing your fragile items and other belongings, no worries! We offer packing services to take the burden off of your shoulders. If you would like to receive a free estimate for your upcoming move, contact us!