Alright, so you’ve got your new home awaiting your arrival, your truck is booked, moving supplies are purchased, and you’ve begun to tear down the possessions in your current home.
And boy, you sure have a lot of fragile items to pack.
Packing up fragile items in all of their irregular shapes for a move is probably one of the most tedious parts of moving. Until you pull that truck onto lively city streets, you might even suspect that packing up fragile items need not take much of your time — “It’s only going across town” you might think to yourself. Until you make that first turn, and you hear a THUD or two emanate from the giant trailer behind your moving truck.
That’s usually the moment people wish they’d spent more time packing their fragile items a little better. Well, here’s how to avoid that sinking feeling and pack up your fragile items effectively.
How to Pack Fragile Items for Moving Day
1. Choose your weapons
Ok, not really. But be sure to pick up all the right moving supplies needed to get the job done right. Packing fragile objects typically requires some sturdy cardboard boxes, newspaper, scrap cardboard pieces, bubble wrap, and tape. There are plenty of places you can find good quality moving box for sale online or in traditional stores.
Once you’ve gathered up your packing supplies and they’re all within reach, you’re good to go.
2. Send All the Kings Horses Home
Instead of waiting for accidents to happen – like dropping and breaking your prized fragile possessions — it’s best not to work from on high (or sitting on a wall). Instead, find a comfortable spot on the floor with all of your moving supplies within an easy arm’s reach.
The less you need to move around to reach things, the less likely you’ll be to drop anything.
3. Take an Inventory
Plan out how you’re going to pack your moving boxes, and pack up fragile items sequentially; first in, last out. Heavier, more durable items can rest on the bottom of the box on a good layer of bubble-wrap or some towels that you’re taking with you. Lighter, thinner, more fragile, awkwardly shaped items can go near the top of the box.
4. That’s a Wrap
Once you’re comfortably seated on the floor, you’ve got your supplies within reach, and you’ve selected the items for packing and their sequential order to which they are packed – you’re ready to wrap and pack.
Layering your fragile items appropriately is of paramount importance. Typically we suggest using bubble-wrap first, bubbles in, so they can wrap around every contour of the item being wrapped.
If you wrap with paper first, you might prevent the bubble wrap from thoroughly clinging to the object. Instead, use newsprint to wrap around the item after it is already wrapped in bubble wrap.
Once your item is secured within both bubble wrap as well as newsprint, this last step is optional and at your own discretion.
Spare scrap cardboard pieces can be bent and folded around fragile items already wrapped in plastic bubble wrap and newsprint. This will provide additional support and protection during moving.
If not wrapped and taped around your fragile objects, sometimes a little scrap cardboard serves as a cardboard box divider and provide the same benefits.
5. Repeat, Repeat, Repeat!
We hope these tips have helped you out a little bit, and if you have anything to add – we’d love to hear your advice in the comments!
