Moving can be difficult and stressful with all the things that need to be completed before moving day. A major part of moving, and perhaps the most stressful, is packing. When packing household goods and items, it essential that it is done with care. Protection of items like furniture, antiques, and breakable items is one of the main objectives of every household move. When it comes to packing household belongings, some items certainly are more fragile than others. Glassware, antiques, fine art, and other fragile items require careful packing and handling during the moving process, as well as proper storage. Ensuring fragile items are packed and handled properly will help keep your items in pristine condition, even if you hire a professional moving service to handle your relocation. Whether you are moving and packing delicate glassware passed down from generations or an expensive vase, check out some tips to help keep your valuable and fragile items safe and protected during a move.

Preparation is key

If you have followed our moving blog, you may have noticed that being prepared is essential to the moving process, no matter what you are doing. As we have mentioned before, when preparing for a move, whether you’re moving over a few blocks or into another state, one of the first things that should be done is making a list of all the goods and items that need to be packed, especially the valuable, delicate, or fragile items. Not only will a list ensure that these delicate items are packed with extra attention, it will come in handy if anything breaks or comes up missing during the moving process, in which an insurance claim will have to be made.

Another part of preparation is making sure that there is a sufficient amount of packing supplies. Fragile and breakable items require strong cardboard boxes or totes of different sizes. Scissors, bubble wrap, packing paper, packing tape, and markers are additional supplies that will come in handy. Perhaps the most important thing when packing for a move is allowing yourself enough time to properly pack and handle delicate or fragile items.

How to pack fragile items when moving

Households are full or fragile, delicate, and valuable goods and items. You may not actually realize how many items you have in you actually have until it’s time to pack. Depending on what type of items you have, packing some items may require different strategies than others. To help, we put together some tips for packing common fragile or valuable items when it’s time to move.

Dishes

When it comes to packing for a move, packing dishes for a move is one of the most tedious and time-consuming tasks. However, packing dishes isn’t a task that should be rushed as even the smallest mistake can increase the chances of one or multiple pieces becoming damaged during handling and transport. Dishes should be packed in small or medium-sized boxes. Putting dishes in large boxes will cause them to become heavy and may cause the box to break due to the pressure from the weight. For safe measure, line the inside of the boxes and wrap each dish with packing paper. If you want extra protection for those extra-important items, use bubble wrap instead. When the dishes are wrapped, place them vertically in the box, using extra packing paper or peanuts to fill in the empty spaces. This, of course, will add extra cushion and protection.

Glasses or glassware

Obviously, anything made of glass is fragile, and packing glasses and other glassware items require careful and strategic packing to ensure that they do not break, chip, or crack during the moving process. When packing, glasses should be individually wrapped with packing paper or bubble wrap. If you want to save money on moving supplies, using newspaper to wrap the glassware will do the trick. The wrapping is vital to the protection of the glass, so secure it with a small piece of tape. Because glasses and stemware are delicate, they are best protected from damage when they are packed in boxes that have separate divided cell spaces. There are even boxes made specifically for glasses. A household’s glassware should be packed and stored in a dry environment free of dust and pests.

Electronics

Nobody wants to find their plasma screen television shattered into pieces when arriving at the new home. Electronics have become an essential part of our lives, making them far too valuable to be packed without taking the proper precautions. Whether you are packing a TV, a computer, or a sound system it is important to ensure they are safe and protected. If you have the original boxes for certain electronics. These boxes already offer better protection than a standard moving box. If you cannot locate the original packaging, normal packaging will do the trick as long as they are padded on all sides and surfaces and the electronics outlet is protected. When packing electronics, it may be beneficial to use towels, pillows, and large blankets to pack them. Ensure the electronics are kept and put and stored in a dry environment free dust and higher temperatures.

Furniture

Packing and moving furniture can be tricky and is often the most strenuous part of the moving process. Some furniture is more fragile than others and requires extra care. The key to packing fragile furniture safely and efficiently is by only taking apart what is necessary and breakable. Be sure to take out loose shelves, remove legs from chairs and tables that can break easily, and disassemble any oversized furniture. Or extra protection, fragile furniture can be wrapped in sheets, towels, and blanket to help protect against knicks and scratches. If you have upholstered furniture, wrap it in plastic to ensure the fabric is kept clean during transport.

Mirrors and Art

While mirrors and fine art are in different categories, they do require similar packing methods for safe moving. Large mirrors and artwork should be placed in boxes that specifically fit the size of the time. The bottom of the boxes should be padded./ Additionally, the items going in the boxes should be wrapped several times with additional packing material filling the empty spaces inside. If the mirror or artwork is smaller, multiple items can be packed into a single box.

Reminder: Label your boxes

Once you’ve properly packed and secured your fragile items into the appropriate boxes, it is important to label each one with whats inside as well as an arrow indicating that the box should be loading either vertically or horizontally. Also, don’t forget to include the words “fragile” or “handle with care” in big, bold letters on at least two adjacent sides of the box.

Hopefully these tips will help make packing fragile items and belonging more simple and less stressful during the moving process. By following these tips and ensuring fragile items are packed and handled properly will help keep your items in pristine condition during a move.

Looking for Columbus, GA moving companies?

In addition to packing, finding a reliable and affordable moving company is another essential part of the moving process. And when you need professional movers in Columbus, Georgia, there’s not a better choice than Helping Hands Moving Company! For years we have been providing Columbus with the best local moving services. To learn how we can make your move easier and less stressful, contact our Columbus movers today!