The sound of breaking glass can be a nightmare on moving day. We’ve all experienced, or heard about, the horror of opening the moving box marked “FRAGILE” to discover that Grandma’s china set has turned to dust. But the right materials and some patience are all it takes for even the most delicate items to make the trip to your new home safely.
The most common part of the moving process is the packing. Many think a couple of sheets of newspaper is all that’s necessary to protect the goods, but then they realize they also need to protect the entire home around the box. Standard newsprint is thin, too. The cheap ink used to print news also rubs off on everything inside the box.
How to protect your breakables? This guide takes you through the key packing features of professional movers. Then, regardless of how far or nearby your moving destination is, you can guarantee the safe and sound transportation of your kitchenware, vases, and ornaments.
Step 1: Gather the Right Packing Materials
Positive vibes and old towels won’t cut it when packing fine china. Gather some decent packing supplies first. Using bad packing supplies is the top reason items break during transportation.
Start with dish barrels and heavy-duty boxes. These boxes are made with double-walled cardboard, making them much better than regular moving boxes. They can hold the weight of stacked dishes and protect against bumps from the outside.
The next step is to get a big bundle of unprinted packing paper. This is your main line of defense. It provides cushioning without the mess of ink transfer. You will also need bubble wrap for extremely delicate items, like crystal stems, and a lot of high-quality packing tape to make the bottoms of your boxes durable. Do not trust bad tape like masking tape or duct tape to hold a heavy box together; stick to packing tape.
Step 2: Prepare Your Packing Station
You do not want to wrap fragile items on a cluttered floor; a mess like that is a recipe for disaster. You need a clean, square workspace to pack as efficiently and safely as possible. The kitchen table or a sturdy countertop works best.
Remove all items from the surface you’re going to be wrapping and cover it with a thick moving blanket or a stack of cardboard boxes. This acts as a soft landing zone if something gets dropped while wrapping; it also prevents scratches on items you might be rubbing against as you slide them.
Keep yourself organized and ensure most supplies are readily available and within arm’s reach. In the center of your wrapping setup, place a stack of packing paper, a tape gun (to the right if you’re right-handed, to the left if you’re left-handed), and bubble wrap nearby. If you can bring the bin that you are packing up to waist height, this can make it easier to place items carefully and also save your back if, for example, you position a chair next to you.
3. Master the Art of Packing Plates
The most common thing people get wrong with packing kitchenware is stacking their plates like a stack of pancakes with the rest of the kitchenware. This is a terrible idea. There is too much uneven weight if plates are packed . If a moving truck hits a bump or pothole while the plates are stacked flat, it can cause a severe vertical shock at the bottom of the plates, potentially breaking them.
Instead, pack your plates vertically like records.
Place a box in front of you and take out a sheet of packing paper. Put a plate in the center of the paper. Then fold one corner of the paper over the plate. Then take another plate, place it on top of the folded paper, and fold over another corner. Repeat this process for a total of three or four plates.
Once you have a stack of three or four plates, take a sheet of packing paper, wrap it around the stack, and tape it closed. Stand the stacks on the edge of the box. It is preferred to have the stacks standing rather than lying down in the box. Standing the stacks on their edges distributes the box’s weight much better than laying the stacks of plates down.
4. Glasses and Stemware
Glasses should usually be packed differently from plates. Glasses are hollow, so you will need to support them to prevent them from being crushed. Use packing paper and crumple it. Put this in the glass; this support is required. If you have a glass with a long stem, wrap the bottom with some bubble wrap so it does not snap when packing.
To start with, set a piece of glass on a corner of packing paper and roll the paper diagonally over the glass. When encasing the glass, be sure to fold over the paper on the glass rim and base, and insert it along the rim and base of the glass. Your goal is to achieve a well-padded, securely sealed, cylinder-shaped package.
To progress, center the box on the table, with the glass packing perched on the rim of the box side. Glass packing is supposedly more robust in support than the box side’s thinner rim. Ensure the glass packing is secured to the side of the box. If you notice clanking with the glass packing, repeat rolling the glass with more packing paper.
Once the boxes are filled with padded partitions that provide their own support, they are ready to be cushioned and sealed. Start by folding packing paper to create a 3-inch-deep shock-absorbing layer.
Add a layer of crumpled packing paper on top of the filled paper box. Use packing paper to fill the now-empty corners. Shake the box and ensure that the item you have sealed doesn’t move. If packing paper has been crumpled for pre-shock-absorbing packing and the box corners have been filled, the box is ready for a shipping label.
Finally, use several pieces of tape to seal the box and ensure it is labeled properly. Write the word “FRAGILE” in large, bold letters on each side of the box and draw “THIS SIDE UP” arrows. This will let your movers (or friends lending a hand) know how to handle your most valued items.
How to Unpack With Minimal Stress
Although wrapping your breakables may seem like a long, tedious task, it will pay off greatly when you get to your new home. There is a special feeling that comes when you get to unpack your beloved, cherished pieces and find them intact. If you follow these universal packing rules and use the appropriate packing materials, you can turn a thankless task into a successful move.