While most people are pretty comfortable with packing up the usual household items, packing breakables can pose a unique challenge. If you're getting ready to move and you have a lot of fragile and breakable items in your house, that's going to require a little bit of a careful approach. Here's a look at some tips and suggestions that may help you to get through your move without risking breakage.
Only Move What You Have To
One of the mistakes that many homeowners make when they're moving is to pack and move things that they don't really need. Not only does this take unnecessary time, it also increases your risk of things breaking because you may not pack everything as well, or you have a lot more boxes and something shifts in moving.
Minimize this risk by only moving the things you really want to keep. Take time to go through all of the breakables in your house and decide what you really want and what might actually be okay to sell or donate. Get rid of anything you're not particularly emotionally attached to. A good rule of thumb is that if you haven't really paid attention to it in the last year, you probably don't need to keep it.
Make Sure You're Prepared
Before you start packing things, you should be sure that you have all of the supplies you need. By stocking up first, you reduce the risk of running out of supplies and trying to "make do" with things like blankets or towels, which can shift and won't adequately protect your items.
Invest in a bunch of sturdy boxes in multiple sizes so that you aren't trying to squeeze large things into boxes that aren't adequate. When possible, get double-walled boxes for extra support. You should also buy plenty of packing paper, bubble wrap, packing peanuts, foam inserts, and cardboard pads. While you're at it, get some plain cardboard that's pliable, that way you can form custom boxes if you need to.
Choose Boxes Carefully Or Make What You Need
As you pack items, opt for a box that's slightly larger than the item in question to give you some space to pad around each item. Don't choose boxes that are significantly larger, though, because those can be hard to fill and you risk things shifting and breaking.
If you don't have a box large enough for something, use the cardboard panels you've purchased and make a box yourself. Wrap the item carefully with bubble wrap before packing it so that it is padded and protected. Put one cardboard panel underneath the item and one panel over the item, then fold the sides down around the item. Tape the sides together tightly, leaving one open so you can pack around the item for padding.
Pad The Boxes Properly
Before you tape up any of your breakable-filled boxes, make sure that they are fully protected. Fill any open spaces with protective padding material. You can ball up packing paper, use packing peanuts, insert foam panels, or use any of a variety of different fillers. Filling all of the gaps will ensure that your items can't shift when you're moving your boxes. Just make sure you use the filling material and not things like towels or blankets. Things like that won't provide the same level of protection.
If you're not confident in your ability to pack your own fragile items, talk with a professional at local moving companies about helping you. Many movers offer packing services, and they specialize in proper packing. That may allow you the peace of mind of knowing that your breakables were packed safely and the risk of breakage is minimal.
