HOW TO PACK THE MOST COMMON FRAGILE ITEMS
Dishes
Plates should be packed vertically in small to medium sized boxes lined top and bottom with crumpled wrapping paper. Wrap each plate in bubble wrap and secure with tape. Place paper between plates. Don’t overload the box.
Glasses
Wrap each glass individually with wrapping paper and place the crumpled paper inside the largest ones to reduce empty space. For small or medium boxes, place enough wrapping paper on top and bottom. Also fill the space around the glasses with paper to minimize the chance of items moving around inside the box. Put the heaviest items on the bottom of the box, and the lighter ones on top.
Desk lamp
Lampshades should be boxed (flat side down) and separated from each other with plenty of paper. Lamp bases can be wrapped with bubble wrap if needed and placed in a large box.
Photos within
Frames are best placed in small or medium boxes lined with paper and vertical if they are larger than 20 cm. Wrap the frames in wrapping paper and place the paper between the frames and on top so that items do not dangle inside the box. Wrap paintings and photographs larger than 90 cm in a blanket for safety, wrap in foil and transport separately.
TVs
Packing flat screen TVs can sometimes be tricky. To begin, unplug all cables and accessories (such as stands) and pack them into the box. Be sure to label it. Wrap the screen in a soft blanket, securing it with packing tape. Finally, place the TV in the box and seal it with tape. Make sure the box is the same size as your TV.
Special Items
This includes all fragile, irregularly shaped or large items. It is important to consider not only the shape and size of the item, but also the presence of handles or any protruding parts that can break easily. Wrap the entire item in bubble wrap and secure with tape. Lay between two pieces of flexible cardboard. Then fold the cardboard so that the edges meet and secure with tape.
Don’t feel sorry for the tape – wrap the entire item if necessary. It is necessary that the fragile item was motionless inside the package. Then place the item in a box of about the same size lined with paper and fill in the gaps with crumpled paper. Finally, securely seal the box with duct tape and mark with a bold felt-tip pen: FRAGILE.
Many use newsprint, small blankets, old towels, or even paper towels as packing materials. It’s not the wisest choice. Newsprint can get dirty, which means you’ll have to clean more things in your new home. Paper towels are not very durable and reliable. Old towels slip easily and are difficult to secure with tape, which is necessary for proper packing of valuables. Use the right packing materials and you won’t regret it.
Finally, be sure to let the movers know which boxes contain fragile items. You can purchase specialized fragile item boxes, dish bags, and mirror/picture frame boxes from most moving companies.