Moving to a new home is often a happy, momentous occasion. Though packing all your belongings can be a hassle, it is even more distressing to find out during the unpacking that your valuables or breakables have been damaged. Therefore, it is particularly important to take care when packing items of great value. Use the following guidelines when packing your valuables, and unpacking at your new home will be free of the stress that comes with damaged goods.
Choosing the Right Container
The most important step in packing your fragile items is choosing the appropriate container to put them in. Consider the trips your items will be taking. Will they be in the back of a hot van for days on end, or will they be shipped to another state? Think about how many hands your boxes will pass through. The more people that will be handling your items, the more carefully you should pack them. Cardboard boxes are ideal for most household items. Be sure to buy special packing boxes, which are often sturdier than boxes you would save from retail purchases. Plastic boxes or crates may seem like a great idea because of their size and the reusability factor, but consider that their lids can easily pop off, allowing all your valuables to spill. Boxes that you can secure with heavy duty packing tape are your best bet.
Proper Packing Material
Depending on what you are packing, you could use leftover newspapers or you might need to buy special packing peanuts or foam. Valuables are often fragile or breakable, and so extra padding will be necessary. Make sure to purchase ample material to fill the voids of the boxes that you are packing. Any gaps or air spaces left will leave room for your items to shift, possibly causing damage. The least expensive choice is crumpled newspaper, but considering that your valuables are an investment, you will probably want to purchase quality packing material. Do not use plastic bags or paper towels as cushioning, as they will easily collapse around your packed items.
Packing the Container
The most crucial part of making sure your items arrive safely is paying attention to how they are packed. You have to find the perfect medium between putting too few or too many items into any one container. You should also be careful about what you stack onto your valuables. If you are packing china dishes for instance, you would want to place the plates on the bottom, and cups or gravy boats on top. Anything that could be easily crushed should be placed on top. Items should be individually wrapped in cushioning before using extra padding to surround all items in the box. In this instance, you may choose to use newspaper for individual wrapping and smaller packing peanuts to fill all voids.
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information presented herein intended to substitute for the advice provided to you by any health care or other professional
or organization.
