Moving can be exciting, stressful and exhausting and usually comes with a few surprises. One of the things no one wants to experience when moving is for delicate furniture to get damaged or broken. Sturdy items like outdoor patio furniture can typically be loaded directly onto a moving truck without having to worry but antiques, art and other delicate items need care and planning to ensure they arrive safely to their destination.
Gathering all your packing supplies in advance can make your moving day a lot less hectic. Moving boxes, tape and packing paper are easy to source from any home improvement stores, truck rental locations and self-storage business. The following is a basic list of supplies to have on hand when it’s time to start packing:
- A variety of cardboard boxes, from small to extra large
- Packing tape
- Stretch wrap for cloth furniture (e.g. sofas)
- Packing paper (10lb or 25lb bundle)
- Styrofoam peanuts and/or bubble wrap
- Markers, usually one black and one red
- Scissors and/or razor blade
Packing
Some of the most delicate items in your home may be expensive electronics. The best way to pack electronics is to place them back into their original containers if you still have them, include Styrofoam for additional security. If you don’t have the original containers, use stretch plastic to secure any moving parts and wrap the item in bubble wrap. Place it in a box that holds it securely, and tape it closed. Pack items like these by themselves, don’t add anything else with them. To ensure a safe move crating is recommended for extremely valuable items.
Things like antiques can survive the hassle of a move if you take a few extra minutes to protect it. Remove all movable pieces and pack them separately, label clearly so they don’t get lost. Use stretch wrap and masking tape to keep doors securely closed and protect glass. Place a padded moving blanket over the item to secure it. When packing stemware, china and chandeliers use specialty boxes. Place masking tape in a crisscross pattern over mirrors or large pieces of glass. In the event the mirror should break the tape will prevent the glass from shattering and making things worse.
Moving
For both the safety of you and your belongings don’t try moving heavy objects alone. Ask for some help from friends or family members if not pay for professional movers. Be sure to clearly write the word FRAGILE on your delicate items with a bright marker (red preferably) on the box or a strip of tape placed on the item. If you don’t label items, when everything is bundled in protective layers and your helpers are moving furniture back and forth you may lose track of which items require special care. As a general rule, when loading the moving truck delicate items should be at the top. Mirrors and artwork should be placed between mattresses and box springs. Smaller items like household electronics should skip the moving truck all together and be packed in the trunk or backseat of your personal vehicle if possible. No amount of care can guarantee that something won’t drop or scratch but proper planning can greatly increase the chances of your furnishings arriving to their new home in one piece.