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Packing Tips

Who should deal with all the boxes, bubble wrap and tape? While it costs more to have the moving company pack, (supposedly) they have expertise in packing, and the items in your boxes are only covered for damage under the mover's insurance policy if the mover does the packing (more on this later).

Generally, though, most people prefer to pack things themselves. Doing so allows you to create detailed inventories for each box. These can be helpful once you arrive at your new home and really, really need a glass, a plate (or some toilet paper!). Movers, on the other hand, pack things where they find them. So if you leave a sweater in the kitchen on moving day, you are likely to find it with the pots and pans and not with the rest of your clothes.

Whether or not you pack yourself, the mover should make a list of all the items to be moved, noting existing scratches and other damage. Review this list carefully before you sign it. Make sure that every box and stick of furniture is accounted for and that the condition of each item is described accurately.





PACKING MATERIALS You will need sturdy cartons with tops. Boxes with tops can be sealed and moved more quickly since they can be stacked. If stairs are involved in your move, the movers can carry several boxes at one time strapped to their backs. Unprinted Newspaper: The paper used for newspaper without ink. This is an excellent all purpose wrapping and cushioning material. It is especially suited for glass, china, vases, figurines, and other small breakables. You can use old newspapers, but be advised that the ink rubs off and can soil glassware and even become permanently embedded in fine china, ceramic, and other porous material. Tissue: Tissue is especially suited for fine glassware, crystal, and other items that scratch easily. Tape: Clear plastic mover's tape is best. Marking Pens/Labels: Knowing what you have in each box will make unpacking easier and more efficient. Mark each box indicating contents, room destination, "fragile," "open first," etc. Many people find colored labels and colored marking pens useful when using a different color for each room. Always mark or label cartons on their sides as well as their tops so that the labeling will be visible when the cartons are stacked.

KITCHEN ITEMS Movers use what is called a "dishpack." These are double-wall, corrugated cardboard boxes that are about 28" high and 18" square. China can also be packed in smaller book or record boxes. Before packing china and glassware, be sure to line the bottom of the box with crumpled newsprint. Food: Try to move as little as possible. Avoid packing anything that might leak or spill. Tighten covers on jars and place in plastic bags, then use paper. Flatware: Put the biggest pieces in box first and work your way up to the smallest. Wrap each piece individually in a sheet of unprinted news. Pack plates and other flat breakables STANDING ON EDGE in the carton. Pack firmly, but don't pack a layer of plates so tightly that they push against the sides of the box. Leave room for a layer of crushed newspaper between the outermost plates and the inner sides of the box. Also fill in air spaces with crushed newspaper. You can give your china additional protection by packing the saucers in bundles of four to six pieces each. Once each piece has been wrapped separately, stack them and then wrap the stack and seal it with masking tape. Unprinted newspaper can be used for this purpose. Then place each bundle in the carton as you would an in individual dish--ON EDGE. For this method to work properly, all pieces in each bundle should be the same or nearly the same size. Bowls: Bowls and other unusually shaped items can be packed as a second layer on top of the plates. But before putting a second layer in the box it is advisable to put another layer of cushioning on top of the plates. Rolled or crushed newspaper can be used for this purpose. Wrap bowls individually as you would plates. Use unprinted newspaper. Stack bowls together in nests of 4 to 6 and wrap again in newspaper. Place bowls in cartons standing on edge as you would plates and saucers. Cups and Mugs: Wrap cup handles in tissue or paper towels, then cover completely in unprinted newspaper making sure that the inside of the cup is filled with paper. When all cups are wrapped, place them in the carton in rows with all HANDLES POINTING IN THE SAME DIRECTION. Cups, mugs, and other fragile items should be the top-most layer of the carton. Leave enough space on top to permit adding newsprint for additional protection. Glassware: You can use the top layer of a dishpack, a whole dishpack, or book boxes. Ordinary or everyday drinking glasses can be nested after each glass is wrapped individually in unprinted newspaper. If your glassware is especially valuable, the best thing to do is to obtain partitioned dividers from us. The key to packing glass and stemware is to always place these items in cartons STANDING ON RIM, i.e., bottoms up. Stemware, Goblets, Small Vases, Figurines, and Other Small Breakables: These items should be packed in cartons with partition dividers. Wrap each item individually in tissue or paper towel and then wrap again in a piece of unprinted news. Place stemware in partitioned sections standing on rims. Avoid packing more than one item per partitioned space--even if there is room for more. This will put undue pressure on the bottom piece and increase chances of breakage. Any extra space should be filled with crushed newspaper to prevent movement. Do not nest the stemware as you would glasses. Pots and Pans: Use dishpacks. Line the bottom of the biggest pan with a couple sheets of newsprint and then place the next largest pan in the first and then line the second pan. Continue this lining and nesting procedure for all pots and pans. Place them flat in the carton filling in all air spaces with crushed newspaper.



CLOTHING Hanging clothes: Clothes on hangers are best packed in "wardrobe cartons." These are large, heavy-duty cardboard boxes with a metal bar about two feet long. Suits, dresses, and all other clothing on hangers can be transferred directly from the closet to the wardrobe and then to the closet in your new home without folding and without wrinkles. Other Clothing and Linens: Clothes on closet shelves, in dressers, chests, and bureaus are best packed in linen cartons. It is advisable to empty all bureau drawers; the added weight of full drawers can put stress on furniture joints that will cause them to loosen.

HATS AND SHOES If hats or shoes are already in their own boxes, put these boxes in a larger, medium size box and fill in spaces with crushed newspaper. For unboxed hats, stuff the crown with tissue paper and then loosely wrap the entire hat in tissue. Heavier or sturdier hats go in bottom of carton; more delicate hats go on top. Don't pack anything else with hats. Shoes can be wrapped individually in unprinted news and placed in small cartons.

LAMPS AND LAMPSHADES Always remove shade and bulb. Wrap small lamps and table lamps in several layers of unprinted news and seal with tape. Place in carton standing on base. Remember to line the carton bottom with crumpled newspaper. Lampshades: The best way to protect lampshades is to pack them in a box. Never pack anything else in the same box with a lampshade. Wrap each shade in unprinted news or tissue and nest them one inside the other. Do not fill in empty spaces with newspaper as this can damage shades and is also unnecessary.

TELEVISIONS AND ELECTRICAL ITEMS If you saved the boxes these items came in, just repack them using crushed newspaper to fill the empty spaces. Don't forget to line the bottom of the box. For best protection, TV's, VCR's speakers, stereo components, tapedecks, computers, and other electronic equipment should be heavily wrapped and boxed to prevent movement. Bubble wrap is best. Old blankets, linens and towels are also good. Turntable tonearms should be taped or tied down. Some turntables and CD players have screwing mechanisms to secure rotating components. Small radios can be packed in the same box with linens or else boxed separately. Larger pieces such as console TV's and stereos in cabinets will be covered with furniture pads. Lazer pick-up on CD players should be secured (remove CD's from players). Ask us about specifications regarding Plasma TV's.

MISCELLANEOUS ITEMS Here are some recommendations for keeping oddities such as plants, artwork and other valuables secure. Mattresses and Pillows: For best protection, purchase plastic from us. Put pillows in a large box such as utility or linen. Books and Records: Use book or record boxes for these items. Pack books and records on edge. Pack books upright standing on bottom edge, alternating bound edge to open edge. Do not press anything against the exposed edges that might damage pages. Valuable books should be wrapped individually in unprinted news before placing in carton. Artwork: For framed and glassed prints, paintings and mirrors, purchase picture/mirror boxes from us. The boxes telescope one over the other so that two boxes can accommodate longer items. For insurance purposes, for extra protection or for your convenience you might want valuable pieces crated. Unless boxed or crated, mirrors and glass table tops will be wrapped in quilted furniture pads. Smaller Prints, Paintings, Mirrors, and Glass Table Tops: Small prints and paintings should be packed in dishpacks or record cartons standing on edge, face-to-face, back-to-back. Put pieces of cardboard between face-to-face prints or over entire print (or use bubble-pak). Be sure to cut this material slightly larger than the print so that glass and frames do not touch each other. Plants: Before packing plants, prune them to minimize breaking. Water plants as little as possible before moving day. Small and medium size plants can be packed in strong cartons. Anchor plants so they don't slide when the box is moved. Tall potted plants and hanging plants can be placed in dishpacks. For plants with wide foliage, the branches should be gently lifted up and tied loosely together with string. Unpack plants as soon as possible. Open tops of boxes and then cut away sides. This helps to avoid breaking branches. Once you have placed the plants where you want them, do not treat them any differently than usual. The tendency is for owners to over-expose the plants to light for the first few weeks. Valuables: Items of exceptional value, such as jewelry, precious stones, coin and stamp collections, deeds, notes securities, stocks, or any other articles of special or unusual value. Also, do not take in the van any flammable items such as furniture polish, oily rags, chemistry sets, or anything else that may cause combustion.