One of the most difficult tasks of moving will certainly be packing kitchen items, especially when you're packing the more delicate and easily breakable items such as tea cups and coffee mugs. Unlike other kitchen items, tea cups and mugs are used very often. So, when you're packing your kitchen items, it's always a smart idea to pay extra attention to protecting your coffee mugs and tea cups.
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Here's a step-by-step procedure on how to pack your coffee mugs and tea cups in the most efficient way to maximize space and minimize damage when the time comes to prepare for your move.
Obtaining the right packing materials
Packing coffee mugs and china tea cups can be a fairly easy process, once you have all of the materials that you'll need. There are several different kinds of materials that you could use to pack cups and mugs. They are:
- A cell box - A cardboard box with individual compartments to keep glass items from banging together in transit can be effective, but they are often designed for carrying stemware and will not be the correct size. You can make your own cell box by cutting strips of cardboard and placing them inside your box at measured intervals to fit your cups and notching them to create a grid. But a regular, sturdy cardboard box can also work just fine.
- Bubble wrap - You will need bubble wrap to cushion your cups or mugs
- Packing paper, newspaper, packing peanuts or plastic grocery bag - You can also use these materials to cushion your box
- A roll of packing tape - You will need some packing tape to seal your box
- A permanent Marker to label the contents.
These are the packing supplies you'll need if you want to make sure that your coffee mugs and tea cups are packed as securely as possible. You can obtain these materials from any moving supply retailer or shop for them now at Movers.com.
Cleaning cups and mugs
Once you've arranged your packing materials, you'll need to prepare your mugs and cups so that they can be packed. Set aside the mugs and cups that you'll be bringing along with you on your move and clean them all prior to packing them. Also, make sure that you have a box to pack them in that is also the proper size.
![Pack Tea Cups](https://www.movers.com/images/guides/gdImg/packing-guides-and-tips/packing-tea-cups.jpg)
Wrapping and Packing coffee mugs and tea cups
If your cups and mugs are prepared for packing, here is what you'll need to do to pack your mugs and get them wrapped and protected for the move:
- Cushion the box/Prepare the box - Fill the bottom of your box with crumpled packing paper, newspaper, or packing peanuts. If you are using a cell box, place a ball of paper at the bottom of each individual cell.
- Tape the box properly - Reinforce the bottom seal of your box with packing tape to make sure it's strong enough to withstand the move.
- Fortify the cups and mugs with some bubble wrap or packing paper - Ball up some bubble wrap (or packing paper if you choose) and place it inside the coffee mug or a tea cup. This will support the negative space in the cup and protect it from shattering with the slightest impact. You should also stuff some bubble wrap or packing paper between the cup and the handle as well to prevent the handle from cracking off of the cup.
- Packing mugs and cups - Once you've fortified the mugs and cups with packing paper, you need to wrap the entire mug in a few layers of bubble wrap. Usually, two to three layers is recommended. Wrap the entire mug with several layers for added protection and then use packing tape to secure the wrap and keep it from coming unraveled during the move.
- Place the mugs or cups into the box - You'll be placing your mugs or cups down on the bed of packing peanuts or packing paper that you've laid at the bottom of the box. To ensure that the contents at the bottom don't shift during the move (which will allow your mug to come in contact with the bottom of the box), place a layer of bubble wrap on top of the packing peanuts or packing paper to keep it in place and protect the mug. The bubble wrap that you placed around the mug will also help to cushion each mug from the others in the box when you put them in side-by-side.
- Tape and label your box - Once your mugs and cups are packed, seal the box securely with packing tape and label the box with its contents and destination, and be sure to mark it "Fragile" and "This Side Up" with an arrow indicating the direction you wish the box to be carried and set down.
Get more information about packing china, packing glassware, and even a packing china cabinet at Movers.com!