When packing for a move, properly protecting your most fragile items is a major concern- it's imperative your fragile wedding china, crystal wine glasses, and costly flat screen TV arrive at your new home without so much as a scratch. Unpacking boxes filled to the brim with shattered glass or unwrapping a decimated television are the things that moving nightmares are made of.
Luckily, proper packing materials and methods can help you sleep easier. Bubble wrap is one of the best packing materials which helps for protecting your items. Below fragile items are delicate require maximum protection during your move. So, they should be wrapped carefully with bubble wrap to prevent damage.
Wine glasses
After a long, stressful move, you may anxiously await the moment you can relax in your new home with a nice glass of wine-only to tear open the box and find nothing but shards of shattered glass.
One of the most delicate items on the list, wine glasses are especially fragile because of their long, thin stems. While you can opt to simply wrap them with paper, if your wine glasses are especially valuable (such as crystal), you should use bubble wrap for extra protection.
Besides wrapping each glass individually with bubble wrap, you should use a cell box for packing. Cell boxes are compartmented cartons with thin cardboard dividers separating each individual cell. Simply place each bubble-wrapped wine glass (with a small ball of packing paper inside the goblet for support) into a cell cushioned with paper. Read our guide How to pack glassware and stemware to get more tips for packing wine glasses.
When you are finished, cover the top of the box with another layer of bubble wrap before securely taping it with sturdy packing tape and labeling "Fragile."
China
Often extremely valuable or a sentimental family heirloom, china is especially fragile and requires careful packing and proper materials. The holidays wouldn't be the same without your elegant wedding china set out on the dining room table, so make sure to properly protect each plate, saucer, and cup. Here are some noteworthy tips on how to pack chinaware with bubble wrap:
- First wrap each plate with packing paper before following with bubble wrap for added protection.
- Line the dish carton or the moving box with crumpled paper or packing peanuts for extra cushioning and place the plates on their sides, not stacked. This is the least vulnerable position for the plates to minimize the possibility of damage.
- Fill in any gaps with extra paper and place a layer of bubble wrap on top of the box. Secure with tape and label "Fragile".
When packing coffee mugs and tea cups, place a piece of balled up packing paper or bubble wrap inside the cup for support. You should also wedge some bubble wrap or packing paper between the cup's handle and the body of the cup to prevent the handle from cracking off of the cup. Place your cup face-up on a square piece of bubble wrap cut to size (just larger than the cup). Fold the bubble wrap around the cup so that it covers its surface completely and fold the edges inside of the cup. Set each wrapped cup inside a cell box compartment, making sure to fill any empty space will more crumpled paper or packing peanuts.
Glass tabletop
An elegant glass topped coffee table brings class to any living room. However, come moving day, you may realize the tabletop is incredibly cumbersome and difficult to move. Since replacing a piece of glass that size can be expensive, it's imperative to properly prepare and pack your glass tabletop to ensure it arrives at your new home without so much as a scratch or chip. Here's how to pack glass table top for moving:
Glass cabinet doors and shelves
If you have a china cabinet or a furniture with glass doors or shelves, they should be properly protected for your move. First, remove the shelves from inside the cabinet and remove the doors by unscrewing them from the hinges. Carefully wrap each shelf and door in packing paper first, then with bubble wrap. Secure all wrappings with tape.
Stack the bubble-wrapped shelves together and wrap them in a moving blanket or old quilt. Secure the bundle with packing tape. You can then either pack the doors in a specialty box or wrap them again in a furniture blanket.
Find more info: How to pack china cabinet for moving
Mirrors
If you glance at yourself every time you pass a reflective surface, ensuring your mirrors arrive at your new home intact is a crucial task. Mirrors are heavy yet very delicate and can sustain an unsightly crack at the slightest infraction. Wrapping your mirrors in protective bubble wrap with large bubbles (with a packing paper barrier to avoid impressions) is the best way to prevent damage. You can also place the wrapped mirror in a specialty mirror box for added protection.
Artwork
Whether it's your own home-made art or a valuable piece by a famed artist, protecting your paintings and other artwork with bubble wrap will help ensure safe arrival at your new home. Use corner protectors on framed artwork, and a place a layer of packing paper to protect the glass surface from bubble wrap. Wrap both framed and unframed paintings (unframed paints should also be wrapped with paper prior to protect against impressions on the artwork's surface) with bubble wrap and place them inside picture boxes-- flat cardboard specialty cartons designed for packing artwork. Secure with packing tape and clearly mark "Fragile."
There are many things to consider when packing framed and unframed artwork for moving, so, it is advisable to hire a professional moving company to handle the task.
Vases
Whether crystal, ceramic, or porcelain, decorative vases are often delicately fragile and sometimes very valuable. Because of their tall, elongated shapes, you should pack them in specialty boxes for optimal protection.
In order to wrap your vase, place it gently on its side on a sheet of bubble wrap. Roll it until it's completely covered and seal the seams securely with packing tape. Make sure the top and bottom of the vase are thoroughly wrapped, protected and taped to hold the covering tightly in place.
See more: How to pack vases for moving
Prepare the bottom of the box with crumpled packing paper or peanuts and carefully wedge your wrapped vase into the cushioned bottom of the box. Stuff the empty space with more cushioning to prevent the vase from shifting during transit and sustaining any scratches, cracks or other damage. Secure the box with packing tape and mark "Fragile'.
Electronics
While heavier and seemingly sturdier than fragile glass and porcelain, electronics have delicate inner workings that can be compromised with the slightest impact. Bubble wrap can help cushion any blow your electronics sustain. Be sure to use pink, non-static bubble wrap when packing electronics to avoid damage from a static-induced electric charge.
After wrapping your device in bubble wrap, the best packaging for transport is the original box. However, if you don't like to save everything and no longer have the store packaging, a sturdy moving carton will do. Be sure to secure tightly with packing tape and label "Fragile."
One final piece of advice
While bubble wrap offers optimal protection for many delicate items, the plastic bubble wrap can harm the environment! If you are seeking a green alternative to shield your fragile belongings from damage during your move, try water-soluble bubble wrap. Unlike non-biodegradable plastic, you can simply dissolve it in water after unpacking, so no carbon footprint is left behind!