How to Protect the Family Jewels When Moving
Properly packing fragile items is the bane of moving day. From holiday ornaments to dishes, antiques to electronics, you’ll need to carefully consider what you’re packing and how best to transport it. Follow the guidelines below to expertly pack your most delicate items.
Packing materials: Step one is to gather the right packing materials. Having everything you’ll need in place before you start packing will prevent last-minute mistakes that can lead to breakage.
Electronics: If you had the foresight (not to mention space) to save their original boxes and packing materials, give yourself a pat on the back! If, however, you’re like the other 99% of us, wrap the smaller items in towels and place them in boxes. Drape larger items in blankets and secure with rope or bungee cords.
Framed Photos and Wall Hangings: Instead of packing your bedding, use it to wrap your large framed photographs and paintings, to keep out dust and prevent breakage. Smaller linens such as towels and dish cloths can be used to wrap smaller pictures before placing them in boxes.
Dishes: Continue using your smaller linens to wrap dishes in, or, if you’ve run out of those, you can use items of clothing. Start with out-of-season clothing, in case you can’t get everything unpacked right away.
Holiday Ornaments: While many of your packing materials can come from things you already have lying around the house, such as newspapers, specialized containers with individual compartments are worth the investment when it comes to packing up your irreplaceable holiday heirlooms.
Setting aside extra time, using the proper materials, and even purchasing specialty containers to pack your delicate items can make the difference between arriving at your new home with boxes of treasures to unpack, or arriving there with broken shards to fill up your trash cans.
