On moving day, if there’s one thing designed to ramp up your stress levels, it’s the worry of whether your fragile belongings will survive the journey.
Whether it’s a glossy, Chinese teapot or a classic portrait glass frame, packing fragile belongings requires something a little more sophisticated than just throwing them in a box and saying a little prayer that they will be fine.
As a mover in the UK, you’re subject to potholes and bumpy rides in the back of the van, weather disturbances that can’t make up their mind up and staircases that seem to conspire against you while you’re carrying stupidly fragile things.
With the right processes, you’ll be able to get your fragile things safely from the UK to your new location. Let’s take a look at the best practices.
Using the Quality Packing Materials
Forget the cheap cardboard boxes from your local corner shop – you can’t be too careful with fragile items, and they’ll need a robust, double-walled box to protect them from the inevitable knocks. You may also want:
- Bubble wrap to cushion your items
- Packing paper to wrap and fill voids (try to steer clear of newspaper – it leaves ink marks)
- Foam sheets or inserts to protect glassware and electronics
- Packing tape that is strong enough to seal everything properly
If you are packing in winter, then bubble wrap can be a great protector against abrupt temperature changes that can cause glass or ceramics to crack.
Wrapping Up Things Accurately
For plates, nestle them vertically (like records) in a box with scrunched paper inside, and each plate is wrapped individually.
For glasses, stuff the boxes with crumpled paper before wrapping the outside, and place them in a divided box insert vertically.
For electronics, if you have the original boxes, use them, and if not, bubble wrap and a well-fitting box will work.
Layer and Cushion
Consider the box to be a cake, and fragile items should have cushioning between layers. Begin with a thick layer of cushioning material on the bottom, then layer your wrapped items before filling all voids with packing paper or foam. Finally, layer another thick layer of cushioning material on the top of the box and seal.
Don’t Overpack
You might want to cram everything you can into one box to conserve space, but overpacking makes boxes heavier, harder to carry, and can make them more likely to burst open. In the UK, most movers prefer boxes to be no heavier than 20kg as any box heavier can become a hazard on stairs or around awkward hallways.
Label Clearly
Make sure boxes are clearly marked as FRAGILE on at least three sides, and mark directions as “Top” and “Bottom” to ease the unpacking of the items. On moving day, clear labels will make the difference between being handled with care and being dropped carelessly.
Think About Professional Packing Services
If you have items of high value or high sentimental value, there are many removal companies (BAR and non-BAR registered) in the UK that offer a packing service. They will source specialist materials to pack your items and take liability for safe transit, meaning you have less stress to worry about and typically better insurance cover if something goes wrong.
Plan for Unboxing
After the moving truck pulls up to your new house and your boxes are unloaded, make sure your boxes are stored in a safe place and not in the middle of the walking route to avoid boxes getting knocked over in the bustle of moving furniture.
Final Thought
You don’t want to lose any of your expensive items during shipping, and hence, packing them carefully is necessary. Just follow the above-mentioned tips carefully and take your time to wrap everything safely so that you can have them shipped to your new place without even a scratch. Don’t forget, it is always cheaper to spend a few extra pounds on bubble wrap than to replace that one-of-a-kind vase.
Being a trusted moving company in the UK, Removals offer careful packing and unpacking services apart from complete shipping solutions. Our experts always use top-notch packing materials and also help customers to unwrap things carefully to settle them in their new home.