One of the most dreaded tasks in relocation is the packing process. With so many precious items in your home (some financially, others sentimentally), keeping them safe is always a concern. And it is one that professional moving companies Los Angeles understand better than anyone else. After all, expert movers such as ourselves handle personal and business belongings on a daily basis. From disassembly and packing to loading into a truck and transportation. And we know how this can be vexing for anyone not experienced in such matters. That is why we are here today – to help provide some valuable insight on how to pack fragile items. We know that it will prove useful, and if you are still not up to the task, remember that we are just a phone call away!
Preparation is key when you need to pack fragile items
So, you just got off the phone with the long-distance movers Los Angeles, the date is set, and now it’s time to start planning the move. If you’ve decided to handle the packing part of the relocation on your own, then this is a necessary step. However, be warned – it is no easy task. You need to take the time to plan out the entire packing process. That way, you can be absolutely sure you did a good job and that everything is safe. This means that you will need to plan accordingly and get organized in advance.
You should collect all the fragile items and sensitive electronics and place them in one room. It is best to list all these items and categorize them. This way you will have a clear picture of how many items you have and what supplies you need.
The first step – getting the packing supplies ready
Having to pack fragile items and clothes are two very different things. This fact directly affects the choice of packing supplies you will choose. Never use old or reused packing supplies. This can be a deciding factor between your items arriving at their destination in one, or several pieces. Here’s what you’ll need:
- Quality moving boxes Los Angeles
- Packing paper or newspapers
- Packing peanuts
- Protective wrapping (bubble or otherwise)
- Duct tape
- Markers (for labeling)
Should I do this on my own?
Surely this thought has crossed your mind at some point during your packing process, and for a good reason. Packing is hard, especially when dealing with fragile belongings that are easily damaged. And if they break, all your effort will be for naught.
If you aren’t sure you can pack everything yourself, you should consider hiring a packing service. This way you will be sure all your fragile items are in good hands and are taken care of in a professional manner. Getting a professional packing service Los Angeles instead of doing it yourself and risk damage is a wise investment.
All set and ready to pack fragile items?
Now that you stocked up on supplies and sorted your fragile goods, it’s time to really start packing. It will take some time and patience, but you need to make sure you did everything right. Some of the rules to follow:
- Make sure to use the best packing supplies for the fragile items
- Use original boxes if you still have them
- Don’t be cringy when it comes to using protective wrapping and packing peanuts
- If the boxes aren’t air-tight, you’re not using enough duct tape
- Don’t forget to label everything in detail
Packing different types of fragile belongings
Different items mean different approaches when it comes to how you approach packing them. And these would be some of the most common items:
Plates, glassware, and fine china
The kitchen is usually the room in the house with the most fragile items. Hence, it is important to pack these carefully since they are very fragile:
- Take a box and cover the bottom with packing peanuts.
- Put a plate on the packing peanuts.
- Put packing paper on top of your plate and then the next plate on top of it.
- You can completely wrap the plates in packing paper or newspapers for added security.
Wrap glasses in paper and put crumpled paper inside of them. If you’re dealing with brittle dishes such as porcelain and fine china, use bubble wrapping to further secure them from chipping or breaking. When done, put more packing peanuts on top and around your items. Close the box and tape it properly. Make sure to use enough tape to maintain a secure seal.
Electronics – a typical challenge when you pack fragile items
TV sets, computers, stereos, and gaming systems. All expensive, all easily damaged. Your safest bet is to pack any of these items in their original boxes, should you still have them laying around. If not, pack them in new, high-quality boxes. Pour packing peanuts on the bottom of the box, wrap the device in bubble wrap, place it in the box, and then add more packing peanuts on top. Label your box and properly seal it with duct tape.
Framed pictures and mirrors
They say a broken mirror is seven years of bad luck. Well, bad luck aside, it also costs and can prove very dangerous. Similar to when you pack fragile items like electronics, look for special packing boxes like the ones used for packing flat-screen TVs. However, make sure that they are made from thicker cardboard for extra rigidity. Lay down duct tape on the surface of the mirror or glass in the shape of an X, corner to corner.
This is just a precautionary step we strongly advise you to take. In the worst-case scenario, the X should keep cracked or broken pieces in place during transit. After this, wrap the object in bubble wrap, and lightly tape it to prevent it unwrapping. Lastly, add some packing peanuts to fill up any empty spaces in the box should they appear.
Be aware that this is just the start
We would love to say that by doing this, you’ll be all set for the move. Unfortunately, relocation is not what you would call a 5-minute task. Instead, it can take a whole lot, especially if you decide to do it on your own. Things are much simpler when you have the professional aid of experienced and trained movers. And that is definitely the best way to experience a successful moving day, no matter the distance or size of the move. But for now, we hope that this brief guide into how to pack fragile items will prove beneficial to you. And if you need more useful moving and packing tips, our blog is full of them!