| How To
Pack |
| With a
little care, planning and common sense, you and
your precious household goods will both arrive
in good condition. |
| Most damage comes
from vibration. Think of a stack of dishes in a
box on the bed of a bouncing truck. No matter
how well the sides are padded, a firm
up-and-down jolt could crack the entire stack.
On the other hand, dishes packed on edge and
surrounded by bubble wrap have a better chance
of surviving the trip unharmed. |
|
| In the long run, it
pays to purchase the right packing materials.
Sturdy boxes, Packing Tape, Bubble Wrap, and
Packing Paper are worth the money. A Tape
Dispenser may help you move along quicker. A
Box Cutter can also be useful. |
|
| Supplement with
copious amounts of blankets and pillows; even
clothing can serve as a buffer between
breakable objects. There should be no empty
space in a box, however don't over pack the box
either. |
|
| Use the right box
and good quality packaging tape. A good packing
job starts with strong, sturdy
boxes. |
|
| Packing
techniques |
| Rule One - never
pack a box that you cant
lift later. Think about the weight of your
items and decide wether they would be best in a
small box or a large box |
|
| Pack one room at a
time, labeling each box with a description of
its contents and its destination (e.g.,
kitchen, bathroom). Be as specific as you can;
it will make unpacking that much easier. Don't
apply tape directly to polished or painted wood
finishes. Removing the tape could ruin the
surface. With fragile items add plenty of
cushioning. |
|
| Prepare for the
first night in your new home by packing
essential items (don’t forget the pillows) and
keep separate from general items. You may even
want to prepare a simple meal that you can heat
and serve on your first night. For each person
in the household: a change of clothes, a towel,
prescription drugs, a toothbrush, and other
personal items. |
|
| Consider packing:
plastic utensils, paper plates, paper towels,
plastic cups, toilet paper, toiletries, trash
bags, a flashlight, first aid kit including
pain relievers, pencil and paper, snacks,
beverages, and re-closable plastic bags. Small
tool kit for re-assembling items that couldn't
be moved whole. |
|
| Appliances |
|
| Pack small
appliances in original container or a box
cushioned with Packing Paper. (Do not use
shredded paper - it can clog the
appliance.) |
|
| With major
appliances, check with the appliance dealer for
any special moving instructions. For all large
appliances, remove loose fittings and
accessories and pack separately. Tie down, tape
or wedge all movable parts and
doors. |
|
| Dishwasher/Washing Machine
- Stuff towels between
machine sides and tub to keep tub from
rotating. Pad exterior well. Disconnect hoses,
put in plastic bag, place in
tub. |
|
| Freezer/Refrigerator
- Defrost and dry interiors
well. You can fill the interior
spaces with lightweight linens, clothing or
stuffed toys. If lay your refrigerator down for
moving, make sure it stands upright for at
least 24 hours before plugging
in. |
|
| Household
Items |
|
| Beds -
Disassemble the bed frame. Tie rails and
cross-pieces together with packing tape. Be
sure to mark on tape to show where pieces fit
together for reassembly. You can protect your
mattress and boxspring with a Mattress
Bag. |
|
| Bicycles,
Tricycles, Baby Carriages
- Loosen and turn
handlebars at right angles to save space.
Clean and cover chains and pedals to protect
other items from being snagged or
soiled. |
|
| Books - Use Book Boxes. Don't mix books with
other items. Pack books flat, alternating
bindings, and fill empty spaces with packing
paper or bubble wrap. |
|
| Dressers - Fill drawers with small breakable
items and cushion well with loose clothes.
Secure drawers with pad or blanket and tape. Do
not overload drawers with heavy
items. |
|
| Clothes - Dresses, coats, suits - anything
hanging in closets - travel best in Porta-robe
Boxes, which can be used seasonally as "extra
closets" for wardrobe storage. Other clothes
can remain folded in their regular dresser
drawers. |
|
| Comforters,
Pillows, Large/Light Items
- Tea Chest Boxes will be
best for packing light bulky items. If you
have small fragile items, you can pack a few
in between the pillows for extra protection -
just don't forget to mark them on the
box |
|
| Dishes - Individually wrap each piece. Book
Boxes will fit most kitchenware without making
the box too heavy. Place saucers, plates and
platters on edge - DO NOT STACK FLAT. Cups and
bowls may be placed inside each other and
wrapped three or four in a
bundle. |
|
| Kitchenware - Pots, pans, plastic ware etc. can be
stacked in a Tea Chest box with packing paper
between them. |
|
| Glasses - Wrap each glass separately in packing
paper or bubble wrap. |
|
| Fine
Furniture - You
may want to wrap your best furniture in bubble
wrap or a furniture blanket, not only to
protect it from scratching, but to keep dust
and dirt off the upholstery. Make sure to wrap
the item very tight to prevent snags while you
are moving. |
|
| Lamps - After disassembling lamps, pack small
bases in dresser drawers surrounded by loose
clothing, and large bases in boxes stuffed with
packing paper or bubble wrap. Box shades
individually in boxes with plenty of packing
paper for stuffing. Don't use newspaper because
it smudges. |
|
| Lawn
Mowers - Drain
fuel and oil before loading. Remove handle from
hand mowers and place blade end in sturdy box.
Mark properly. |
|
| Mirrors,
Paintings, Prints - Small mirrors can be well wrapped in
paper and packed in boxes. For a larger mirrors
and large picture frames, Pictue Boxes work
best. Mark GLASS on the outside to prevent
mishandling. Always pack and store
upright. |
|
| Paint and
Flammables - Don't
move! The same goes for other flammables such
as alcohol, solvents, lighter fluid, ammunition
and greasy mops or rags. |
|
| Stereos
computers and TVs
- Consider using shipper
boxes or having boxes custom made for expensive
items. LCD/Plasma Boxes are designed especially
to protect your flatscreent tv's. |
|
| DVD's, CD's
and Cassettes -
Separately pack components and pack in
well-padded box marked FRAGILE. Pack CDs
upright in their cases in a sturdy box with
tape-reinforced bottom. Tie CDs in small
bundles before packing, then fill air space
with packing paper. Mark FRAGILE. Cassettes can
be packed in a similar manner, although you can
group them in larger
bundles. |
|
| Tables - For large tables, remove legs and tie
together. Put hardware in small sealed envelope
taped to underside of table top. Apply a pad
(furniture blanket) to tops. For smaller
tables, pad top and wrap legs to prevent
scratching. You can also consider having boxes
custom made to take table tops, small or
large |
| Tools and Gardening
Equipment - Drain hoses, coil and pack in
boxes. Fill remaining space with lawn
sprinklers, small garden hand tools, etc.
Combine rakes, shovels, and other long-handled
tools together with tape. |
|
| Valuables - Set aside jewelry, important papers
and safe deposit box contents to be packed in a
small container you can keep with you
throughout the move. |
|
