Packing Tips

Anything that can be boxed, should be boxed. Loose items are difficult to carry and load -The rule of thumb for packing boxes with household goods is to use smaller boxes for heavier items such as books, records, tools, etc. Larger boxes should be used for lighter items such as clothing, pillows, linen and bedding. The maximum weight for any box to be carried by one person should not exceed 40 – 45 lbs.

Dressers, night stands and desks should be emptied – It is horrible for your furniture to move it with items inside. No matter how new or well constructed or whatever, it is horrible for the furniture. Additionally, it is common for us to stand dressers and desks vertically on furniture dollies. When full, items can shift, break, spill or leak.

Don’t save all your packing for the last day -Start your packing with seasonal and infrequently used items such as your books, knick knacks, special cookware and extra linens. Gather sturdy boxes, packing paper, tape and bubble wrap well in advance, so it’s on hand when you have spare time. It’s best to use clear packing tape. Do not use masking tape or blue painter’s tape to seal boxes.

Do not interlock box flaps together -Always tape bottoms and tops of boxes without interlocking them. Interlocked flaps can come loose and allow items to fall out, damaging the contents. Use at least three strips of tape and run the strips halfway up or down the sides of the box for strength.

Use plenty of packing materials to line the top, bottom and side of each box -Never hesitate to use extra bubble wrap or packing peanuts when working with fragile items. To further cushion fragile items, add cut up pieces of cardboard in strategic places to prevent rubbing and/or shifting. Use plenty of crumpled newspaper to fill in the box when packing breakables.

Clearly label fragile boxes -The more fragile the items are, the more packing materials you should use, even to the point of a box within a box. Mark each box of breakables as FRAGILE (in Red) and put a big red dot on the top and sides.

Never lay your plates flat -Plates should be individually wrapped and then stood on their side within the box with a layer of cushioning underneath.