Packing like a pro: How to pack fragile items when moving house

Of many of the emotions that come with moving house, that sinking feeling of opening a box to see your favourite vase smashed to pieces can be avoided with some planning, a little know-how and a stack of packaging!

Here are some packaging tips to ensure that your precious, fragile items are kept safe while moving house or putting them in storage.

Take your time

Rushing when you pack means that you won’t have the time to make good choices with your packaging. You’ll end up throwing things into inappropriate boxes and cutting corners on the packaging. This is how  breakages happen so make sure you start packing well before your move and dedicate plenty of time to the process in order to get it right. 

Stock up on packaging items

One way to make sure your fragile items stay safe during a move is having an arsenal of packaging items that will cushion your breakables. Now is not the time to save money and cut back on how much packaging you buy. From collecting old newspapers, to buying rolls of bubble wrap, butchers paper, tissue paper, packing foam and packing tape - packaging is your friend. 

Make use of what you’ve got

Common household items like rolled up tea towels and beach towels can assist with cushioning and limiting the movement of items within a box.

Keep it separated

Separating all your breakable items like vases, ceramic mugs, fine china, wine glasses and porcelain doll collections ensures that they don’t accidently end up being packed into boxes with heavy items that could damage them. Mixing heavy items like irons and copper figurines in with fragile items like crystal perfume bottles is a recipe for disaster so keep fragile and heavy items separated.

Provide plenty of cushioning (especially in weak spots)

Ensuring that fragile items are surrounded by several layers of cushioning is key. Wrapping mugs in tissue paper, then newspaper, then placing in a box cushioned with packing foam is a good way to ensure packing success. Stuffing tissue paper in and around crevices like handles and stems of glasses and mugs will support and cushion the weaker parts of the vessel.

Label it

Labelling your boxes containing fragile items may not guarantee they won’t break  but it does signal to your movers that those boxes need extra care. They may even choose to tie those boxes down with cords to avoid them moving around while on the road.

Save your boxes

Saving the original box and packaging of larger items like televisions and stereos is one way to make sure you have ready-made, original packaging ready to go.

Insure it

There’s no point worrying about fragile items if you don’t have home and contents insurance. Before moving house, get a quote for home and contents insurance to ensure you’re covered from your very first night in your new home.