5 Tips for Protecting Fragile Items When Moving House

Fragile items often have significant monetary or sentimental value. To protect them and continue to treasure them for years, it is important to take great care when moving house.

Follow these top tips to keep your fragile items in perfect condition:

1. Allow plenty of time
   One of the main causes of breaks and damages made to fragile items is rushing. Take your time when packing breakables as they generally require a little extra TLC. Start the packing process well in advance of moving day, so your fragile valuables remain intact and you stay stress-free.
2. Use the right packaging materials
   To protect your breakables from shocks, bumps and vibrations, you need to use packaging that can withstand being moved by hand, car or moving truck. Blankets, towels and clothing are commonly used to pack fragile items, but these materials do not maintain their cushioning ability well. Invest in materials that will keep your valuables in perfect condition.

   Packing materials that are proven to be effective include:

• Moving boxes – designed to store possessions efficiently
• Loose fill/packaging peanuts – designed to fill empty space in a box and prevent damage from occurring
• Heavy grade paper – used to wrap around objects or be wadded into a box
• Corrugated fibreboard – designed to provide structured cushioning
• Polystyrene structures – engineered to fit around an item for cushioning
• Bubble wrap – used to wrap neatly around objects
• Original packaging – ideal to provide maximum cushioning for a bought item (keep if you possible)

3. Configure your items correctly
   Once you have the right materials, it is important to pack your items properly. Each item or category will need a technique that is best suited to it.

   ADVICE ON PACKING COMMON FRAGILE GOODS
   
   Plates: Put one plate on a piece of packing paper and fold it over so that the plate is covered. Do the same with four other plates and stack them together. Place the stack on its side in a box padded with crumpled paper below and above the plates.
   
   Glasses: Place crumpled tissue paper inside each glass, then roll each glass in a sheet of tissue paper. Add another layer of newspaper to each glass

   Lamps: First, separate the bulb and the shade from the stand. Wrap the stand in newspaper, with packing paper filling any gaps and then lay it sideways in a box with bunched paper cushioning it. Wrap the light bulb in bubble wrap and the shade in tissue paper and store them separately.

4. Clearly mark moving boxes
   Ensure that you write FRAGILE on boxes with breakable items in them. Also indicate which way up the box is to be moved and stored.
5. Communicate clearly with your movers
   When your movers arrive, let them know which boxes contain fragile items and need particular care taken when transporting them.

By using these 5 guidelines and some common sense, you can rest assured that your treasured fragile items will make it to your new home in perfect condition and live long healthy lives.

Enquire with our removals specialists today to start your stress-free move today.