Organising Boxes for Your Removal
When you need to take care of delicate and breakable items such as porcelain, ceramics, glass and ornaments, packing boxes are fundamental. Importantly, to prevent damage, look for strong, sturdy cardboard boxes – such as those recommended by home movers.
As you get ready for your move, it is also a good idea to obtain a supply of good quality packing materials: a roll of paper, cushion foam and packing peanuts. Importantly, instead of Styrofoam, the biodegradable type is more environmentally friendly.
Packing Paper
Free of acids, packing paper comes from a soft, newspaper-grade pulp, but it does not contain any ink. Significantly, the absence of potentially problematic chemicals makes it ideal for protecting fragile kitchen and dining room belongings, including dishes, glassware and valuables. If you will be packing collectables, it does a great job of preventing mishaps too.
Cushion Foam
A practical way to protect precious items during a move and if kept in storage, this flexible wrap is perfect for usage with plates, cups, bowls, pictures and photo frames. Additionally, it comes in handy for extra cushioning when separating layers of possessions inside boxes.
Packing Boxes & Protecting Your Belongings
Firstly, check that each moving box has purpose-designed tape holding the edges in place securely. The next step is to sprinkle an ample layer of packing peanuts around the bottom of the box. Next, wrap heavy items in packing paper or bubble wrap. Place them carefully in the bottom of the box, separating lighter objects above by using a layer of cushion foam.
When packing, it is best not to mix your possessions from different rooms of the home. Wherever feasible, a practical tip is to group objects by room and then by similar weight and size. Experienced movers suggest packing infrequently used articles first and oft-needed objects last, so that they are easier to find when you want them.
Before closing the packed box, cushion the contents with an upper layer of crumpled paper and, for extra reassurance, an additional sprinkling of packing peanuts. Finally, close and seal the seams using tape.
Crucially, filled boxes should not weigh more than 14 to 15 kilogrammes (around 30 pounds). As a guide, it ought to be possible to lift boxes without too much difficulty; over-filled and heavy boxes could rupture and spill belongings. Conversely, boxes that are only partially full will almost certainly not take advantage of all the available space. Worse, they could collapse if stacked during the removal.
Ideally, each box should have a label that displays an easy-to-read summary of the contents. That way, once everything arrives at the destination, the unpacking process should be relatively straightforward and well thought-out. If you have time, consider labelling each box twice – on opposite sides – so that the listing is visible at a glance, without any need to turn heavy or stacked boxes. Some people have found that using ink markers and colour-coded stickers to denote rooms of the house has also helped with the logistics of unloading and unpacking.
Finally, good luck with preparing for your move!
