Safely Transport Fragile Items During a Move

Moving houses involves plenty of logistical planning and effort. The last thing you want is to open that first box after moving in, only to realize your most valuable porcelain items or antiques are shattered. Fortunately, this can be avoided by properly preparing for the move in advance and ensuring you have the right materials. Here are a few tips and things to consider when you need to safely transport fragile items during a move.

Prepare for the Move Properly

When it comes to safely transporting your breakables during a long-distance move, it’s important to plan properly in advance. Before you start packing these items, establish how many fragile items you own that need to be packed and transported. Then, decide on the best possible way of wrapping and packing them with other fragile items. Decide whether you’ll be transporting these items in a car or a truck. If you are transporting the items by yourself without a professional moving company, make sure this planning phase starts long before the actual moving day.

Packing porcelain, crystal and other fragile items is a time-consuming process and should not be rushed. Make sure you leave yourself enough time for packing these items properly. While planning the move, assess the possible risks and any specific precautions that need to be taken to get your fragile items to the new house safely.

Protective Materials and Coverings for Common Fragile Items

To pack breakables properly, you need the correct packing materials and protective coverings to provide cushioning during the move. This helps protect the more fragile items like crystal glasses or porcelain plates, for example. First and foremost, make sure you have enough quality boxes in different sizes.

When choosing the best boxes for moving, make sure you secure a few pre-divided boxes. The smaller compartments in these boxes help prevent the items inside from moving around too much. As a result, pre-divided boxes can keep fragile items safer for transportation. In addition, try to pack products like electronics in their original boxes with their original packing components if you still have them. Because these materials are sized specifically for that product, it makes it more protective.

Apart from boxes, make sure you have enough bubble wrap, packing paper or newspaper, dish packs, glass packers, towels or rags, packing peanuts and plastic coverings for furniture before you start packing. Packing paper and bubble wrap will usually be your go-to for protecting common fragile items. Use the packing paper as a shock-absorbing layer to fill empty spaces in boxes.

Bubble wrap can then be used as an extra layer to provide more insulation to keep your items steady and safe. If you have any large or weirdly shaped items that would not fit inside a box, try wrapping them in bubble wrap first, folding cardboard around it and taping it properly.

Properly Pack Boxes

One of the most important factors in keeping your fragile items safe during a move is how you pack your boxes. Here are some tips on how to pack your boxes properly:

 

  • Always pack the heaviest and largest items at the bottom of the box so the box’s base is supported and the larger items can’t break smaller ones.
  • Use packing paper to fill any items that are hollow inside to soften any vibration.
  • Every fragile item, whether a glass, plate or antique, should be wrapped individually before being packed and secured with tape. This includes any fragile lids or extra loose parts.
  • After wrapping these smaller items individually, try to separate them into smaller boxes instead of packing them with a lot of other items in a big box.
  • Be generous with the amount of packing tape you are using. Use enough tape to secure the wrapping paper or bubble wrap and support the items while traveling.
  • Make sure not to overpack your boxes, as most cardboard boxes will only be able to hold a certain amount of weight.

 

Clearly Mark Boxes Containing Fragile Items

Not every box will have fragile items, which is why it’s important to clearly label or mark the boxes that do. This is especially important if you have professional movers or friends and family helping you move. Anyone helping you transport boxes should be able to clearly and instantly see which boxes are fragile and need to be handled carefully.

Having the boxes with fragile items labeled can help with transporting them in addition to organizing and unpacking them at your new home. After you’ve finished marking all the boxes with fragile items, put them in a different area in your home, away from the other boxes without breakables. Then, make sure the movers or anyone helping you is well aware that those are the fragile boxes, and they need to be extra cautious when handling and moving them.

Safely Unpacking

If you’ve gone to the effort of carefully packing and moving your fragile items to your new home, you’ll also want to make sure you’re unpacking them as safely as possible. Start by moving the boxes into the room where you want the items to be kept in once unpacked. Then place the box on a blanket or furniture pad before carefully opening it. Be extra careful when cutting the tape seam in case the items have shifted in the box.

After you’ve opened the box, remove all the packing materials that are on top of the items inside. Only take out one item at a time, carefully unwrap the packing materials around it and inspect the item for any damage. Continue to place the items on the shelf or cupboard, wherever it belongs in your new home. Start the process again with the next item in the box until the entire box has been unpacked successfully.

Let BNT Movers Help With Your Move

At BNT Movers, we offer quality moving and storage solutions across the United States. We will make sure your most valuable belongings arrive at their new destination, whether that’s a storage facility or a new home. As a fully licensed and insured moving company, BNT Movers aims to make your life easier and take the stress away from your upcoming move.

Contact us today for a quote or to find out more about our moving and storage services.

CONTACT US

Supported by Our Customers

See All Testimonials

"They are a wonderful moving company all the men are always respectful they work quick and smart amazing customer service highly satisfied with them."

Gabriella, Satisfied customer

QUALITY MOVING SERVICES

Call Us Today: (570) 842-MOVE

BNT Movers is a fully licensed and insured moving and storage company

BNT Movers offers high quality moving and storage services to the entire continental United States. We will get your belongings to the new destination safely and on-time. National moving services and international shipping is available through our reliable team of professionals. Senior citizen and military for long distance discounts are available for both shipping and moving services.

BNT Movers is well trusted:
BBB Logo
ProMover Certified Logo
AMSA Logo
NFIB Logo
PMSA Mover Logo