Guidelines to packing and moving fine glassware and china

Needless to say, packing fragile items like glassware, antiques, and china can be really tricky. One can never be too careful when it comes to packing kitchen glassware and other delicate possessions. It’s no secret that replacing broken items may cost you more than investing in proper pre-move preparation. Hence, you may want to put some extra effort into protecting your breakable belongings so that they reach a new destination in one piece.

The preparation phase is critical for the overall success of the relocation process. So, be mindful of the following pointers when facing an upcoming household move. After all, the well-being of your breakables during the course of your move is at stake, so you shouldn’t take the packing process lightly. And even if you’re getting comprehensive insurance for your move, it’s still better to prepare well than deal with repairs or replacements. Sometimes, items hold emotional value too. In case some of your glassware and china fall into this category, you’ll want to make sure it’s packed and handled with utmost care.

Hopefully, the following article will help you learn how to move your glasses, porcelain plates, bowls, mugs, saucers, and other breakable items prone to damage. Read on to find simple guidelines for packing and moving fine glassware and china.

How to tackle packing of breakables

First things first – you can’t pack your glassware and china without packing materials. Considering their value and how easy it is for these items to get damaged, you’ll want to get plenty of packing supplies. Make sure you get the right packing materials in order to pack your breakables as safely as possible. And before you get down to packing, don’t forget to sort out your fine glassware and china. Some of it may be chipped or damaged and may be better left behind. Some may not be worth moving in case they’re no longer appealing to you or they’re not being used at all. Once you’ve decided what to move and what to leave behind, make sure to collect all necessary packing supplies:

• special dish boxes
• medium-size cardboard boxes
• cell dividers
• packing paper
• air bubble cushioning material
• plain newsprint
• packing tape

Tips for packing glassware for a move

Wrap each item

The rule of thumb is to use a good deal of packing paper and wrap each item individually. Secure each breakable item with several sheets of blank packing paper. Although you may already have tons of old newspapers in your house, use them carefully. While it’s a cheaper alternative, using newspapers as a packing material can generate ink stains on your precious glassware. Therefore, if you decide to use newsprint, chances are that you will have to wash your glassware to remove the stains of black print. It’s much better if you use paper specifically designed for this purpose and not risk your glassware getting damaged.

Create padding

As we all know, newspapers are great wrapping and padding material. And even though you’ve already wrapped each item individually, that’s only the first layer of protection. Simply using packing paper isn’t firm enough to keep your china safe. That’s especially true in case a moving truck encounters bumpy roads and your glassware moves inside the box. To create the second layer of protection, you must create soft padding before you pack items inside the moving box.

Go ahead and layer the bottom of each cardboard box with crumpled newsprint before filling it with the glassware. You could also use bubble wrap for this purpose, as it makes the perfectly soft cushioning for packing breakables. Don’t forget to reinforce the bottom and the sides of each box. This should be done because it will ensure the boxes are strong enough to hold the weight of the load. And since glass tends to be rather heavy, reinforcing the boxes is a pretty smart idea.

Fill in empty space

Once you pack the box, use newsprint to fill out an empty space between items. You can use soft packing paper for that purpose, too. Bubble wrap or styrofoam works fine as well. Whatever material you use, the point is to prevent your glassware from bumping into one another and breaking during the transport. You must also ensure there isn’t empty space between items where they can move around. Be as generous as possible when it comes to using the packing paper as padding, wrapping, and cushioning material. Once you’ve finished the first row, place a protective layer of crushed paper and bubble wrap before you repeat the entire process all over again. Finally, put a layer of padding material on top of the load before you seal the box.

A friendly piece of advice – do not over-pack moving boxes! In case a box is too heavy, your risk damage and injuries. If you try to lift a moving box that’s too heavy, you’re likely to end up hurting your back or causing other types of injuries. It could also lead to box breaking from not being able to hold so much weight. It’s always better to have several boxes that are not too heavy than to have only a few that are overpacked. Whether you are planning a DIY move or hiring professional movers, too-heavy moving boxes are difficult to handle for anyone. If you are unsure as to the size of the moving boxes, bear in mind that large ones can easily get too heavy and difficult to move. So, opt for the medium-size boxes you won’t have trouble dealing with.

Seal and label

Once your boxes are full, it’s time for a few final steps. First, seal each box properly with packing tape. For sure you don’t want boxes to get open and your precious china to end up on the floor. Then, label moving boxes according to the content and destination. Use a red sharpie to write “fragile” on several sides of the box and draw arrows pointing up. You could also use ready-made labels in case you prefer to label that way. This will help your movers and helpers know that they need to handle those boxes with the utmost care. It will also help you greatly when the unpacking part comes. By labeling your moving boxes, you’ll know the content of each box and you’ll unpack much faster and easier.

Breakable items like glasses, wine bottles, jars, and vases will be better off in the cell boxes. Use soft packing paper to wrap each item for extra protection. If you start moving preparations well in advance you may be able to get some free moving boxes. Check if local liquor stores are giving away unnecessary moving boxes designed for the safe transport of glass bottles.

Hiring professional packers?

With so many pending moving tasks you must be wondering whether you will be able to complete them in an efficient and timely manner. Moving day is just around the corner and you have so many responsibilities and tasks to take care of.

But, before you hit the panic button, there’s still something you can do to relieve the moving stress. Provided that you can afford additional moving services like hiring professional packers, you can be sure that the most laborious part of the move will be handled professionally and efficiently.

There’s no doubt that professional packing services or full-service movers will add up to a higher moving quote. The advantages of hiring professional packers are pretty obvious. Not only will they save you a lot of time and energy, but also they will reduce the moving stress. Knowing that professional packers will provide all packing supplies and secure your items is a huge relief. It goes without saying that they have what it takes to complete the move successfully.

The benefits of hiring professional packers

With an experienced and professional approach, they will make sure your items reach a new home intact. You won’t have to worry whether your breakables will make it to your new home. However, accidents do happen and it’s always a good idea to purchase adequate moving insurance so as to ensure your peace of mind.

What usually prevents people from hiring full-service movers is the financial aspect. Furthermore, if you prefer doing things on your own, you won’t like the fact that someone else is responsible for important moving-related duties.

In this case, your packers get to decide what goes in which box. So, if you want to have more control over the packing process, give your movers/packers instructions and guidelines. It’s no secret that your fragile glassware will be better off with professional packers who have extensive experience in handling fragile and valuable items.

If you’ve decided not to risk it and want to have reliable NYC movers moving and packing fragile items such as your fine glassware and china, go ahead and contact Dumbo Moving and Storage. We’re at your service and we’re more than happy to answer any questions you might have. Contact us to receive your complimentary moving quote.