Moving mirrors can be tough, just like moving any fragile inventory. Not only are mirrors fragile, but they are also difficult to pick and carry. If not packed properly, mirrors will most likely break or get damaged while loading/unload or while in transit. To transport mirrors safely, you’ll need a plan, high-quality packing supplies, and patience. Of course, the best way to move mirrors is to hire professional movers because they’ll have the best tools and knowledge necessary to transport your belongings safely and efficiently. On the other hand, if you choose to do things on your own and you want to make sure that you’ll avoid damage to your inventory, take a look at the following Dumbo NYC guide. Here are some useful tips you can use to pack mirrors for relocation like a pro.
Get ready for your move
Before you prepare yourself and pack mirrors for relocation, there will be many other things to organize. One of the first steps in every successful relocation is a good moving plan. The first thing you should consider before moving is whether it’s better to hire one of the top Brooklyn movers or try a DIY move. Since both of these have pros and cons, the type of inventory you are moving should be the deciding factor. Sometimes you’ll be just fine with handling relocation yourself while other times it will be a much better choice to just hire movers. You’ll know that you want to let movers do the job if your mirrors are of great sentimental or monetary value.
Replacing such expensive pieces is certainly something you want to avoid, while in the case of sentimental items, damage can be even greater because you won’t be able to replace them.
What to do?
Of course, professional moving services will cost you more money at the given moment but you can actually save in the long run. How is that? Well, once you consider potential damages and how much it will cost to cover them, you may change your mind about DIY moving. On the other hand, your mirrors may not be fragile or valuable and you may feel confident enough about moving them yourself. If that’s the case, keep in mind that it’s not an easy job to prepare and pack mirrors for relocation, you should try to do it one step at a time. Patience and care are very important for any sort of DIY move. If you decided to try and do it without professional packers, follow this guide. Here are the seven easy steps you should take to successfully pack mirrors for relocation.
Step one – get all the packing supplies
Since mirrors are sensitive inventory, getting the right packing supplies will be very important. Unlike for packing clothes and kitchen supplies, regular moving boxes will hardly be enough. What you should try to get are various packing papers and cardboard materials, as well as different types of packing tape. Here’s what each packing material should be used for:
Packing paper
Getting a sufficient amount of packing paper is important because you’ll need it for wrapping the mirrors before placing them in a box. It will protect the surface from getting scratched and you’ll create the first layer of protection.
Packing tape
The next necessary packing supply to get when packing mirrors is tape. It makes an excellent choice for securing the mirrors inside of the box. In order for it to stay steady and secure during a move, you will need to use a good amount of packing tape.
Cardboard boxes
These boxes are the best choice for making a cardboard “suit” for your inventory. If you want to pack mirrors for relocation the right way, make sure to tailor a custom box for them. Don’t use just the first box you find because you’ll only manage to move your mirrors safely if you use suitable boxes.
Step two – make room to handle mirrors
When packing mirrors for the move, it’s not only about the way you prepare your packing supplies. Moreover, there are many factors that can complicate your move. One of them is the lack of space to move around after you pack the mirrors for relocation. If you need to move them from a small room, make sure to move everything else around you first. If you have clutter around you while you pack mirrors for relocation, you could easily slip, injure yourself and damage the mirror. This is especially important if you have antique, valuable, or very heavy and bulky mirrors that could easily get damaged.
Step three – prepare the mirror moving box
When making a custom mirror box, the easiest way of doing it is by taking apart a regular moving box. If you are moving the mirror along with the rest of your household, any sturdy cardboard box will do the job. What you need to do is to measure the mirror and make sure that the box is the right size. Don’t forget that the more room you leave inside the box, the better the chances are for the mirrors to move and break.
Try to make a moving box that will fit the mirror-like a glove and don’t forget to use plenty of crumpled packing paper or bubble wrap to fill in voids. You want to make sure that mirror is in place and it won’t shift while in transit. On the other hand, if you already have the original packaging from your mirror, that would be the best thing to use.
Step four – wrap and secure the mirror
After making a secure box, it’s time to pack your sensitive inventory. There is only one proper way to pack mirrors for relocation, and that is by wrapping them tightly with packing paper and tape. After getting the materials, make sure to tape the mirrors in the X-motion. This will prevent them from breaking during the move. The second thing you want to do is to find good-quality packing paper and make sure to wrap it around the mirror as tight as possible.
Step five – place and pack mirrors for relocation
Depending on the size of your mirrors, you might want to ask a friend or a family member to help you with this step. If you need to pack mirrors for relocation that are oversized, you should take one side of it and your friend the other. In case none of your friends are available to help, consider hiring moving labor – they’ll assist with any task and you can pay an hourly rate so it’s a win-win. By placing the mirror in the box this way, you will prevent it from falling out of your hands and breaking.
Step six – label sensitive inventory
When you pack mirrors for relocation and secure them in their moving box, it’s time to label it. One of the most important things during every relocation is making sure your movers know the details of your inventory. Whether you are moving on your own or with the help of professional movers, don’t forget to label your mirrors with the “fragile” sign. You can also use a sharpie marker to write “this side up” and “fragile” on each side of the box. Even after you label the boxes, make sure to communicate and let your helpers know which boxes require careful handling.
Step seven – hire reliable movers
After you carefully pack mirrors for relocation, the best thing you could do is to hire a professional moving company. No matter how good you pack mirrors for relocation, there is still a chance of breaking them during the move. If you are moving a long distance from or to New York, you should consider hiring cross country movers NYC you can trust. A moving company with experience deals with fragile inventory on a daily basis. Why bother and stress out about your mirrors when movers can guarantee their safety?
Just like other objects made out of glass, mirrors are one of the most complicated things to move. If you need to relocate antique or oversized mirrors, the best advice is to hire professional movers to do it for you. Dumbo Moving and Storage is at your service – whether you’re moving mirrors to a new neighborhood or to another state. We’re available for your residential as well as commercial moves, so let’s chat about your upcoming one. Contact us today and receive free moving quotes. In the meanwhile, we hope that this short guide helped you prepare and pack mirrors for relocation successfully.
