When moving to Indianapolis, one of the most tedious parts of moving is packing. Taking everything off your shelves and putting them into boxes can take a while. At some point, you’ve probably wished that you could wave a magic wand and all your stuff magically flies into boxes. But that’s not possible, so you’re instead relegated to having to spend a whole day packing up your stuff.
But there’s another, more stressful downside to packing fragile items. Items like dinnerware, glasses, appliances, vases, lamps, and anything else that is made of glass or something else that’s easily breakable.
A lot of things can happen to those items in transit that can cause them to break. Maybe a box falls over and smashes them. Maybe they get loose in the moving van and go flying out the back or slam into the side. Or maybe whoever packs up the moving van doesn’t do a particularly good job of it and places them under something heavy and they get crushed underneath the weight.
So, it’s important to make sure that you or the Indianapolis movers that you hire pack all your fragile items carefully.
Identifying fragile items
First, you must identify which items in your house are fragile. Plates, glasses, vases, and lamps are the obvious contenders, but what about others? Well, if you have musical instruments like a guitar or a violin, then those are fragile because their necks can be easily broken.
Anything that’s primarily made of glass such as mirrors, picture frames, display cases and modern kitchen utensils should also be on your list of fragile items. Artwork such as paintings and sculptures should also be handled with care. Your electronics such as laptops, tablets, desktop computers, and mobile phones are also fragile.
What you’ll need
So, you’re going to need some things to properly protect your fragile items in transit. First, you’ll need bubble wrap. Resist the temptation to pop the bubbles until the journey is complete because it’s the bubbles that provide the protection. You’ll also need packing paper.
You’ll also need boxes in a variety of sizes. You must use the ones that best fit your items. If you use a box that’s too big, then you run the risk of giving it space to move around and get damaged. There are also special boxes for items like glassware. Alternatively, if you still have the original boxes they came in, then use those since they were designed for transport the items safely.
Speaking of empty space in boxes, if you can get packing peanuts to fill up the loose space, then you should do so. The peanuts are made of foam, so they can provide an extra layer of cushioning on top of the bubble wrap. If you don’t have packing peanuts, use household items to fill up that space. Towels, blankets, and pillows will work fine.
How to pack breakable items
For items made of glass or ceramic, you’ll want to wrap them tightly in bubble wrap. Don’t just use one layer, either. Use multiple layers to make sure that your items are as protected as can be. And make sure that each item is wrapped individually as well. Pay special attention to corners since they can sometimes poke through your wrapping.
For your electronics, you can create special sleeves for your tablets and laptops that’ll protect them in transit. Other appliances such as television sets should be wrapped in bubble wrap as well and don’t forget to roll the cord up if it’s not detachable.
For desktop computers, organize all the cords and accessories such as the mouse and keyboard into a separate bag and make sure that the monitor and CPU are wrapped. Much like glassware, if you still have the original box, then use it.
For musical instruments like violins and guitars, just use a case. The cases are usually protective enough and provided all your boxes are stacked properly, there should be more than enough to keep the instruments safe.
Speaking of your boxes, don’t forget to label them. You don’t want to accidentally put something on top of a box of drinking glasses. Reinforce the bottom of the box with packing tape. Not only will this allow it to better support the weight of fragile items, but it’ll also make it less likely for the bottom to give way and spill your items all over the ground.
Packing artwork
If you have paintings, try removing them from their frames and rolling them up in canisters for transportation. If that’s not possible, then tape an X on the front of the frame with masking tape, and then wrap the whole thing in packing paper before layering on bubble wrap. Then put it in a specialized box. If you can’t find special boxes for paintings, then flatten a regular cardboard box.
Statues can be wrapped in blankets and bubble wrap. Just make sure that everything is covered up properly.
Stacking the boxes
After packing your fragile items into boxes, the next thing you need to do is to stack and secure them correctly. Make sure that the boxes with fragile items are at the top of the stack and to have the boxes with heavier, more durable items at the bottom to form a sturdy base. If you can, use security straps to hold your boxes in place.
Conclusion
Fragile items can sometimes be valuable, not just in the sense that they cost a lot of money to buy, but also because of how they improve quality of life. Dinner plates and drinking glasses make having a meal easier. Mirrors make it possible to groom yourself. Electronics like laptops and tablets are a gateway to information and entertainment.
So, it’d be inconvenient and stressful if they break. Moving is stressful enough without having to brush your hair using your phone’s front camera because your mirror shattered while on the move or reuse takeout cups to get a drink of water at home because all your glasses broke in transit. Make sure that you or your Indianapolis movers pack all your belongings, especially the fragile ones, properly and save yourself the stress. After packing, start cleaning your space and you are ready to move to your new home.