Roughly 31 million Americans move each year. Can you imagine how it would be possible to move fragile items without Alfred Fielding’s and Marc Chavannes’ genius invention back in 1960. Yes, we’re talking about bubble wrap, and it is your must-have kit in learning how to pack fragile items. International moving is stressful, so take the edge off by popping some bubbles. More importantly, with enough of this protective material and the help of a professional overseas moving company, you’ll have no reason for concern, and you will have a smooth and stress-free relocation.
Americans move a lot. We love our stuff, so it is no wonder we wish to have breakables in one piece once we reach our destination. This is why bubble wrap is celebrated in the USA. In fact, its national day is the last Monday in January. But unfortunately, having bubble wrap is not enough for the protection of your stuff. You will have to use some professional techniques as well.
The Best Packing Material for Fragile Items
When we talk about relocating overseas, transporting your entire household is something you will need help with from a professional that offers international moving services by sea. You can pack the breakables on your own should you decide to forego professional packing service. But this requires adequate supplies so that the language barrier is the only thing broken along the way.
Choose High-Quality Packing Materials
In order to do a good job packing fragile items for moving, you will need to buy high-quality materials. You don’t want to buy something cheap that will turn out to be a disaster in the long run. For instance, if you buy a standard cardboard box made of thin material for your fine china, you risk breaking the box itself and losing your china in the end. Your belongings have a long ride to go to get to their new destination. It is better not to risk it with some cheap material, and if you don’t have many valuable breakables, purchase some suitable quality materials just for the ones you find most dear. If you wish to know how to package fragile items for shipping, buy the following supplies and keep reading:
- Boxes
- Bubble wrap
- Cushing
- Blankets
- Packing paper
- Foam peanuts
- Duct tape
- Duct tape gun
- Markers
- Towels or rags
Get the Right Size Moving Boxes
Before you go shopping, you will have to figure out some things like which kind of relocation services you will choose for relocating across the world. If you decide to take international moving by air, you will probably have to downsize a bit. So make an inventory list of thighs you will bring with you. This way, you will see how much breakable stuff you are bringing and their shapes and sizes. Who knows, maybe you will need custom crating for some objects as well.
Figuring out these kinds of things in advance will significantly reduce your relocating stress. After you are done with the list, go shopping and buy boxes – small boxes are always better, especially if you have many heavy breakables. Also, make sure all the containers are solid and thick enough.
How Do You Wrap a Fragile Object
No matter what your reasons for relocating are or whether you are moving to some of the best places to live abroad with family or the best countries to live in, you will still want to have your stuff there with you undamaged. To protect your breakables, use bubble wrap.
When it comes to how to wrap fragile items, the goal is to put a protective layer on each inch of the object. But for different stuff, you will have to use different materials. For instance, paper wrap is an excellent choice for your dishes and mugs. The paper will occupy less space, and you will put more stuff in the box. When packing plates, put them vertically, and the chances of breaking will be lower. When wrapping your mugs or glasses, put paper or bubble wrap on the bottom and cover the whole surface by placing the material inside the cup or glass. This way, you will prevent the material from unfolding and thus prevent damage from happening. You can put cups in each other to save some space but don’t do that with thin and expensive glasses.
Stuff Hollow Items
If you have a large vase you plan to have with you while living overseas, make sure you pack it appropriately. Use bubble wrap to protect it from outside, and make sure you fill the hollow inside as well. Put paper or towels inside your vases and fill in the hollow space. This way, the chances of them breaking from pressure are minimal. Also, put a lot of cushioning or foam peanuts in the boxes, so the vase doesn’t move at all inside during transportation.
How Do You Pack Fragile Glassware? Pack Your Cardboard Box Like a Pro – Step by Step
How do you pack glass, so it doesn’t break? The best way to prevent glasses from breaking, especially if you have tall wine and champagne glasses, is to use a box with sections in. Each glass has its section. Bear in mind that you will still need to wrap your glasses before putting them inside. On the other hand, if you don’t have sectioned boxes, you can make your own from other cardboard boxes. Tear up the box, measure and cut the same pieces, and use them to make sections. This can take some of your time, but after all, if you are relocating to another country for love, you will want your fancy wine glass set untouched.
Step 2. Use Padding and Cushioning
The first step in filling the box up is to put some padding or cushioning on the box’s bottom. After this, you should put the same thing between each layer. Fill every corner of the box”s inside in order to prevent things from breaking into each other. Also, don’t fill your box all the way up. Leave some room for the last layer of cushioning.
Step 3. Pack Heavy Items First
When it comes to how to pack fragile items for moving, the simple rule is that you should put heavy stuff on the bottom of your container. The simple reason for that is that if heavy objects go on top of the crystal glasses or picture frames, accidents will inevitably occur. Check this video with tips on how to make your own sectioned box:
How to Pack Fragile Items – The DIY Method
If you are relocating on a budget, you are probably worried about living in another country and don’t have enough to buy professional materials. You are probably wondering: How do you pack fragile items without bubble wrap? Don’t worry. We got tips for that too. You can still relocate and live abroad and have your belongings delivered there safely. After all, even if you are relocating with dogs and maybe to some of the friendliest countries in the world, a home will not feel like a home without your stuff in it.
So roll up your sleeves and start with DIY packing techniques. Instead of bubble wrap and paper, you can use newspaper and plastic wrap to protect your belongings. Glasses can be safely stored in your socks, shirt, or towels. Use bedding sheets to protect your mirrors and large items. Just put extra tape on them for more protection. You probably have a lot of paperwork at home you don’t need anymore. Now it is time to put it to good use. Just make sure your documents needed to travel abroad are safely stored and put to the side. Take documents and papers you don’t use, shred them, and use this instead of padding or foam.
If You Are in Hurry to Relocate, Put Your Stuff in Storage Units
Putting aside all the problems the corona pandemic caused to international air traffic and relocation, visiting a country you wish to live in prior to the relocation is always advisable. For this purpose, the best and the cheapest way to do it is to rent a storage unit for your belongings. This way, your stuff will be safely packed and waiting for your approval for shipment. For instance, if you are moving to Seoul or planning to relocate to Bangkok, you can stay at a hotel there or at a friend’s house (look up expat communities – maybe a friend of a friend lives there) until you find a place to live and later ship your stuff there.
Hire Professionals to Help You Out
If you still have doubts about How do you package something that is fragile?, you should consider hiring professionals to do it for you. Either way, you will have to consider hiring them for the transportation of your belongings, so why not hire them to do the packing as well. Also, if you are planning to live in Europe or maybe to retire in Europe, think about shipping your car there. Bear in mind that some of the best European countries to live in have excellent public transportation systems, so maybe you won’t need a car at all.
