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Packing Materials
Use only strong, corrugated cartons with covers. We can supply
you with specially made cartons, for everything from mattresses
to clothing and mirrors. The added protection of mover-provided
cartons may avoid damage that results from the use of
poor-quality packing materials. Your alternative is to collect
boxes discarded by your grocery or liquor store. Save old
newspapers for use in packing, but remember that ink may rub off
and stain clothing or other items. *WARNING: Insect eggs and
insects such as roaches can travel in food boxes.
Keep this in mind when getting boxes from food stores. Here's a
list a packing supplies that will come in handy:
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Plastic bags and labels
for easy identification.
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Foam peanuts, Styrofoam
pellets or "popcorn."
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Tissue or craft paper
for delicate packing jobs.
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Corrugated paper rolls
for figurines and fragile items.
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Gummed tape (1 1/2 to 2
inches wide) and/or strong twine for sealing cartons.
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Markers and labels for
identifying contents of cartons.
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Notebook and pencil for
carton identification log.
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Scissors and/or sharp
knife.
Packing schedule
Before actually packing-up, you need to have a game plan. For
example:
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Pack one room at a time.
This will help you when it comes time to unpack.
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Pack a couple of cartons
a day, starting well ahead of the move.
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Mark all boxes,
designating room and box number. Make a carton
identification log to show the number of boxes packed per
room, and the total number of cartons packed. It's a good
idea to leave space in your log for a special comments
section to note carton conditions or location of high value
goods. Notify your mover of any high value items.
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Be sure to have plenty
of "filling" material available.
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Be sure that the bottoms
of all cartons are secured and will hold the weight of the
contents.
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Packing tape or gummed
tape is better than masking tape. Pack heavier items toward
the bottom of the box and lighter items toward the top. Try
to keep a per-box weight of 25-45 pounds or less; it makes
moving a lot easier. A general rule to remember on carton
size -- the heavier the item, the smaller the carton.
Packing Your Dish ware
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Select a medium-sized
carton (or mover provided dish pack) and line the bottom of
the carton with crumpled packing paper.
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With packing paper
stacked neatly in place on a work table, center one plate on
the paper.
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Grasp a corner on
several sheets of packing paper and pull the paper over the
plate until sheets completely cover the plate. Stack a
second plate on and, moving clockwise, grasp a second corner
and pull sheets over the second plate.
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Stack a third plate.
Grasp remaining two corners, folding two sheets of each
corner (one at a time) over the plate.
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Turn your wrapped stack
of plates upside down onto your packing paper.
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Re-wrap the entire
bundle: start with one corner of packing paper and pull two
sheets over the bundle, cover bundle with next corner, then
the third corner; and finally, the fourth.
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Seal the bundle with
packing tape.
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Place the bundle of
dish-ware in a medium-size box so that the plates are
standing on edge
Use this process on all saucers, bread and butter dishes,
and other dishware. When packing smaller dishes, you may
choose to stack in greater quantity.
Packing Cups
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With packing paper in
place on the work table, position one cup six to eight
inches from one of the corners.
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Now pull the near corner
of the paper up and over the cup.
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Nest a second cup
directly on top, with handle to left (second cup should
"nest" itself in packing paper folded over the bottom cups).
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Pull the two side
corners up and over, one at a time, and tuck corners inside
the top cup.
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Hold the bottom and top
cup in position and roll cups to the remaining corner.
Fragile mixing bowls may be rolled in the same manner.
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Delicate cups, like
china, should be wrapped one at a time. Antique glass or
china should be stuffed with crumpled tissue and wrapped one
at a time.
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Stuff glasses and
stemware with crumpled tissue or packing paper before
wrapping.
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Lay on the corner of
packing paper and roll it one or two full rotations
(depending on size); pull sides of packing paper up and over
glass/stemware and continue rolling to the far corner.
Corrugated paper rolls or cellular boxes may be used for
added protection.
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Place glasses and
stemware toward the top of your box. Heavier items
(dish-ware, pitchers, etc.) should be placed toward the
bottom of the box.
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Delicate glassware and
stemware should be placed in an upright position, not on its
side.
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No matter what you're
packing, you should use crumpled packing paper in between
each layer to assure a snug fit wherever there's a gap. All
boxes with "fragile" items should be marked accordingly.
Bureau Drawers
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Don't overload. Too
heavy a load can cause damage. Remove firearms and any items
that might break or leak.
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Firearms, along with
serial numbers, must be registered with your van line
representative before the move.
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Canned Goods
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Pack upright with no
more than 24-30 cans per carton. Don't attempt to move
perishables. Wrap glass containers and boxed foods
individually and pack in small cartons.
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Clocks
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Remove or secure
pendulum in large clocks. Grandfather clocks should be
prepared for moving by expert servicemen.
Flammables and
Combustibles
Flammable liquids and aerosol cans must not be packed. Changes
in temperature and pressure can cause them to leak, or even
explode. For your own protection, you should know that if you
pack these items and they cause damage to your shipment or
others, you, not your mover, may be held liable.
Lamps and Lampshades
Remove bulbs, harps and shades. Roll up cord. Pack lamps with
bedding or wrap separately and place upright in clean,
tissue-lined carton. Wrap harp and finial (decorative knob) with
packing paper and tape to inside wall of carton that contains
shade. Wrap shades in tissue, not newspaper. Place upright in
large, tissue lined cartons.
Mirror Painting and Pictures
Tell your agent about valuable paintings for special care. Wrap
small mirrors, pictures, paintings, and frames and place on edge
in cartons. Place large pictures and paintings on edge in heavy
cardboard containers. Large wall or dresser mirrors will be
taken down by the movers and placed in special cartons. For
added safety, place tape diagonally across mirror to protect
better against damage. Do not place newspaper directly against
paintings.
Computer and Video
Pack valuable electronic equipment in original cartons
when available. Otherwise, use strong, corrugated cartons and
place protective padding on the bottom of the carton. Wrap an
old blanket or protective pad around the item and place it in
its carton. Place additional padding between the carton and the
computer or video recorder. Wrap cords separately, label to
identify usage and place in a plastic bag away from delicate
surfaces. Non-detachable cords should also be wrapped. Place
cords between the padded computer or video recorder and the
carton. Be sure your personal computer is "parked" and ready for
transport.
Silverware
Wrap each piece in cloth or low sulfur content paper to prevent
tarnishing. Use an old blanket or moving pad as a wrap to
prevent scratching the silverware chest.
Tools
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Drain fuel from power
tools (do not ship Flammables under any circumstances).
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Pack tools in small,
strong cartons. Wrap separately if valuable.
Waterbeds Mattress
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Drain all water from the
waterbed and, grasping internal baffle systems with external
vinyl, fold mattress 20 inches at a time. Adjust folds to
avoid making creases across individual baffles. Consult your
owner's manual for special instructions concerning the care
and transportation of your mattress. Do not place your
mattress in a carton with sharp or pointed objects.
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Barbeque Grill and
Propane Tanks
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Wrap grates and
briquettes separately in a newspaper (or place all
briquettes into a grocery bag) and place parts in carton.
Pad carton with paper to reduce movement of contents.
Propane tanks cannot be moved. Consult your local gas grill
distributor for the safest method.
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Here are some packing
materials that MTF Relocation can provide. |
