Updated on August 26, 2024
Whether moving everything to a new home or moving items into short or long-term storage, one of the biggest tasks ahead of you is packing your belongings. As you begin packing, you will quickly find that not all objects fit into a tidy little square box. Unusually or oddly shaped items that don't fit into the mold of a square box are at greater risk of damage during a move. So, before loading your moving and storage container, check out our tips and tricks and see how to pack fragile items safely and securely for your upcoming move!
General Packing Tips for Your Move
Packing should be done at your pace to ensure you get everything secure and put away before the big moving day (which is why 1-800-PACK-RAT gives you as much time as you need to pack your stuff). Here are some tips for packing your stuff, no matter how mundane or unique it might be!
Disassemble Bulky or Large Items
For unusually shaped items, always try to disassemble them by breaking them down and wrapping each piece separately. Doing this can help create extra space in your container for more stuff to be packed away. Packing materials should be placed inside the hollow section of any components for extra cushioning. You can also place styrofoam or a wood dowel along the length of any extra-long piece to act as a brace. Protect delicate elements and protruding or pointy parts with extra bubble wrap before wrapping the entire piece with a blanket or more bubble wrap.
Create Custom Sized Boxes
While some items won’t fit neatly into a square box, combining boxes can create a custom-sized shape. Double stacking two same-sized boxes is a simple yet efficient technique for creating extra tall or wide, strong boxes that accommodate very tall, long, or wide items. When combining boxes, securely tape the seams and seal the box with multiple layers of tape where the two boxes overlap, both on the inside and the outside of the boxes. Always test the strength of your box, especially if you’re packing heavy items. You don’t want a fragile box holding fragile items, after all.
Use Extra Packing Materials
Fragile, unusually shaped items require extra packing materials. This is not an area where you want to scrimp. Have plenty of packing paper, packing peanuts, bubble wrap, and tape on hand before beginning to pack. Packing paper is relatively inexpensive and can fill empty spaces in boxes. Packing peanuts made of small pieces of styrofoam can also be used to fill empty spaces. If boxes aren’t fully packed, there is the potential for shifting and damage, so pack boxes as tightly as possible and fill any leftover space with packing materials.
Fragile and delicate items should be wrapped before being placed in a box with packing peanuts or packing paper because these materials do not provide enough cushion on their own. Bubble wrap is best used to wrap around delicate or fragile items before placing them in the box. Protecting fragile items should be your top priority when you start the packing phase of your move.
Properly Label Items
Label all sides of the packed item with the word “FRAGILE.” You may also want to include directions for how to carry it, such as “THIS SIDE UP” or “HEAVY ITEMS” as a guide. Another way to take extra care of your fragile belongings is to create an inventory system. This can be done with stickers denoting fragile products in the box or making a color-coded checklist that can be cross-referenced with a list you have. Be sure to mark the boxes on all sides and the top so it is obvious what the box holds. That way, if your friends and family help you move, or you have professional labor assistance, you can easily direct where the boxes go and ensure they are handled safely.
Specific Tips for Packing Tricky Items
We all have some items, such as oddly shaped furniture or appliances, that require more finesse when it comes to packing them properly and securely. Here are some ways to pack your stuff to keep it secure during your move.
Packing Televisions
When moving televisions, most people loosely pack them into their moving trucks or rental containers. This heightens the chance of the TV falling over and cracking or shifting during transportation. Ensure the TV is loaded in the storage container where nothing heavy can be laid on top and doesn’t move around in transit. A heavy-duty TV box kit will also help protect your television from unwanted shifting as well.
Packing Furniture
It is best to disassemble your furniture by breaking items down into the smallest possible components for transporting. Label smaller pieces and place them in boxes. Wrap everything else in moving blankets to prevent scratches. Clearly label any screws, nuts, and bolts in a small plastic bag and tape it to the bottom of the piece of furniture or place it in the box with the smaller components. You will need to be able to find these items to reassemble your furniture upon arrival quickly.
Packing Large Appliances
Refrigerators, washers, dryers, stoves, and lawn equipment come with their challenges when packing your moving and storage container. The first step you can take is to clean these items and take off all removable parts. Drain lawn equipment and gas and oil tools before packing them, as these contents are flammable. It can be helpful to use manufacturer boxes and packaging if you still have them available for packing appliances. If not, secure moving blankets around appliances with packing tape to prevent damage. Place these heavy items on the bottom layer of your storage container near the center.
Packing Floor Lamps
Remove the lightbulbs and any lampshades and pack them in separate boxes. Wrap the floor lamp base in a moving blanket and secure the blanket with packing tape. Stand it up between two heavy pieces of furniture to keep it from moving during transit.
Packing Mirrors and Pictures
Breakable items like mirrors and picture frames need careful protection against knocks and bumps. Frame boxes are ideal for large picture frames, paintings, and mirrors. Each heavy-duty frame box should typically handle two or three paintings, pictures, or mirrors. When packing multiple frames in a single box, include a layer of bubble wrap between each frame for added cushioning. Use foam corners to protect the edges of the frames from scuffs or scratches. Use masking tape to create a star pattern across the glass front of the item to help prevent cracks or breaks.
Hanging Clothes
The easiest way to protect and move hanging clothes is with a wardrobe box. We recommend purchasing one if you can’t find one elsewhere—they are sanity savers! You can take clothes from the closet to the wardrobe box and then back to the closet, never leaving the hanger. Alternatively, clothes such as t-shirts, hoodies, undergarments, and the like can be folded and placed into a box, save for any expensive clothing or dress that could be covered with plastic and carefully moved on their own.
Packing Aquariums
Start by removing all fish and plants and placing them in a smaller transport container using some of the original water, and then drain the aquarium of water and dry it well. This will allow you to restart the bacteria culture when you set the aquarium back up. Use a strong box larger than the tank, and line the entire interior with thick bubble wrap. After placing the tank in the box, fill it with pillows, blankets, or towels, and make sure the whole box is packed full to prevent shifting during transit.
Have Your Packing Materials Ready
The last thing anyone wants to do when preparing for a move is to go out and purchase needed moving and packing supplies. If you need boxes, locks, moving blankets, tape, and similar items, 1-800-PACK-RAT can help! We have partnered with Lowe's® Home Improvement to bring you the most comprehensive range of moving and packing supplies. This includes TV-specific moving boxes, heavy-duty boxes that are double layered, tape, etc. Everything you need is in one place and can be sourced at your local Lowe’s location or shipped to your home.
Make Your Move Simple With 1-800-PACK-RAT
We hope these solutions will be beneficial for packing and moving those unusual items that don’t fit neatly into a basic box.
Check out our space calculator to estimate the number of portable storage containers you might need to move or store your belongings. Give us a call today or get a free quote to see how 1-800-PACK-RAT can simplify local and long-distance moving and storage for you! Be sure to check out Lowe's Home Improvement for all of your moving and packing supplies today!