Tips to Avoid Breaking Fragile Objects During the Move

Ella Andrews, Guest Contributor

The fragile items should be very carefully wrapped and protected. The electronic devices are even more vulnerable in some specific cases, such as moving in a rainy weather or in the wintertime. The distance for handling the removal boxes is important too, and the number of your helpers is not an exception. Take a look at the following important factors to keep in mind and advice to avoid breaking fragile objects during the move.

1) Spend more time for sorting and de-cluttering. This should take place at least a month before the moving day and yet it all depends on the volume and number of your possessions. If you move the biggest and heaviest objects from a three- or four- bedroom house, you will definitely need more time to sort wisely the biggest and heaviest objects from the fragile ones. By doing so, you get a better orientation about the true size and number of the removal boxes that you will need only for the fragile items. When everything is sorted in the one corner of the room - you can easily compile the moving checklist and organize the column with fragile items, as well as decide which protections to use for these fragile items.

2) For flat objects like mirrors, glass, plates, etc. They are easy to pack and they have some specific challenges to overcome. A great tip is to use big flat removal boxes with very sturdy bottoms from a thick cardboard or even from plastic. The glass or the porcelain plates, for example, can save plenty of space if piled one on top of another, but the box will also become very heavy. That's why the key is to choose the right size box, which can fit the right amount of flat glass objects, according to their size. Another great tip is to put a thin layer of something soft between each glass object. This will eliminate the risk from scratches or breaking the object due to the weight and the friction between two or more glass objects.

3) For objects with irregular shapes like porcelain cups, statues, decorative figures, etc. The choice of the right size box is essential, put aside these objects during the sorting of the fragile items. Each cup should be wrapped individually with a layer of bubble wraps or with a couple of layers of old newspaper, or with another soft material. If you hire a professional removal company for your move - they can give you special card boxes with holes and shelves exactly for the storage of cups and other glass objects with irregular shapes. However, if you do the packing by yourself - make sure to protect each item individually and then put them in one main box. Fill the void spaces with the leftovers of old newspapers, Styrofoam sheets, plastic bags and more.

4) For gigantic glass objects like windows and tabletops, porcelain vases and pots, marble counter-tops, flat TV screens, etc. These objects require some special care when packing them individually, as well as after loading them in the moving van. Attach edge protectors to the edges, which will protect the most vulnerable part of these items while handling and lifting throughout the route to the front door of the house. Second, you can en-wrap the flat glass objects with heavy-duty tape, which will strengthen the object against flexibility under tension or in a case of unwanted impacts. Third, en-wrap all electronic devices with plastic bags and seal them with tape, which will protect them from rain and spills. Fourth, handle the big and heavy objects with your helpers by hand, not by the easy way with handling straps.