Every household holds a handful of belongings that need extra care before the tape ever comes out. Glassware, electronics, mirrors, and framed artwork break far more often in transit than anything else in the home, and most of that damage traces back to how they were packed. Isaac’s Moving & Storage has been moving households since 1988. Our experienced, professional crew handles every detail of your move, ensuring your precious belongings arrive safely and intact.
How to Take Care of Your Fragile Items When Moving
Common Fragile Items
Before any packing begins, it helps to know exactly which belongings sit in the high-risk category. The most fragile items when moving are chinaware and glassware, electronics, framed artwork, mirrors and lamps, musical instruments, and furniture.
- Chinaware/Glassware, including wine glasses and dishes
- Electronics
- Framed Artwork and picture frames
- Mirrors/Lamps
- Musical Instruments
- Furniture
Give these items a little more care and attention than the rest of your household. The sections below explain how.
Keep an Inventory of Fragile Things
A written inventory is the first step in protecting delicate belongings. Count your fragile items before you pack a single box and write down each one in the house so nothing gets tossed into a carton as an afterthought on moving day.
An inventory also forces a useful decision. Carefully wrapping each piece takes time, so this is the moment to sort what stays from what goes to donation or the curb. Our rule of thumb has held up for years. If you haven’t used something in over a year, say goodbye now and skip packing it.
Have Your Moving Boxes and Bubble Wrap Ready
Good packing starts with the right supplies on hand. Three packing materials act as armor for fragile items during a move.
Cardboard boxes come first. Brand new moving boxes work well because the walls still have their full strength. Used boxes get the job done too, as long as they’re clean, dry, and sturdy enough to hold weight.
Packing paper forms the first protective layer around each piece, and extra rarely goes to waste. Buy more than you think you need.
Bubble wrap rounds out the kit. Beyond the pure joy of popping bubbles, it’s an effective cushion, and the same buy-extra advice applies.
Expert tips to pack fragile items safely
With supplies gathered, the packing itself follows a simple order. Wrap everything twice, paper first and bubble wrap second. Here’s the full sequence.
- Assemble your cardboard boxes.
- Line the bottom of each box with packing paper. Newspaper also works.
- Wrap each fragile item in packing paper and secure it with tape.
- Wrap the item again in bubble wrap and tape that layer down too.
- Place items in the box and stuff crumpled paper into any empty spaces.
- Seal the box with packing tape.
That double layer helps absorb the bumps and vibrations a box picks up during transport. The crumpled paper filling the gaps keeps items from knocking against each other inside the carton.
Common mistakes on the moving truck
Even well-packed boxes can run into trouble once loading begins. Overloading is one of the most common mistakes. Heavy items packed into one large box strain the walls and the person carrying it, so spread the weight across smaller boxes and save the big ones for lighter items like clothes.
Skipping padding on furniture causes trouble too. Moving blankets or foam sheets between large items on the moving truck prevent scratched finishes and cracked frames during transport.
A Final Piece of Packing Advice
Once the packing is done, label each box. Clear labels tell professional movers which cartons hold delicate items and need careful handling on and off the truck.
Grab a red marker and write three things on each box, the item type, the room it belongs in, and HANDLE WITH CARE in big letters.
Follow these steps to give your belongings a better chance of coming out of their boxes looking just as good as they did going in. And remember, you don’t have to do any of this yourself. Isaac’s Moving & Storage is a moving company that offers packing services covering fragile items too.
Let Isaac’s Moving & Storage Handle Your Fragile Items
Packing delicate belongings takes time, patience, and the right materials, and our crews have been doing exactly that since 1988. Isaac’s Moving & Storage offers packing services that cover fragile items, so glassware, artwork, and electronics get wrapped and loaded by professionals who handle them daily.
If you have a move coming up, leave your information below and an Isaac’s Moving & Storage Move Consultant will be in touch with you shortly. You can also call us at 1-888-851-6880.
