Packing Supplies and tipsIn order for your move to go smoothly, quickly and safely it is important to use the appropriate packing supplies and techniques. The same applies to shipping where the package will change hands even more often than with moving. Since packing the truck, container or any transportation space is like assembling a giant puzzle from the inside, professional boxes make it easier to pack and fit because of their square uniform shapes. Boxes/Cartons:Don't just slide the four flaps on the top and bottom together because they can come loose as it's being handled and breakables can fall out of the box. Instead, again not sliding the flaps together but just closing them, always use at least 3 runs of tape to seal each end of the box. Run the tape from the middle of the side of the box up and over or down and under it and down / up the other side finishing by overlapping the top and bottom tape ends in the middle of the side of the box so that they won't come loose. Run your hand over all of this taping to make sure that it is stuck tightly to the box sealing it well. 2 cubic ft box, recommended for the majority of the packing including books, kitchen stuff and heavier small items, they are about the size of a microwave oven or small TV. This size is the easiest to lift for movers and will save time on the move. It is ok to pack them with books but 1/2 books and 1/2 lighter items is even better. Remember that the lighter the box, the faster the move will be executed. 4 cubic ft box, recommended for clothing and bigger lighter items. DO NOT pack books in in 4 cube boxes, they will cause unnecessary strain on the movers and will often result in the bottom falling out. If you must put heavy items in the 4 cubic feet cartons because your ran out of 2 cubic feet cartons, make sure to load lighter items with, %50 heavy and %50 light is ok. 6 cubic ft, recommended for lamp shades and very large fragile items. DO NOT pack books in in 4 cube boxes, they will cause unnecessary strain on the movers and will often result in the bottom falling out.
Wardrobe boxes, recommended for clothing, they ensure that the clothes will not get wrinkled. DO NOT pack clothes in plastic garbage bags. They are slippery, difficult to carry and handle in addition to being susceptible to punctures and weather elements. Picture cartons, recommended for artwork. Measure your frames before you pay a visit to your local packing supplies retailer. Picture boxes come in many sizes and you will need a list to place your order. Pictures come in a multitude of sizes, buy the approximate size and then use a combination of folding and cutting to custom fit your artwork. Protection and cushioning supplies:Packing tape, try to use good quality tape so that it won't peel under the stress of moving or shipping transit, make sure you get extra rolls because it's very easy to run out. Tape the bottom and the top of boxes, use exacto knife for unpacking. Make sure to seal and close EVERY box. Packing paper, recommended to wrap your china and fragile items, the paper is sterile so there is no need to wash the dishes after the move unlike with newspaper. Packing paper also has more cushioning and isolating properties than regular newsprint.
Bubble wrap, recommended for wrapping expensive and fragile items. Very effective against damage. Bubble wrapped item should also be placed in boxes AND isolated with foam chips. Dry popcorn can also be used as a cost saving measure if the items will not be stored or in transit for too long. Other packing alternatives:- Milk crates: Only good if you provide a solid cover or pack it flush. Open milk crates like boxes should be sealed and closed to allow stacking. - Plastic containers: If sturdy and of good quality. - Bags: Except for Golf bags and sturdy pack sacks and suitcase, use of bags is not recommended because of their tendency to break open and the inability to stack them up.
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Packing supplies 