Moving can be a hassle, but it’s even more of a hassle when your boxes aren’t packed and stowed properly. Around 10% of shipped items are broken by the time they arrive at a customer’s house, and packing your own things has the chance to increase that breakage percentage.
So how do you keep your things from breaking when you ship them? Read on for a quick guide on how to properly pack a box to keep everything safe during shipping and moving.
Use Solid Boxes
The first key thing is to use a moving box that is strong enough to handle your stuff while keeping the proper shape and size for easy moving. Many people make the mistake of using old boxes that are too flimsy for what they need to store.
You can buy new boxes from a moving and shipping company or hardware store, but you can also just go to stores and ask for boxes for free. Many warehouses and big chain stores go through tons of boxes and are often more than happy to give them away.
Also, be sure you have a box that’s the right dimensions for what you’re packing. If a box is too small, things will be crushed and won’t have proper cushioning. If the box is too big, you risk struggling to move it, the box breaking, or things moving around too much inside.
The heavier your things, the smaller your box should be. If you have heavy things like books, make sure your box is small and sturdy enough to handle it. And don’t forget the extra tape on the bottom!
Proper Cushioning
A big part of packing moving boxes properly is to have the proper amount of cushioning. Different packing materials work well in certain situations, but it’s wise to have different types on hand.
Bubble wrap is a highly versatile tool, useful for almost any packing situation. You can get large bubbles for bulky items as well as small bubble wrap for smaller, more fragile items. It’s a good idea to grab a roll of bubble wrap for your move, packing it around anything that might break.
Crumpled paper, rags, clothes, and other soft objects are also great packing supplies for breakables. You can even stuff these things inside objects such as vases or mugs, giving them more support and protection against being crushed.
Basically, make sure that your fragile objects are protected in all directions, inside and out. If something goes wrong, such as a box getting dropped, you improve your chances of retrieving everything off the moving truck unharmed.
Pack a Box Carefully
When in doubt, get another box! Boxes and cushioning materials are cheap and easy to replace, but your valuables are not. If a box is too heavy or too full, separate your things out into multiple boxes.
Be sure you’re protecting everything thoroughly, including on the bottom and top of the box. Add more insulation than you think you need, and you’ll hopefully arrive at your new destination with everything intact.
If you’re uncomfortable trying to do it all yourself, you can also hire a moving services company. They’ll pack your boxes for moving and move them for you. This can give you peace of mind that things will be packed, moved, and unloaded properly.
Learn More About Moving
Now you should have a better idea of how to properly pack a box, but that’s not the only aspect of keeping your valuables safe during a move! Moving is a big process, and there are a lot of things to keep track of.
Thankfully, we can help! Feel free to contact us with any questions or needs you may have, and we’ll do our best to help you. We want your move to be as easy and hassle-free as possible!
