The glassware and fragile items in your home remain in a secure place, away from the day-to-day hustle and bustle, so as to prolong their life expectancy—especially given how easily destructible they are.
If you take such care of your glass valuables on a regular day, extra care and caution are required during moving. Susceptible to breakage, glassware and fragile items can be tough cookies when it comes to packing and moving them. Luckily for you, we have some great ideas on how to get them packed right.
Cells
Remember reading in your fifth-grade biology book how everything is made up of cells? These cells have walls and membranes that are supposed to keep the intracellular material secure on the inside, and thus even when you’re running wildly, you won’t have mitochondria from one cell mixing with the other.
In the packing of fragile materials, take lessons from basic anatomy: get cell boxed.
You can easily find them at supply stores, or in any store that has anything to do with selling bottles: such as a liquor store. Alternatively, you can get cardboard dividers and use them in cartons that have been separately bought. The idea is to keep your the fragile items and glassware separate and from collapsing into each other.
Prep Time
Now, prepare the carton or box for the packing. The dividers should fit in just right, and should ideally not allow much movement inside.
Paperwork
Packing paper is the obvious first choice, as is old newspaper. Get lots of them. If you don’t have much spare paper lying around, get a bunch from any thrift store. However, we suggest you use plain newsprint, since regular printing can leave stamped imprints on glass.
Stuffed
Although it’s not exactly as satisfying as stuffing cheese into chicken, it can at least protect the glassware you’ll use to exhibit the chicken dinner in. In case of globes, hollows, and depressions in the glassware (such as is in wine glasses, bowls, etc.), fill them up to the brim with crumpled paper. Be gentle or you may risk shattering the utensil with excessive force—remember, walls of glass are thin and vulnerable.
Wrapping
Spread out several sheets of paper on a solid, even surface, and lay the glassware sideways upon it. Now roll, Jordan, roll!
Make sure you’re tucking the paper right in, from all sides, gently and carefully. The stem and the globe should, in particular, be covered with paper.
And Now, for the Final Trick . . .
Pack the glassware in the carton, separated by cardboard dividers. You might require some innovation if your glassware isn’t exactly sized the same. Once this is done, seal the carton securely and give it a little shake—to check if all has been securely packed, and that there are no gaps on the inside.
If there are gaps—you’ll know when you hear and feel the stuff cackling against each other—re-open the box and stuff in generous amounts of bubble wrap to fill them in. In the end, label and put a tag on that says FRAGILE.
Bit Too Much?
It’s okay to feel overwhelmed by the process. We know that the layman doesn’t deal with glassware on a daily basis and that there will be mistakes. If you’re a zero-error man, get in touch with us. Efficient Movers and Storage is a Maryland-based packing and moving services provider with years of experience in the field.
