After bubbles and spiderwebs, glasses are the most delicate things in the world. If you opt to ship any kind of breakables from your household, you need to know how to pack fragile items and not end up with boxes full of broken glass. There’s the riddle: what is so fragile that you can break it just by saying its name? – silence. Ok, but what about the physical things like glass and laboratory objects, musical instruments, porcelain, electronics?
Because of its delicate nature, every item that can easily get broken or damaged needs special care when preparing for transportation. If you consider that each year more Americans decide to live overseas, over 10 million by 2020 according to the US State Department, then it’s not in vain learning some techniques on wrapping all kinds of fragiles. So, when you realize that relocation all over the world is your thing, you might wonder how do you package something that is fragile? Find out in our text below.
Why It’s Important to Know How to Pack Fragile Items for Moving
American citizens are relocating abroad for many reasons. Relocation to another country for love is just one of them, including job opportunities that can’t be missed. However, one thing is common to all the reasons: knowing how to wrap fragile items. Since the breakables aren’t only glasses and china, but also artwork and similar goods, it’s essential to understand how to correctly protect them and make them arrive safely at your new home.
The average American lives in one home for around ten years, and as strange as it can sound, we people tend to get attached to certain objects from our house. You might not realize now, but some objects represent so much more than just a home ornament. That’s why you should be prepared for the task of wrapping up the family heirlooms and other stuff that can easily break.
Make a Plan and Give Yourself Time When Packing Fragile Items for Moving Internationally
When wondering how to move abroad, the essential thing you need to do is start planning right after you realize all the things about living in Europe as an American. Create the complete abroad checklist of things to do before relocating and keep track of all tasks and activities. That way, you’ll be able to organize your move and avoid relocation stress that can cause much worse consequences.
When it comes to figuring out what to pack when relocating abroad, you can create a separate list of things, and you don’t have to worry about forgetting something important. However, before you begin with all the boxing up, ensure all the stuff you don’t need anymore won’t be on that list.
Decluttering your home will take some of your free moments, but once you get rid of the unneeded clutter, you’ll be more efficient and faster in the wrapping up process. After you finish with the stuff you don’t want to bring along, make sure you give yourself enough time to deal with breakables. Figuring how packaging fragile items will take time and needs to be done. Otherwise, you won’t be able to do the job as thoroughly as it should be.
Find the Best Packing Material for Fragile Items
Relocating abroad to another country is a big step in people’s lives, especially if you’re doing it alone. However, finding a reliable relocation company with professional international moving services can ease the whole process and reduce the relocation stress.
Take into consideration also that the professionals can give you a helping hand in other needed services, like overseas vehicle shipping. So, if you wonder how to transport your car abroad and you worry because you have never done it before, the relocation crew can give you a helping hand.
On the other hand, DIYing the boxing-up process can get tricky. Because when it comes to protecting your fragile, the materials you’ll use for that process are crucial. Before we get to the techniques and why it’s essential to put the breakables into a box last, let’s take a look at what to use to pack fragile items.
How to Pick the Right Supplies and Materials
The breakable objects don’t require that many different supplies for protection than the rest of your belongings. However, it’s better to bypass free and used boxes. If possible, invest in a good sturdy box or a dish rack because the safety of your possession depends on it.
- Start with buying sturdy containers from a local hardware store or online. They can be pricey but worth it because you can reuse them all over again for the next move. So, here are the materials you should get when moving fragile items:
- Packing paper,
- Bubble wrap,
- Plastic wrap,
- Peanuts,
- Packaging edge protectors,
- Tape,
- Marker,
- Scissors.
If you’re hiring a professional company for your move, the good news is that you can ask them if they can offer you their supplies. That way, you don’t have to worry about this task while checking which essential documents you need to travel abroad.
Explore Free Options You Can Use to Protect Fragiles
We all know how expensive international moves can be. For example, if you’re looking for great cities to live in Europe for Americans, you’ll have to set aside between $1,000 and $1,500 depending on the destination, time of year, and how much luggage you have. So, spending too much money on supplies might be something you want to avoid.
In that case, you can utilize some alternatives you can find at home. Instead of buying paper and bubble wrap, you can use towels, sheets, and soft clothes. These materials not only will save you some space (because you don’t have to protect them separately), but they will provide excellent cushioning too. For the boxes, it’s better to spend some money and get new and sturdy ones.
How Do You Wrap a Fragile Object – Tips and Tricks for Effortless Wrapping up
Are you retiring in Europe and you want to know what the best way to protect your fragiles is? The golden rule when it comes to packing these kinds of objects is to prepare them separately. No matter what shape and size the things have, you’ll have to box them up one at a time. This is especially important when the dishes and bowls come to be packed. Yes, you’ll have to protect each object individually and then stack one on top of the other. You surely don’t want to lose your precious moments on boxing them up and still end up with broken or damaged plates.
So, once you start with the wrapping up process, it’s better to do it the right way and prepare everything fully for the transport of the storage facility. The crucial step is however to, once you’re done with wrapping them up separately, give them another layer of protection with paper, bubble wrap, clothes, and at the end, seal everything with the tape.
How Do You Pack Large Fragile Items?
Let’s say that you are relocating to the Bahamas. This doesn’t mean you have to check what permits you need for the pets, but also what the housing situation is like. It’s essential to check what kind of house you can find because packing a large object that can’t fit in it might be something you shouldn’t do.
For example, that floor lamp that you have had for years, is it worth it relocating? If yes, then you’ll need some tips on how to protect it for transport. Cover it with a soft material and seal with the tape and be sure that inside the box there’s no empty space left – fill it with peanuts or paper.
Tips for Packing Breakable Figurines and Objects With Irregular Shapes for Moving Abroad
Objects with irregular shapes, like vases, figurines, and similar things, should be packed separately. Cover each item with a bubble or any other soft material and then secure with tape and be generous. Be sure there’s no wobbling inside the box – so fill it with peanuts or crumpled paper.
Glasses Need Special Boxes – Use Cardboard Dividers
Glass, as you already know, is very delicate. However, suppose that an average person owns at least one pair of glasses for each place setting (for example, for five place settings, there are five glasses). In that case, you’ll find yourself wondering how to protect and safely prepare glasses for relocation.
At one point, it could get just too overwhelming, but if you’re relocating to one of the friendliest countries in the world, then you should expect to have company soon after you settle in. This means the glasses should be transported in one piece. To achieve this, be sure you place them in cardboard divided boxes. The same stands for glasses as for figurines and other irregularly shaped objects – protect them separately with bubble wrap and ensure you fill them with some soft padding, as well.
Wrapping Up Plates and Bowls – Where to Start
When you arrive at the destination and settle in the new home, know that adjusting to the new country begins. It’s not going to be easy and breaking the language barrier is something that will come naturally. However, the sooner you begin to hang out with the locals, the faster you’ll get used to the new surroundings.
To make that happen, you can invite your neighbors to dinner and prepare them a meal you best prepare. And for that, you need your kitchenware. So, preparing plates and bowls for transportation is, in fact, something you should consider as a crucial step that will help you adjust to the future surroundings.
There’s not much difference between preparing plates and bowls for relocation than the other delicate objects. First, you should put around each place and bowl protective material and seal with tape. Then you can begin with stacking, but ensure you don’t get carried away. If the box is too heavy, movers won’t be able to carry it. If you need some extra tips on how to protect plates, watch the video below.
Things to Remember When Boxing Up Electronics for Shipping Overseas
No matter if you’re relocating to Dubai or you decided to take your chances and move to Argentina, you’ll still miss your family and friends, right? Luckily, nowadays, with all that technology, you can easily keep in touch with friends. However, you’ll have to move your electronics safely.
The best solution for the computer, TV screen and other electronics you really need in the new place is their original packaging. However, if you didn’t save those, don’t worry because the relocation company can help and offer you their services and safely protect the valuable objects.
How to Package Fragile Items for Shipping or Storage – Label Correctly Each Box
Many delicate objects are costly or are family heirlooms – crystal glasses, china, and similar breakables. That’s why you should ensure that all of your hard work of preparing and protecting them doesn’t be in vain. Those packages shouldn’t end up under books and other heavy stuff. So ‘FRAGILE’ writing or stickers on the box’s sides will ensure the movers handle those with special care.
If You Need Help With Your Breakables – Contact the Professional International Moving Company
Once you find a perfect place to live abroad with family and the entire house is packed for the relocation process, the next in the line come to your breakables. Luckily, if you don’t feel like doing it, or you just don’t have enough time to deal with all of them, the professional relocation company can step in.
Packing services, including also storage facilities where you can keep some of the stuff, are a great way to ease yourself and avoid all the stress that comes with this kind of relocation. Another benefit of hiring a professional international relocation company is that you can completely relax and think about the next chapter in your life.
