How to pack plates and glasses for moving.

Your precious glasses and china are likely to break during transport unless you follow the correct packing process.

Devoting the time and effort to wrap items with the correct technique will minimise breakage. The correct packing process is detailed in this step by step guide.

Step by step guide to packing glasses, cups and plates for moving.

The essential guide for packing glasses and plates is provided below, with each step expanded further on.

1. Empty your cupboards and decide what you want to keep
2. Purchase packing materials
3. Prepare your boxes
4. Set up your packing area
5. Wrap each item individually
6. Place item in the box and seal and label
7. Place in the truck for transport

Step 1 - Empty your cupboards and decide what you want to keep.

Moving is hopefully something you don't do too often. When you do, it can be surprising how much stuff you have managed to accumulate.

Cups and glasses are typical culprits of clutter. Reconcile your items and only take what you need. Any leftover items you can recycle by taking them to your local charity shop.

Decluttering at the beginning will save you time packing and on transport costs. It will also ensure you only take what you need to your new place.

Step 2 - Purchase packing materials.

Despite the temptation to find free boxes and packing materials, we would recommend splashing out and purchasing some quality packing materials. If you want your precious glassware, plates, and cups to arrive safely, your packing materials will be critical. There is nothing more annoying than an incomplete dinner set, so invest in suitable materials to transport them. The correct packing materials needed include the following:

• Bubble wrap
• Strong moving boxes
• Packing paper
• Tape
• Marker
• Box dividers

Hiring Removals Boxes - Is now the most viable option for getting packing material these days. The quality of the boxes is much better because they are plastic-coated. There are boxes specifically designed, such as glass boxes with dividers that minimise the time needed to prepare your boxes. If you need your boxes for less than three months, hiring boxes will be cheaper than buying packing materials.

You can hire boxes online via a website such as www.theboxrentalcompany.com.au

The Box Rental Company hire out highly durable plastic-coated boxes in a range of styles that include:

• 2 Tier Glass Box
• 3 Tier Glass Box
• Bottle Boxes (With dividers)
• Plate Boxes

Step 3 - Prepare your boxes.

Preparing your boxes is often overlooked but is an essential step to avoiding a disaster. If you don't prepare the moving boxes and the bottom falls out in transport, it will lead to significant breakage. Preparing your moving boxes includes:

• Assembling your box so that the lids of the box are locked in place
• Lining the boxes in bubble wrap
• Securing the bottom of the box with packing tape

Hiring quality plastic-coated boxes, such as glass boxes with dividers, can minimise the time needed to prepare your boxes.

Step 4 - Set up your packing area.

Clear a space that is light and free of clutter. Packing requires repetitive motion. If you don't have a comfortable space, you can injure yourself by putting excess strain on your back. If your packing space is full of clutter, it will inevitably lead to knocking things over and dropping things. Create a clear space with good light to avoid injury and breakage.

Step 5 - Wrap each item individually.

Plates are wrapped differently from glasses. Every glass or mug will require a slightly different technique, but the process will be essentially the same.

To wrap glasses

• Fill the inside cavity with bubble wrap or packing paper
• Cut a suitably sized piece of bubble wrap and wrap it around the outside of the glass or mug
• With wine glasses, you will need to wrap the stem with bubble wrap. With a mug, you will need to cover the handle.
• If you are not using a glass box with dividers, then group them together. Wrap the glasses or mugs in a group and secure with packing tape.

To wrap plates

• To wrap a plate, lay the plate down flat onto the packing paper and securely wrap the entire individual plate.
• Stack each plate wrapped in packing paper on top of each other to create a tower.
• Secure the tower of plates together with packing tape
• Place the group of plates into a medium sized box. Add additional crumpled packing paper to the sides and top ensure the plates won't move in the box.
• Plates can be heavy, so avoid over stacking the box. Add additional bubble wrap or packing paper on top of the dishes and plates to avoid movement.

Step 6 - Place items in the box, seal and label

Items moving in the box will be the key reason for any breakage during transport. When placing items into the moving box, fill any vacant space with packing paper to ensure limited movement during transport.

Avoid over stacking boxes and ensure that all the box lid flaps close comfortably. Also, check that your boxes are not over stacked and too heavy for the box to contain.

Labelling boxes is a critical part of a smooth move. Be detailed with your labelling. Include the following on each label:

• Write fragile on multiple sides of the box (or use fragile tape)
• Write which way the box shout be placed (such as this side up)
• Add a detailed description of what is in the box. Avoid writing simply glasses, and include the type of glasses, such as wine glasses.

Labelling will be valuable for packing the truck but also incredibly important during the unpacking process.

Step 7 - Place in the truck for transport

Transportation is where the majority of breakage will occur. Going over speed bumps and turning corners will lead to items moving in the truck. Straps are required to secure all boxes and items from moving in the truck. Some key factors that avoid breakage during transport are:

• Wrap fragile packing boxes in moving blankets
• Place fragile moving boxes in the corner of the truck and secure them with ratchet moving straps.
• Secure the boxes in place with a large piece of furniture that's strapped in place.
• You can also pack fragile items in your car. Place the box in the front seat with a seat belt on if you are concerned.

A professional moving service will have insurance for breakage during transport. They will also have extensive knowledge of how to pack, wrap, and transport fragile items.

If you are hiring a moving company, don't get seduced purely by a removalist's price. Like all things in life, you get what you pay for.

If you want to hire professional movers and packers, then lodge a job on our site today.

Submit a quote on EzzyQuotes today and be spoilt for choice with office movers in your local area.