When switching homes, some objects always cause a bit more trouble than others. But with our best tips on how to pack fragile items, vases, glasses, and other breakables won’t be on that list. Most people are apprehensive about approaching this task since there’s a lot at stake, but if you do your research well, there’s nothing to worry about.

Did you know that porcelain’s record price sold at an auction is $38 million for a 900-year-old bowl, which belonged to the Song dynasty? On the other hand, an invaluable Ming dynasty bowl, no different from those that adorn prestigious museums worldwide, was sold at a Connecticut yard sale for $35. Regardless of the price, taking care of your breakables and securing them with high-quality materials and attention to detail can never go amiss. If you don’t strike it rich, at least you’ll get to impress friends and family in your new home. Stick around to see how to survive transport with no shards.

Moving Fragile Items Means You Must Prepare in Advance

Let’s face it, regardless of how you fold your shirt and regardless of whether you do it a minute before professional cross-country movers arrive or months in advance, it won’t make a crucial difference. However, your breakable pieces would beg to differ as even the tiniest mistake can mean saying bye to them for good. We don’t mean to scare you but prioritize this task over other duties to reduce moving stress and secure enough time to master it all like an imperial artisan. Alright, maybe not that much.

How to Pack Fragile Items for Moving? – Supplies You’ll Need

Nobody wants to shell out a fortune for supplies, but giving it a slight advantage in your moving out for the first time budget or any other relocation budget is wise here, and you need no palace adviser to tell you that. Supplies will determine whether your objects are destined to remain a loyal decoration in your new life, so do go for first-class ones. You’ll need:

• Bubble wrap – It’s indispensable for this process, so purchase and prepare large quantities. And another one of moving hacks is to pop it and alleviate stress since, according to research, it can be as soothing as getting a massage,
• Packing paper – Another classic of relocations, it’s the best packing material for fragile items. If you don’t use it up for this, there’ll be plenty of other possibilities left,
• Cardboard – This one can come in handy too when you’re packing fragile items for moving, especially to help you create layers in the container,
• Scissors, markers, tape – The Holy Trinity of DIY and packaging will also facilitate this task.

To Go for Cardboard or Not? – Choosing the Right Box

No answer to the question of what to use to pack fragile items is complete without boxes. They come in various shapes and sizes, but the most common material used is cardboard. In most cases, it will serve you perfectly to avoid any moving mistakes and accommodate your dinnerware and the other lot.

Yet, if you own something exorbitantly valuable due to price, family heritage, or any other reason, you should also consider wooden crates. Some expert cross-country movers offer to make these, and they’re made for the object at hand to grant zero stress and 100% success.

Tips for Picking the Ideal Box for Packaging Fragile Items

Regardless of whether you’re trying to master how to pack glasses or another field, you must know some universal truths that apply to the world of boxes. The right one should meet the following criteria:

• It can’t be too big or too small. The golden mean is optimal. Huge ones will present a problem for lifting, and small ones won’t fit enough objects,
• It shouldn’t be flimsy – You can go for a free box or a used one, but according to some experts, each usage reduces the carrying capacity by 30%. So, if it’s used more than once, examine it well,
• Handles and tops are an added bonus – You can make these too, so don’t obsess over them.

Take a look at the following video if you’d like to check out some affordable options.

How to Package Fragile Items for Shipping Cross-Country? – Game-Changing Tips

Before you set out to see how to pack clothes or what to do about moving without a job, ensure you know these pro tricks.

Check Your Insurance First

If you’re not booking professional help, and you’re doing this on your own, inspect what insurance you’re taking. Not because we’re prophets of doom and gloom, but because some companies won’t consider your damaged parcel insurance claims if you didn’t follow the prescribed packaging procedures.

A superb way to avoid this hassle altogether is to obtain moving insurance to cover any item you transport. You can get it with the long-distance moving company you hire for relocation and finish it all at once.

Prepare the Boxes You Use

Before you delve into how to pack plates for moving or whichever goal you strive for, layer the container with enough padding. You can do this by putting packing peanuts at the bottom or making a covering made of rolled-up sleeves of paper.

Besides, if the container is not sturdy enough, tape the sides and reinforce the base and the top with some more tape.

Wrap the Objects Entirely

In case you were wondering how to wrap fragile items, you should know that the key is to cover all sides. No parts should stick out or remain uncovered because that leaves plenty of room for trouble.

Categories can also hint to you how to approach wrapping. But you can’t go wrong if you wrap the objects individually, except for bowls (shall we add not the antique ones) and plates that are fine in bundles. If you focus here, your new apartment checklist won’t have an added section for replaced kitchenware, so note that too.

Don’t Forget to Seal

Each object needs to be sealed with tape once it’s been wrapped. This is done to prevent any shifting or opening during transport and is something you do want to remember.

The Void Must Be Filled When You Pack the Containers

No, not the void we feel while trying to make sense of our existence as humans. The one here is much easier to deal with, and you just need crumpled pieces of paper or peanuts.

Make sure to cover all the empty space in the box. Not because we like to schmooze, but because the void is potentially dangerous if the objects start shifting.

Always Stash Vertically When Packing

If you’re putting multiple objects inside a box, you should do it vertically instead of horizontally, though most people intuitively think that horizontally is the right way. Yet, the horizontal method can’t withstand as much pressure as its opposite, so bear that in mind too.

Label for Cross-Country Transport

Not labeling your boxes, you guessed it right, is a slippery slope toward confusing professional movers or your helpers. So once you seal the container, you should write the contents on it, in this case, fragile objects. You also need to label which side is up.

This is especially relevant if you’re going solo and moving to a new city alone or even moving to another state alone because you’ll want to know how to treat your boxes, and you’ll need that knowledge fast.

Packing Tips for Different Categories

Before you go on to learn other puzzling relocation issues, such as how to move a piano, you must go through separate categories of breakables if you want to become a real virtuoso. So, without further ado, let’s go.

Secure Your Figurines

Perhaps it’s your collection or a travel memory or fan merch, but whatever the case, you don’t want anything to happen to your figurines. So use bubble protection first, and roll it all in paper after that. A special trick here is to use brightly-colored paper for super tiny figures so as not to lose them in the box. And that’s the answer to the question of how do you pack fragile figurines.

Pay Special Attention to China

What most people have in mind when they ask how do I protect my fragile packages is chinaware. These delicate, polished pieces aren’t only potential goldmines; they are the joy and pride of their owner as they can bring glamour into any meal. So, what you need to do to protect your precious set is:

• Wrap everything individually and avoid bundles,
• Use double-layers of protection for the box,
• Consider hiring professionals,
• Pay special attention to covering these with insurance.

Vases Require Time

Even Keats wrote that vases are to remain immortal as all art, so why would you deny that right to your own pottery? Most people apprehensively ask how do you wrap a fragile object such as this one to avoid damage, but it actually isn’t harder than what you already know.

You might want to add foam to the wrapping procedure since it can serve the same function as a bubble sheet. Still, whatever you go for, ensure you bundle the vase tightly and protect the inner and the outer part. If nothing is sticking out, you’re ready to call it a day.

With Pro Tips, Your Glass Will Always Be Half-Full

Glasses and mugs are needed for pretty much anything from day one. Once you enter the new place, you’ll want to say bye to plastic cups as soon as possible. So what can help you transport these properly?

• Cell Divider – This one can be made of cardboard and can give you a neat shortcut in your endeavor,
• Liquor Store – Your favorite spot might have a box to spare that will be just perfect for glasses,
• Supplies – You know the drill; you need paper on all sides. And you want to tuck the paper in as you roll. If there are stems involved, protect them first.

Consider Storage if You’re in Two Minds About Your New Home

Sometimes, getting to your new place takes some unexpected turns. In that case, you don’t want to pull your breakables to all rental places or an occasional friend’s home or two along the way. So what to do?

The secret of all cross-country movers is that they offer storage services that help people in this position. If you sign up for these, you’ll get the reassurance of knowing that your precious possessions are in good hands, safe and sound, and waiting for you to fetch them when the time is ripe.

Find a Long-Distance Moving Company That Offers Free Storage in the First Month

Most reputable long-distance movers know what you’re going through, so make sure you book the ones that have free storage for the first thirty days. To have your heart at the right place when it comes to choosing storage units, you should contact movers that pay attention to the following:

• Cleanliness and maintenance,
• Safety – Storage facilities need to be supervised at all times,
• Storing system – The company of your choice should have a clear and valid system they use to separate your belongings from those of other people.

Long-Distance Movers Can Come to Rescue With Other Issues Too

Finally, if you feel like you won’t have time or you’re scared you’ll mess something up, that’s fine. There are people whose job is to offer superb packing services and see through the entire relocation. And the good thing about professionals is that you get to choose whether you want them to handle all your possessions or just a portion, so you won’t be forced to go with something that doesn’t suit you.

And outstanding long-distance moving services also cover car-shipping and relocation insurance, so that you can get everything done quickly and efficiently once you decide to contact experienced movers.