Packing your china, glass and other fragile items for your house removal is a time consuming but vitally important task – packing the box incorrectly can lead to damages no matter how well the box is handled. To help you pack all your glass and china safely we have put together our fragile packing top tips. These are based on all our years of experience with thousands of house moves and are designed to make your removal easier and less hassle.

1. Allow plenty of time

You should allow approximately 20-30min to pack a standard size removal box with fragile items.  In a standard size house you could well have in excess of 10 boxes of fragile items to pack in addition to your non-fragile belongings. This means that you should allow at least a day to pack all of your china and glass.

2. Fragile Packing Materials

Only use good quality packing materials when fragile packing. You should use double walled cardboard boxes, anything of less quality could well collapse under the weight when carried. In addition, we also recommend you use print free wrapping paper as the print can transfer to your goods. Any reputable removal company can provide you all the professional packing materials for you need to self-pack; from boxes to tape, bubble wrap to wrapping paper and flat screen TV boxes and curtain boxes. Speak to your mover and they can advise on the type and amount of packing materials you will need.

3. Plates & Bowl

First wrap your plates, and similar items such as shallow bowls etc, in paper and then place them in the box vertically on their edge. Plates are strongest in compression and can take weight on their side, any plates placed flat can get cracked from weight above. As with all removals packing, place heavier items at the bottom of the box and the lighter ones at the top.

4. Do not overfill

When packing china and glass do not fill the box completely full with your fragile goods. Fill the box between ⅔ and ¾ full and fill the remainder of the box with soft items such as cushions, blankets, clothing etc. This means the box doesn’t become too heavy, both to lift and for the items you packed in the bottom of the box. It also provides a protective layer to the box when other items are stacked on top of it.

5. Very Fragile Packing

If you have some very fragile items that are particularly delicate or sentimental we would recommend you put extra wrapping around the item. First wrap the crockery in paper and then add another layer of bubble wrap or similar protective material around the item secured with tape. If the item is an odd shape be careful to insure that the item is fully supported in the box by using a blanket or similar as a base. In a similar way make sure that no heavy items are packed above the very fragile piece. You should consider using a smaller box to ensure the item is not overloaded and well protected.

6. Fill Gaps and Tape the Box

Don’t leave any gaps in the box or only half fill a box. Any gaps in the box leave room for your packed items to move about, risking damage. In addition, any internal gaps reduce the overall strength of the box. You can use wrapping paper, bubble wrap or any soft items to help fill the gaps. One the box is full make sure you tape the box shut, do not leave boxes unsecured or ‘open” as items can fall out and the box is difficult to pack on the lorry.

7. Labels and Inventory

When you close the box make sure you label the box correctly, with a brief description of the contents as well as the room you want the box to be moved to in your new home. If you are going into store for any length of time we would recommend you make a full inventory of every packed item and to give the box a unique identifier (any alphanumeric descriptor e.g. A1, A2, B1 etc.). This will allow you to quickly locate any item you need to retrieve from store before you planned or when you are unpacking many months later.

8. Packing Insurance

All reputable removal companies, including all members of the British Association of Removers, will not insure goods that are packed by the owner (you may see the acronym PBO). This is because the removal company and insurer cannot verify the condition of the item packed nor the safety of the packing. You should check that your building insurance covers you if you pack your own items. Any goods that have been professionally packed by the removal company will be covered by their insurance but do check the level of cover.

We hope our fragile packing top tips have been useful. Remember you can call your removal company if you have any questions about your fragile packing or any other aspect of your house removal. They will be able to provide packing and moving advice and you can also buy professional packing materials from them. See here for the packing materials we can offer you – http://www.colinbattremovals.co.uk/packing-services/packing-materials/

If self packing isn’t for you please ask your removal company about their packing services. You can read more about our professional packing service here – http://www.colinbattremovals.co.uk/packing-services/ – or call the office to discuss your needs 01233 740395.