Handle with care is easier said than done when you’re hurrying to pack your home before moving day. And when it comes to preparing to relocate fragile items such as family heirlooms, the experience can be stressful because of the emotional significance tied to them. Luckily, AMJ Campbell experts are sharing tips to ensure your treasured breakables make it through the move without damage.
China and Fragile Kitchen Items
Pack fine china and other fragile glasses and dishware by wrapping each piece individually with unprinted newspaper or tissue. Check your local newspaper or printer for end rolls of clean newsprint for sale.
Line the bottom of your packing box with crumpled news wrap and/or bubble wrap for protection. Bundle one or two similar sized dishes together. Wrap large dishes separately with bubbles of bubble wrap facing inward for maximum padding and don’t forget to label your boxes on all sides with ‘fragile’ warnings that can be easily read by movers.
Art and Wall Hangings
The key to safely packing art (paintings, wall décor, etc.) is to avoid touching the painting’s surface with bare hands. Do this by wearing white cotton gloves or placing acid-free tissue paper between the work and your fingers when handling.
Adhere tape to only the tissue paper that is wrapped around your art. Cut up pieces of cardboard to use as corner protectors. For more delicate pieces, wrap the art in at least two layers of bubble wrap.
Furniture and Accessories
Pack antique or heirloom furniture by taking apart any components that can be separated. Don’t forget to attach all screws and other hardware to the furniture in a small Ziploc bag. Wrap all chair, table, sofa legs, and delicate corners in bubble wrap to protect them from being bumped.
Cover any upholstery you don’t want stained with blankets or other cloth covers to prevent tears, rips, or stains. This is especially important if you are moving during winter months or in areas of high precipitation.
Handle Antiques With Care
Before you begin packing away your most treasured heirlooms and antiques, take the time to create an inventory of items in your collection. Starting with your largest items, photograph each piece for your records and measure items for any custom crates that need to be ordered. For smaller antiques like jewelry, silver, and collectibles, photograph each item and make note of any imperfections.
When covering items in protective wrap, ensure the first layer is clean and safe for the material of the antique. For porous items such as artwork, antique books, and fabrics, non-acidic archival tissue makes a fine protective layer. For glass or wood, use stretch wrap or foam wrap to cover the items completely, making sure to extend the wrap around corners and edges.
Helpful tip: Use a combination of old, soft blankets, foam from online parcel orders, and bubble wrap to wrap a final layer around precious items that will absorb small shocks that occur during transport.
For more information on how AMJ Campbell can make your move a little more hassle-free, contact Coady MacDonell (cmacdonell@amjcampbell.com) or Danny Santia (dsantia@amjcampbell.com), and to discover further insight on how to pack and ship items safely, visit the Helpful Tools section at www.amjcampbell.com.
