Moving Fragile Items? What You Need to Know

How should you move valuable breakables? If you're not sure how to pack or transport fine china, glass home accents, or other fragile items, take a look at the questions to ask before you move.

What Items Are Breakable?

Before you separate fragile fine furnishings from everything else, make sure you know what is (and isn't) breakable. Items to treat with caution as you pack and move may include:

• China and other porcelain or ceramic dishware . These fragile (and often expensive) plates, bowls, cups, and saucers can easily chip, crack, or shatter if you don't handle them properly.
• Glass and ceramic vases . Like fine dining-ware, these items are also easy to crack or damage during a move.
• Stemware . Wine glasses and champagne flutes are also easy to crack or damage in a move. A long stem (support) can also separate from the glass or base if not packed correctly.
• Decorative collectables . Crystal animals and porcelain figurines are also highly breakable. Like stemware, these may have long, thin, or extra pieces that require extra packing materials.
• Picture frames . The glass front or ceramic, porcelain, tile, or delicate frames require special care during your next move.

Along with these items, some knick-knacks, art items (such as sculptures), and other home décor may fit into the breakable category. If the item would chip, crack, or break when dropped, consider it fragile.

What Packing Materials Do You Need?

Do breakables require special packing materials? While you don't necessarily need to spend extra money on store-bought packing materials, you do need to protect fine china, stemware, and other similar items.

To minimize breakage risks, select packing materials such as:

• Towels . Wash cloths and similarly sized towels can fit neatly into packing boxes and cushion your breakable items. Not only will soft towels protect breakables, but they can also add extra fill to boxes and bins. This minimizes shifts and damage in your moving containers.
• Cardboard . Reuse old boxes and cut corrugated cardboard into dividers. This strategy can help you move stemware, porcelain cups, glasses, slim vases, figurines, and other similar items.
• Bubble wrap . Even though this is a protective item you need to buy, bubble wrap can stop slips, slides, cracks, and chips. If you reuse old wrap, make sure all the bubbles are still intact.

Larger items that won't fit into a box or bin still require protection. An oversized vase or sculpture shouldn't go into a moving truck or van as is. Wrap these items in a moving quilt or specialized packing crate.

Do You Need to Alert the Movers?

Simply stated - yes, you need to alert the movers if you have fragile or breakable items. The movers don't know what items are in your boxes or bins. Don't expect the contractor to guess whether a cardboard box contains fine china or plastic cups.

Help the moving company transport your breakables carefully and:

• Label each box . Write the contents of the boxes or bins on the outside. Create clear labels that are easy to understand and feature categories/names, such as china, stemware, crystal vase, or porcelain figurines.
• Add a warning . The mover may not know that your collectibles are breakable. Along with the category or item name, add a warning such as fragile, breakable, or glass.
• Talk to the mover . Make sure the movers understand which boxes or bins contain breakable items. Point out specific containers, and note what types of breakables each one holds.
• Separate boxes and bins . Create a separate area for breakable-containing boxes. Not only does this help the mover identify fragile items, but it may make it easier for them to pack these items in their truck.

Even though the movers will handle your breakables with care, accidents can happen. Insure expensive items to reduce the financial risks.

Do you need help with your next move? Contact Azalea City Moving Co. for more information.