Carefully packing items before a move can be tedious work. But if you rush the job, you may end up with damaged items—no matter how careful your professional movers are. When it comes to dishes and other fragile items, it’s best to take your time and follow a few simple guidelines. Take a look at the steps below to wrap up your dinnerware. 

Do:

Wrap each dish individually. 

Wrapping up multiple plates, bowls, or mugs together is a recipe for disaster. Use packing paper to securely wrap each item and prevent them from knocking against each other.  

Use lots of packing paper and bubble wrap.

You can never use too much packing paper on your dishes. Wrap each dish twice for extra protection, and use packing paper in the empty crevices of the box for more security. For harder-to-pack items like oversized mugs, use T-shirts or dish towels. 

Stack vertically.

While you may be inclined to pack plates horizontally, every minor bump in the road during transportation will cause the dishes to bounce. Instead, pack them side-by-side to prevent damage. For mugs and cups, pack them standing up.

Don’t:                                            

Pack all items in one box. 

Don’t try to cram too much in each box. Instead, keep like items together–dishes in one, bowls in another, and so on. Even though your movers may be strong, don’t make the boxes too heavy. It’s better to have boxes packed correctly than to overstuff.  

Pack with used boxes. 

While it may seem like a smart idea to re-use boxes, it’s safer to buy new ones. Even if the condition looks okay, used boxes may break apart as the movers carry them, or the weight of other boxes on top of them in the truck may cause them to cave in. 

To make sure your belongings stay intact during your move, hire movers from Bell Moving & Storage to get the job done. Serving clients throughout Cincinnati, they offer commercial and residential moving, as well as storage. Give them a call at (513) 942-7500 to schedule an appointment, or visit their website to learn more about their array of packing and moving services.