It may look simple - just take all the precautions to not let them broke, crack or bent during the relocation. However, there is a vast array of protection measures and wrappings for different types of fragile items, and to choose the right ones is the difficult part. Next is a short list with 5 easy loopholes that are always good to keep in mind, whether it's for big furniture removals or for big windows.
- Use paper sheets, old newspapers, magazines or other light materials as isolation between the walls of the boxes and the fragile surfaces. Even wrap glass and porcelain objects from all the sides with papers, then, use it as stuffing to fill the void in the cups or the bowls. It's recommended to wrap every cup and bowl separately, so to prevent any risk from damaging or broken glass when glass meets glass. The same applies for all other types of fragile objects like picture frames, windows, notebooks, fragile souvenirs, mirrors, etc. This loophole for using old paper sheets instead of throwing them in the bin requires quite more time for wrapping and unwrapping in the new home, but it definitely adds more safety to the transportation.
- Use protective blankets to cover all the big pieces of furniture, as well as large fragile items. This loophole's basically the same as wrapping with paper sheets, but this time it uses the blankets as protective materials, while meanwhile saving space from another extra box only for blankets and other soft fabrics. You can also use decorative and small pillows, curtains, t-shirts and old clothes. What better way to move them to your new home, than using them as protective materials for the fragile items? Not to mention that the blankets can be used after unloading and unpacking as gliding blankets under the big heavy furnishings to glide them to their exact places instead of lifting them with two, three or more helpers.
- Use protectors for the edges. Most removal companies offer this kind of protection as a part of their removal boxes, wrapping materials and other protection solutions. Find the best that suite your needs, but the protective edges are indispensable when lifting windows, mirrors, paintings and other fine fragile items. These yet small triangular protective edges cover the edges of the squared of rectangular glass objects, so to add a little bit more height to the yet flat lines. Therefore, the protective edges eliminate all the contact between the glass and the solid ground, while softening any slight hit with the ground in the meantime. It's quite more convenient and easier for placing big windows and mirrors without the risk from cracks or other damages.
- Use labels on the boxes. Even the shortest and simplest labels like "Fragile" or "Glass" should alter the attention to the movers when lifting the boxes. On the other hand, this adds more points to the easy orientation when loading and unloading. You don't need to look at your moving checklist any time in case when searching for the box with fragile items. It's just enough to find the box with the big contrasting label "Fragile" among the piles of boxes.
- Use packaging tape as a wrapping material. En-wrap chaotically all the porcelain, glass and mirror objects. Even a couple stripes of packaging tape enhance the absorption of the slightest vibrations during the drive, as well as soften any hit in the floor or in the walls of the moving van, for example, during a sharp turn.
Ella A is a content writer and blogger with great flair for home relocation and self-storage related project. She likes to share related tips and advises with her readers worldwide.
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