How to Pack Fragile Items

Stock Up on the Right Packing Materials

Packing fragile items when moving is definitely an art form you can easily master if you have the right tools and guidance. So, it comes as no surprise that you’re going to be needing special packing materials to make sure all your fragile items arrive safe and sound at their destination. To pack your fragile items like a total expert you will need:

• Sturdy boxes –remember: flimsy boxes = the enemy;
• Bubble wrap, packing peanuts, newspaper, and/or packing paper;
• Towels and/or old t-shirts;
• Moving blankets;
• Foam protectors;
• Scissors;
• Packing, scotch, and painter’s tape;
• Permanent marker.

Sirelo Tip!: Try to get your hands on cardboard boxes that are pre-divided into slots with the dimensions of specific products, such as glassware. These slots can help diminish the movements of the items within the box, which decreases the chances of them arriving in a million pieces! 😉

Start Packing with Time

Most important rule of how to pack fragile items like a pro: don’t rush! Even when you’re packing day-to-day robust household items, it’s always smart to get a head start on it as this will certainly reduce the moving-related stress you might go through. Remember that rushing leads to mistakes, and trust us, you really don’t want to leave any room for accidents when it comes to the moving of your delicate items.

In case you need packing assistance, or simply prefer not to do the packing yourself, professional moving companies can offer you this service for an added fee.

Are you still looking for a professional mover? We got your back! Fill out our quote form below and we’ll make sure to connect you with up to 5 different moving companies –all carefully selected based on your needs!

Research How to Pack Specific Fragile Items

Learning how to pack fragile items is easier than it seems. However, it’s important to keep in mind that the guidelines you need to follow to pack your delicate items successfully will be determined by the type of item you’re looking to move.

We will break down how to pack the most common fragile items for you below, but first, let’s start with some general tips that do apply to the packing of all delicate items:

• Reinforce all seams of the moving box (especially the bottom ones!) with packing tape;
• Use packing peanuts, bubble wrap, or towels/old t-shirts to create a cushion base inside of the box –make sure you fully line the whole box;
• Wrap each item you’re moving individually, adding extra wrapping material around the thinnest parts of the item;
• Pack the heaviest items at the bottom and the lightest at the top of the box;
• Make sure there are no empty spaces inside the box. In case there are any, make sure you fill them up with packing peanuts, bubble wrap, or towels/old t-shirts.

Plates & Glassware

Let’s start with plates and glassware, as these are the most common fragile household items to pack when moving. To guarantee your dishes arrive safe and sound in your new home, we recommend the following:

• Collect small to medium-sized boxes –remember to fully line the inside of the box;
• Wrap each individual plate with bubble wrap and secure it around the piece with scotch tape;
• Position the plates vertically inside of the box –make sure to fill up the spaces between each plate with packing paper or newspaper;
• Wrap the glasses with packing paper and, as these items are hallow, fill up the insides with extra paper;
• Place the heaviest glasses at the bottom and the lightest ones at the top of the box –ensure that you fill-up the spaces between glasses with packing paper or newspaper.

Flat-screen TVs

Packing a flat-screen TV is not an easy task, but there’s no need to stress, as long as you follow the guidelines highlighted below you should be safe:

• Unplug the cords and remove any accessories –make sure to store these in a clearly labeled bag or box;
• Wrap the screen with a moving blanket and secure it around the TV with scotch tape;
• Locate the original box or a box with the appropriate dimensions and place the device inside;
• Secure the box with packing tape.

Mirrors

When it comes to large glass items, such as mirrors, we recommend proceeding with the following steps:

• Purchase a mirror box –you can easily find them on online marketplaces like Amazon;
• Place painter’s tape in a star-shaped form in the middle of the glass, making sure you expand all the way to the edges;
• Cover the corners of your mirror with foam protectors, ensuring that you’re securing them tightly against the frame;
• Use bubble wrap to fully cover the mirror before placing it inside the mirror box.

Vases

Vases and ceramics can be a bit tricky to pack as they can sometimes have slightly odd shapes. But don’t worry, we got your back! Just make sure you follow the steps outlined below:

• Gather small boxes –line them up with towels/old t-shirts;
• Wrap each vase in newspaper and fill up the inside of it with crumpled packing paper;
• Wrap the vase once more but this time using bubble wrap –remember to safely secure it around the item with scotch tape;
• Large vases should be packed alone inside a box, smaller ones can go together but only as long as you fill up the extra space between them with a cushiony material.

Picture Frames

Last but not least, we also must make sure that your picture frames arrive in one piece at your new home. To ensure that, we recommend the following:

• Collect small to medium boxes;
• Wrap each frame with packing paper and secure it around the item with scotch tape;
• Place them inside the box and, again, stuff the spaces between each piece with crumpled packing paper or newspaper;
• Picture frames larger than 3 feet should be wrapped with a moving blanket instead and moved individually.

Clearly Label the Boxes

The last tip when it comes to learning how to pack breakables is to make sure you clearly label each moving box with the word fragile. Otherwise, all your effort to perfectly pack those breakables will be completely in vain. Don’t be shy, go all out and make sure you write the word fragile around the box a few times using all caps and in bold!

Most Importantly: Relax!

At Sirelo we know that moving can definitely be stressful, so it’s important to remember to take a breather every now and then. Keep in mind that all the effort you put into learning how to pack fragile items to T will be rewarded once you’re in your new home surrounded by all your belongings –which all would’ve arrived in perfect shape since you followed our expert guide. 😉

In case you still need some extra help planning or organizing our move, make sure to check out the articles we have linked for you below. We wish you the best of luck with your move!