During a house move, the last thing you need is to finally unpack your belongings and find broken or damaged items. Here are some of the most likely items to get damaged and our advice on how to prevent as many breakages as possible.
Electrical items
Some of the electrical items that will go with you on a house move, such a toaster or kettle for example are robust enough. You won’t have a problem packing these without damage, but other expensive items like TV’s are more difficult to protect when moving home, and not surprisingly high on the list for potential damage.
Before you start packing up your beloved 42” plasma, start by giving it a gentle dust down. Dust particles can scratch some delicate TV screens, so you’ll want this removed before the packing material is applied.
If you’re using a professional removal company, they may be able to provide, (for an additional cost), a TV box for packing. However, if you’re packing these yourself, you can follow these simple steps:
- Carefully dust the TV
- If possible, remove the leg and wrap separately in bubble wrap
- Wrap the power cord in bubble and secure it using tape
- Protect the screen by wrapping in a layer of foam or bubble wrap
- Follow with a layer of cardboard
- Wrap again with another layer of bubble or pallet wrap to keep it the protective layers from moving around
You want to make sure the packaging fits your TV snugly, minimizing movement and the risk of it being scratched by the packaging.
Glasses and crockery
You won’t be surprised that these items have made our list. The key here is not to skimp on the packaging for these items and take time to wrap them individually, it will be worth it.
- Individually wrap each glass in bubble wrap or separate plates with a layer of bubble wrap or cushioned paper
- If you have partitioned boxes, use those for your glasses, but if not carefully pack your individually wrapped glasses into a double walled cardboard box.
- Plates and other such items can be placed in boxes filled with biodegradable packing chips, but make sure they are individually wrapped in bubble or paper first
- Mark the boxes with “Fragile” or seal with “FRAGILE” branded tape
White goods
You might make the common mistake of thinking your white goods can take care of themselves. But these can easily be damaged or scratched in transit, particularly fridges. Most white goods have elements or pipes at the back, which will need protecting. Doors can swing open, also causing damage.
- Defrost fridges or freezers 24 hours before your move
- Disconnect all pipes and electrics from the mains in advance
- Remove any glass drawers or shelves
- Wrap the appliance in pallet wrap to ensure the doors do not swing open
- Ensure all white goods are transported in an upright position
- Secure within the van using straps or push other boxes in front of and around to prevent them tipping
Artwork & picture frames
For canvasses and picture frames, you will need to pay special attention to the corners. If you don’t have the original shipping or delivery box, simply breakdown a cardboard box and flatten it to use as a layer pad to the front and back of your artwork.
- Layout your packing paper or bubble wrap on a large flat surface & place your artwork face down, wrapping around your artwork several times
- Secure any bubble or paper with tape
- Wrap each piece individually making sure the corners are well protected
- Stand in a box rather than pack on top of one another
- Small or similar sized items should be packed together in a box
Lampshades
Lampshades can be flimsy and are susceptible to crushing. Using good quality double walled boxes will help to prevent this. Lampshades of the same shape and size can be stacked together before packing.
- Line the box with a void fill such as crumpled paper or packing chips
- Disassemble the lamp shade
- Take out the bulbs and wrap those separately in bubble wrap
- Place the lampshade into a double walled box to eliminate crushing
- Fill around the remaining space with more paper or packing chips
- Secure the box closed with packing tape
- Mark the box with “Do Not Stack”