How to pack fine china and fragile items
Want to learn how to pack fine china? Other fragile items? Keep reading! It used to be that one of the most stressful parts about moving was the tedious work that is packing. This task was made even more stressful if you were packing things like fine china and other fragile items. Fortunately, thanks to the internet, we now have multiple ways of getting a hold of professional moving supplies with the click of a button.
Because it’s a good idea to starting packing things you use the least first, fragile items should be at the top of your list. Unfortunately, this can also be a bit overwhelming since you run the risk of breaking things as your packing progresses.
Here’s where we come in. We’ve compiled a list of all the genius ways you can start packing your fine china and fragile items without breaking a sweat about their safety.
Dish Pack Boxes. Dish pack boxes are probably the most convenient and easiest invention for packing things like dishes and fine china. The convenient cardboard boxes have pre-made and padded slots where all you have to do is literally arrange the dishes and seal the box. A dish pack box with 14 pouches will run you about $8.00, making this a pretty inexpensive choice too.
DIY Dish Pack. If you’d prefer to DYI your dish pack box, and if you have the time (and cardboard), you can do so with just a few cardboard boxes. All you need is an empty cardboard box and a few other large cardboard boxes. You can cut out large 12×12 squares and use them as dividers for the plates. You’ll also want to wrap up your dishes in packing paper to offer some extra support.
Pack Dishes Vertically. Here’s an often-overlooked trick. If you stack them up horizontally (aka stack them one on top of the other), you run a higher risk of damaging them. To provide extra support, wrap each dish individually and place it in the packing box vertically.
Pack Bigger Items Horizontally. Unlike plates, which are stronger being packed vertically, bigger items should be placed lying down. The same rules still apply as far as adding packing peanuts and filling any gaps with paper.
Wrap Glasses and Mugs Individually. Wrapping glasses and mugs individually can seem like a tedious task, especially if you have many glasses and mugs to pack. Taking the time to wrap them individually will keep them from scratching and, of course- breaking.
Heaviest Dishes go in First.  If you have several different types of dishes to put away, pay attention to their weight. Materials like porcelain, ceramic, and crystal can vary in weight, so make sure you use your best judgment to put the heaviest items in first.
Embrace Scotch Tape. The time crunch a move requires, mixed with a little bit of procrastination and just a dash of anxiety, equal the perfect recipe for skipping steps. For some reason, the most overlooked step among movers seems to be using tape. Listen, even if you have thirty sets of bubble wrap or moving paper you need to hold in place, that’s still less than five minutes of extra time to secure it with a piece of scotch tape while you’re at it, tape everything you can down. Try taping down shampoo cap bottles, lotions, and even condiments. Embrace the scotch tape – it is a lifesaver.
Packing Wine Glasses. When packing wine glasses, make sure you start with the stem. Wrap it up with a piece of packing paper and then move on to the top. While you should be taking some time to secure the packing paper and close it with a bit of tape for all of your china- it is especially important not to skip this step with the wine glasses.
Invest in Packing Peanuts or Cushioned Packing. We know that the idea of packing peanuts sounds like a big mess waiting to happen, but we promise that using them or the equivalent of them will bring you so much peace of mind when packing your china. Knowing that no matter how many speed bumps you hit or sudden stops you make, your fine china is fully protected is totally worth the hassle.
Fill in Gaps. Once your fine china or other fragile items are packed, make sure to fill out any gaps with paper. If you still have some time before moving, you can save all the grocery store ads you get in the mail, crumble them up and then use them. Otherwise, crumbled-up newspaper will also do the trick.
Label your Boxes. It would be a total shame for you to spend all that time carefully packing your delicate china only to have it crushed by a much heavier item. Before you start loading up your china, make sure to label every side of the box with the word “Fragile.” You can even use different a different colored marker and bright packing tape to avoid any confusion.
Hire a Professional. If packing your fragile items makes you nervous, you can always hire a professional service to do it for you. If you are hiring a professional , there is also a good chance that they can help you or at least guide you on the best way to do it.
We know that there’s more to fragile items than the material they’re made out of. Many times they hold sentimental value. Maybe they are wedding gifts, family heirlooms, or a reminder of how hard you worked for them. But moving fragile items doesn’t have to be a daunting task. If you follow our tips for packing safely, you can rest assured that your fragile items will make it to your new destination as good as new.
