Preparing Fragile Loads for Manassas Movers

Everyone feels a certain sense of relief when the boxes are packed and every item on the inventory is finally ticked off and accounted for. The operation is over and all that is left to do is wait for your Manassas moving company to arrive, load up and take everything to your new home. There is just one thing – that niggling fear that the most fragile of your possessions might not make the journey safely.

It’s understandable that you would feel this way, and believe us when we say that moving teams understand it too. But the best way to ensure that your fragile items make it safely is to pack them correctly. So, read on to find the secret to properly preparing your fragile possessions for transportation.

The truth is that the key to properly wrapping and packing a fragile object is the materials that you use. Simply using newspaper to wrap your mirror, china cups or crystal wear is not going to be enough. You will need plenty of bubble wrap and some packing peanuts and, if possible, smaller boxes - they are easier to handle and manoeuvre. You should also be able to get specially designed boxes for some of the larger items, such as full-length mirrors and valuable paintings. Once you’ve located plenty of what you’ll need, you’re ready to get packing.

Mirrors, Picture Frames

Mirrors are probably the most common type of fragile item that your Manassas movers would have come across. For you though, you’ll want to make sure you have a box that fits and that the corners are well cushioned. Wrap a stream of bubble wrap around the mirror and tape it up securely with some duck tape. Keep the mirror on its side at all times too. Smaller family-sized picture frames can be stored in a box, with bubble wrap or paper stuffed between them, but the larger pictures should be treated like the mirror.

Crystal bowls, glasses and china

The problem with these items is not simply their fragility but their design; their hollow centre makes them vulnerable to the slightest knock. That is why filling that void is essential. You can use plenty of packing paper to stuff inside the glass or the bowl. After that is done, turn to bubble wrap, covering the item completely and then taping it up. Each glass, cup and bowl should be wrapped individually, not stacked inside each other. Place them in a small-sized box and tightly pack them in with more paper. Then seal the box with tape on both the top and bottom, for extra support.

Heirlooms and Antiques

When it comes to an item that has been in the family for generations, or has been bought as an investment, there is an added fear of disaster. The same principle applies to heirlooms and antiques – that is, use plenty of bubble-wrap or paper in cavities and then cover them in more bubble wrap before taping them up. Depending on the dimensions of the piece, you may want to add corner supports by using extra cardboard to secure them in the box. Wrap items separately and tape the box securely.

These are only a few items that you may class as fragile, but remember that the idea remains the same for all of them. Take a careful note of the weight of any items and ensure that they aren’t free to move around in the box they’ve been placed in. Also, don’t forget to mark the boxes ‘FRAGILE’, as the more caution taken the better.

Take care and you’ll find the job much more straightforward than you might first have thought.