Moving
Tips
Packing Materials
Use only strong, corrugated cartons with covers. We can supply
you with specially made
cartons, for everything from mattresses to clothing and mirrors. The
added
protection of mover-provided cartons may avoid damage that results
from the use of
poor-quality packing materials.
Your alternative is to collect boxes discarded by your *grocery
or liquor store. Save
old newspapers for use in packing, but remember that ink may rub off
and stain clothing
or other items.
*WARNING: Insect eggs and insects such as roaches can
travel in food boxes.
Keep this in mind when getting boxes from food stores.
- Here's a list a packing supplies that will come in handy:
- Plastic bags and labels for easy identification.
- Foam peanuts, Styrofoam pellets or "popcorn."
- Tissue or craft paper for delicate packing jobs.
- Corrugated paper rolls for figurines and fragile items.
- Gummed tape (1 1/2 to 2 inches wide) and/or strong twine for
sealing cartons.
- Markers and labels for identifying contents of cartons.
- Notebook and pencil for carton identification log.
- Scissors and/or sharp knife.
Packing Pointers
Before actually packing-up, you need to have a game plan. For
example:
- Pack one room at a time. This will help you when it comes
time to unpack.
- Pack a couple of cartons a day, starting well ahead of the
move.
- Mark all boxes, designating room and box number. Make a
carton identification
log to show the number of boxes packed per room, and the total
number of cartons
packed. It's a good idea to leave space in your log for a
special comments section to
note carton conditions or location of high value goods. Notify
your mover of any high value items.
- Be sure to have plenty of "filling" material available.
- Be sure that the bottoms of all cartons are secured and will
hold the weight of the contents.
Packing tape or gummed tape is better than masking tape.
- Pack heavier items toward the bottom of the box and lighter
items toward the top. Try to keep
a per-box weight of 50 pounds or less; it makes moving a lot
easier. A general rule to remember on
carton size -- the heavier the item, the smaller the carton.
Packing Dishware
- Select a medium-sized carton (or mover provided dish pack) and
line the bottom of
the carton with crumpled packing paper.
- With packing paper stacked neatly in place on a work table,
center one plate on the paper.
- Grasp a corner on several sheets of packing paper and pull the
paper over the plate until
sheets completely cover the plate. Stack a second plate on and,
moving clockwise, grasp a second corner
and pull sheets over the second plate.
- Stack a third plate. Grasp remaining two corners, folding two
sheets of each corner (one at a time) over the plate.
- Turn your wrapped stack of plates upside down onto your
packing paper.
- Re-wrap the entire bundle: start with one corner of packing
paper and pull two sheets over the bundle, cover
bundle with next corner, then the third corner; and finally, the
fourth.
- Seal the bundle with packing tape.
- Place the bundle of dishware in a medium-size box so that the
plates are standing on edge.
Use this process on all saucers, bread and butter dishes, and
other dishware. When packing smaller dishes, you
may choose to stack in greater quantity.
- Packing Cups
- With packing paper in place on the work table, position one
cup six to eight inches from one of the corners.
- Now pull the near corner of the paper up and over the cup.
- Nest a second cup directly on top, with handle to left (second
cup should "nest" itself in packing paper
folded over the bottom cups).
- Pull the two side corners up and over, one at a time, and tuck
corners inside the top cup.
- Hold the bottom and top cup in position and roll cups to the
remaining corner. Fragile mixing bowls may
be rolled in the same manner.
- Delicate cups, like china, should be wrapped one at a time.
Antique glass or china should be stuffed with
crumpled tissue and wrapped one at a time.
Packing Glasses and Stemware
- Stuff glasses and stemware with crumpled tissue or packing
paper before wrapping.
- Lay on the corner of packing paper and roll it one or two full
rotations (depending on size); pull sides
of packing paper up and over glass/stemware and continue rolling
to the far corner. Corrugated paper
rolls or cellular boxes may be used for added protection.
- Place glasses and stemware toward the top of your box. Heavier
items (dishware, pitchers, etc.) should be
placed toward the bottom of the box.
Delicate glassware and stemware should be placed in an upright
position, not on its side.
No matter what you're packing, you should use crumpled packing
paper in between each layer
to assure a snug fit wherever there's a gap. All boxes with
"fragile" items should be marked accordingly.
Specialized Packing Tips
The list of individual household items is endless. Most can be
packed by following our packing pointers.
Here are some additional packing tips for major items. If you want a
more comprehensive list of how to pack
special items, drop us a line.
Bureau Drawers -- Don't overload. Too heavy a load can
cause damage. Remove firearms and any items that
might break or leak. Firearms, along with serial numbers, must be
registered with your van line representative
before the move.
Canned Goods and Other Non-Frozen Food -- Pack upright
with no more than 24-30 cans per carton.
Don't attempt to move perishables. Wrap glass containers and boxed
foods individually and pack in small cartons.
Frozen Foods and Plants -Because of the delicate and
perishable nature of these items, your mover is
prohibited from accepting these packed items when your shipment is
being transported more than
150 miles and/or delivery will not be accomplished within
twenty-four (24) hours from the time of loading.
Frozen food shipped within these guidelines
must be packed in a freezer which at time of loading is at normal
deep-freeze temperature.
Clocks -- Remove or secure pendulum in large clocks.
Grandfather clocks should be prepared for
moving by expert servicemen.
Drapes and Curtains -- Hang drapes over crossbars in
wardrobe cartons, or pack folded in clean cartons.
Remove curtains from rods, fold and pack in cartons or bureau
drawers.
Flammables and Combustibles -- Flammable liquids and
aerosol cans must not be
packed. Changes in temperature and pressure can cause them to leak,
or even explode.
For your own protection, you should know that if you pack these
items and they cause damage to your shipment or others, you, not
your mover, may be held liable.
Lamps and Lampshades -- Remove bulbs, harps and shades.
Roll up cord. Pack lamps
with bedding or wrap separately and place upright in clean,
tissue-lined carton. Wrap harp and
finial (decorative knob) with packing paper and tape to inside wall
of carton that contains shade.
Wrap shades in tissue, not newspaper. Place upright in large, tissue
lined cartons.
Medicines -- Seal caps with masking tape. Wrap and pack
upright in small cartons. If needed
during travel, carry with you.
Mirrors, Paintings and Pictures -- Tell your agent about
valuable paintings for special care.
Wrap small mirrors, pictures, paintings, and frames and place on
edge in cartons. Place large pictures
and paintings on edge in heavy cardboard containers. Large wall or
dresser mirrors will be taken down
by the movers and placed in special cartons. For added safety, place
tape diagonally across mirror to
protect better against damage. Do not place newspaper directly
against paintings.
Personal Computers and Video Recorders -- Pack valuable
electronic equipment in original cartons
when available. Otherwise, use strong, corrugated cartons and place
protective padding on the bottom of
the carton. Wrap an old blanket or protective pad around the item
and place it in its carton. Place additional
padding between the carton and the computer or video recorder. Wrap
cords separately, label to identify usage
and place in a plastic bag away from delicate surfaces.
Non-detachable cords should also be wrapped. Place
cords between the padded computer or video recorder and the carton.
Be sure your personal
computer is "parked" and ready for transport.
Silverware -- Wrap each piece in cloth or content
paper to prevent tarnishing. Use an old blanket
or moving pad as a wrap to prevent scratching the silverware chest.
Tools -- Drain fuel from power tools (do not ship
Flammables under any circumstances). Pack tools in
small, strong cartons. Wrap separately if valuable.
Waterbed Mattresses -- Drain all water from the waterbed
and, grasping internal baffle systems
with external vinyl, fold mattress 20 inches at a time. Adjust folds
to avoid making creases across
individual baffles. Consult your owner's manual for special
instructions concerning the care and transportation of your
mattress. Do not place your mattress in a carton with sharp or
pointed objects.
For further information, ask your Atlas Relocation Specialist for a
copy of "How To Move Your Waterbed."
Cars and Motorcycles -- Cars and motorcycles shipped on
the moving van should be drained nearly
empty of fuel. Motorcycle batteries should be disconnected.
Automobile antifreeze should be ample to
protect against severe cold in winter.
Barbecue Grills and Propane Tanks -- Wrap grates and
briquette separately in a newspaper
(or place all briquette into a grocery bag) and place parts in
carton. Pad carton with paper to reduce
movement of contents. Propane tanks must be drained before the move.
Consult your local gas grill
distributor for the safest method.
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