Packing Like Professionals Movers: How To Pack Picture Frames And Mirrors
Americans are constantly moving. About 1 in 6 Americans will move every year. Packing is one of the most stressful parts of moving, especially when it comes to packing picture frames and mirrors. Both need to be packaged carefully as they are fragile and can easily become damaged during the moving process. Although many professional movers offer packing services, they typically charge an hourly rate, which can quickly add up. Packing some items ahead can help you save time and money during your move. Here's how to pack picture frames and mirrors like professional movers.
Getting All of the Materials Ready
When packing picture frames and mirrors, standard cardboard boxes simply will not be sufficient. The mirrors and picture frames will not easily fit within the boxes. Instead, you will need to get the following items:
- some type of padding. Most experts recommend getting thick brown packing paper; however, bubble wrap and newspaper may also do the trick. Keep in mind that newspaper does not offer as much cushioning as thick brown packing paper.
- mirror boxes. Unlike standard corrugated cardboard boxes, mirror boxes are designed to fit on one corner only, You will need to piece four corners together to secure the picture frames and the mirrors. Make sure that the mirror boxes are corrugated for additional protection.
- packing tape. Any type of packing tape will do; however, it is crucial that the adhesive is high in quality to prevent the packing from coming apart.
- a permanent maker.
Step-By-Step Instructions
Once you have all of the materials ready, you will want to set up a packing session. Most experts recommend packing all picture frames and mirrors all at once in order to minimize the hassle. Find an area with a lot of open space and put down a blanket or a towel to protect not only the picture frames and the mirrors, but also the packing space. Once you have an appropriate work area set up, complete the following:
- lay out a stack of brown packing paper, and wrap the picture frame and mirrors as if they were presents. Use packing tape to ensure that the packing paper is securely wrapped around, and that there is no room for movement.
- put some of that packing paper or other type of padding into the corners of the mirror boxes for cushioning. You want to make sure that you get right into the corners, so that there is very little room for movement.
- slip the picture frames and mirrors into the mirror boxes. You will need to slip in all four corners and make sure that the pieces are pushed firmly together, so that the picture frames and mirrors have limited movement.
- wrap the outside of the box and all of the pieces together. Once again, it is crucial that you make sure that all of the pieces are secure. For extra security, consider wrapping the tape around the outside of the box several times.
- label the outside of the box with a permanent marker. You should include information like what type of picture frame or mirror is stored inside, as well as where the picture frame or mirror goes in your new home. This will be extremely useful when you are unpacking, as you will know where everything goes. You may even want to add a fragile sticker or label the boxes as fragile, so that they will be handled with more care.
Conclusion
When wrapping picture frames and mirrors, the most important thing to consider is security. The moving process can be quite rough on all of the boxes as they tumble around. You want to make sure that the picture frames and mirrors will survive the journey. For more tips, contact a local moving company like Affordable Moving Company.