Interested in some packing tips for packing valuables and breakables? You’re in the right place. Camelot Moving in Santa Clarita has decades of experience with moves local, cross-country, and everywhere in between.

Pick the Right Box

The “Goldilocks” theory applies here. You don’t want a box that’s too small, because that means more boxes and more packing time. On the other hand, a box that’s too large can quickly become too heavy and require lots of “filler” to ensure your breakables are snug. You want a box in which your items fit snugly, yet doesn’t take three people to carry. For dishes and cups, consider dish packs: they’re made of thicker cardboard and come with protective inserts.

Box Prep

Depending on the size of your move, your moving truck might be stacked several boxes high. Thus it’s critical that your box is properly cushioned and ready for any eventuality. Before wrapping and placing items in a box, line the box with a cushion consisting of tissue paper, newspaper, or packing paper. Pay special attention to the box’s top and bottom: both ends should have around 6 inch of cushioning. After you’ve lined the bottom and begun placing fragile wares inside (heaviest/sturdiest on the bottom, lightest/most fragile at the top), you can take care of the sides by inserting additional crumpled paper where necessary. When finished, you shouldn’t be able to hear/feel any movement inside the box. If you do, add more cushioning. In fact, it’s ok to over-cushion.

Fill the Gaps

Use whatever you have to fill the empty spaces: packing paper, styrofoam, packing peanuts, even towels, etc…Another good idea is to “nest” small and large items together, i.e. a set of bowls in varying sizes. Be sure to use packing paper or other packing protection between the items.

Individual Wrapping

One of the most important tenets of our packing house services is to wrap each of your fragile items individually. Use at least one piece of packing paper to fully wrap each piece, or more depending on fragility (ex: glassware). Jars, vases, glasses, and anything else that’s hollow inside should be stuffed with paper for added safety.

Taping

Don’t use anything but packing tape, which is stronger, wider, and more resistant to water than masking tape and the like. Use at least 3 pieces of packing paper to fully wrap each piece, tape the box’s bottom and go up the sides about 1/3 of the way to the top. Once the items are inside, thoroughly tape the box top and confirm that the box is square. Irregularly-shaped boxes are more difficult to pack in a moving truck.

When in Doubt, Move it Yourself

Camelot Moving & Storage is one of the most respected moving companies in Southern California. And after facilitating thousands of moves, we understand that sometimes our customers prefer to handle their most fragile or most intrinsic items on their own. Our reliability record is excellent, but for some customers (especially those moving long-distance), the longer the move, the greater the chances of something breaking. Don’t worry—you won’t hurt our feelings if you decide to transport your breakables and valuables in your car.

Contact our moving professionals today for a consultation and a quote.