6 Ways To Shatter Bad Expectations For Packing Glassware

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Packing all of your worldly possessions for moving day can sometimes be a frustrating experience, especially when dealing with glassware. After all, there's no worse feeling than the one you'd get seeing your drinking glasses, tea sets, and fine china in pieces. Fortunately, the following tips will help your glassware survive the journey intact.

Think Small

Biting off more than you can chew has its consequences, especially when it comes to box size. Using huge boxes actually encourages over-packing, resulting in a box that's too heavy to safely carry. Of course, you already know what'll happen when you accidentally drop a box that's filled to the brim with glassware.

Instead, use reasonably sized boxes that can be easily and safely carried by one person. Using smaller boxes reduces awkward handling and minimizes your risk of dropping the box and breaking its fragile contents.

Consider Purpose-Built Boxes

Your average cardboard boxes aren't quite cut out for packing and moving glassware. Using these boxes requires plenty of careful packing to keep your glassware intact. Purpose-built boxes can get the job done faster and prevent glasses from becoming chipped or broken.

Packing boxes for glass items usually contain cardboard dividers for individual glasses and foam pouches for protection against vibrations and overly harsh movements. These boxes also feature thicker outer cardboard for added durability and longevity, especially when compared to ordinary cardboard boxes. These features can help keep your glassware in one piece.

Wrap Each Glass Separately

Your glasses need plenty of cushioning to reduce movement and minimize the likelihood of spontaneous shattering while in transit. Stuffing and wrapping your glassware with the proper packing material will help protect them from bumps, rattles, and other unexpected movement. You should also wrap each glass individually for added protection.

You can use any soft material to wrap your glassware, just as long as it's not overly bulky:

  • Packing paper offers an economical, all-purpose solution for wrapping glassware.
  • Bubble wrap works exceptionally well for cushioning glassware, but it's also expensive to purchase and difficult to recycle.
  • Old newspapers offer an inexpensive and eco-friendly way of wrapping glassware, but your glasses may need re-washing to remove black print residue.
  • Dish towels and linens are exceptionally soft and offer plenty of padding, but you may not have enough towels or linens to go around for packing large quantities of glassware.

Don't forget to wrap the most vulnerable parts of your glass. Glass stems, for instance, should always be wrapped to prevent breakage.

Pack the Biggest and Heaviest Glasses First

Stacking large, heavy glassware on top of smaller, lighter glassware is always a recipe for disaster. Always line the bottom of your boxes with the largest and heaviest items in your glassware arsenal first. Afterwards, you can stack progressively lighter glasses on top of each row, with the lightest and most fragile glasses reserved for the top rows.

Don't Pack Too Tightly or Too Loosely

The Goldilocks principle definitely applies when it comes to packing your glassware. Avoid packing your glasses too tight or too loose. Instead, pack each glass with just enough space to safely pull out an individual glass. This prevents your glassware from colliding due to excessive movement, while making them easier to remove without causing further damage.

Leave a Little Room up Top

The last thing you want to do is fill your box to the brim with glassware. Make sure there's some space left for adding extra packing material at the top of the box. The additional packing material will serve as extra padding for your glassware, further reducing the likelihood of chipped or broken glassware.

For additional help with handling a move, contact a company like Bekins Van Lines Inc.


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