GOOD PACKING MEANS……

Wrapping items carefully.
Using sturdy cartons that close.
Making sure of a firm pack that will not rattle, bulge outward or bend inward, with box lids closed and sealed.

Preparation......

Start packing as soon as you find out you’re moving.
Never pack flammable items including gas canisters – these for insurance reasons are not permitted.
Boxes must be sealed with parcel tape top & bottom.
Must be stackable, weight evenly distributed, enough for one person to carry (approximately 20/25 kilos).
Plates, cups, glasses wrapped with paper or bubble wrap.
Mirrors, picture frames wrapped in bubble wrap or any other protective material (blanket, towels).
Label or mark boxes with room names or numbers along the sealing tape for the delivery address.
No carrier bags. Must be heavy-duty dustbin liners or laundry bags with no sharp objects or fragile items in the bags.
No loose objects (especially small electrical goods toasters, kettles, Hi-Fi’s, portable TV’s etc).
Cushion bottom of carton and between layers when packing fragile items.
Wrap all fragile items individually.
Pack heavier items in lower layers, lighter items in upper layers.
Paper cushioning absorbs shock. Be generous.
Loose packing creates damage. Make sure items are firmly packed. Very Important.
Do not overfill carton. Top should close easily without bulging or sagging.
Do not use plastic crates with no lids – these do not stack.
Use clean newsprint paper. Old newspapers may work, but use them carefully because the ink may rub off onto your items. Clean “newsprint” paper is available from us should you need it.
The key to a successful pack is to try wherever possible to pack strongest point uppermost in the box, so when boxes are stacked in the vehicle compression does not damage items in the boxes at the base of the stack.

What You Will Need ......

• A selection of small, medium and large Boxes (try to use specially designed moving boxes which are strong enough for their purpose—don’t use old supermarket cartons or fruit boxes)

• Packing tape

• Scissors/Small Knife

• Marker Pen

• Packing paper (Avoid newsprint—it can leave a mark on items)

• A clear surface

Assembling Your Box​......

1. On one end of the box fold the smaller flaps in first and then fold in the larger flaps.

2. Push the sides of the box together until the larger flaps touch tightly and tape the seam. Start taping about 5 inches on the side of the box and continue across the seam and up 5 inches on the opposite side.

3. If the box will be filled with heavy items it’s a good idea to put some extra tape as above across the middle of each flap for extra strength.

4. Flip the box over so the open end is facing up ready to load. Once your box is full tape across the seam as you did above and label.

Packing Kitchen Boxes Which Box......

Small Box - you can load a mix of kitchen items into a box, try to keep fragile items together and ensure the weight of the box does not get too heavy.

How to pack......

1. Line the box with scrunched up paper to provide a layer of cushioning. You could also use soft items like oven gloves, folded aprons or tea towels for the padding.
2. Load your heavy items (china etc) in the bottom and lighter items on top. Plates make a good base layer with glasses and bowls making up a good 2nd layer.
3. Fill any empty space with scrunched up paper to prevent movement, try gently shaking the box, if it rattles then you may need a little more filling.
4. If the box is starting to get heavy fill the remainder with lighter items such as Tupperware, utensils or plastic mixing bowls etc to utilise the space but keep the weight manageable.
5. Seal your box across the top seam with packing tape and label indicating the room it should go into and a description of contents.
6. If the contents are fragile make sure to indicate this on all sides and on the top of the box so that when the box is being transported the crew can easily identify extra care is required and carefully choose a loading position on the vehicle.

Kitchen Tips......

• If your sharp knives come in a knife block wrap this all up together, if they don’t then wrap them individually
• Utilise the empty space in pots and pans by placing smaller items inside, and invert the lid
• Things with handles—use an extra piece of paper folded lengthways to wrap around the handle to give extra protection.
• Bowls/pans with lids—wrap once and then place the lid on top, inverted, before wrapping in a second sheet of paper.

Moving Day Tip......

Pack an essentials box including tea, coffee, milk, snacks, cups, plates, some utensils, toilet paper and a cleaning cloth for when you first arrive.

Packing Clothing Which Box......

Medium box or a suitcase/holdall

How To Pack......

1. If you are moving in the UK you can leave any hanging items in the wardrobe, our crews will place these into wardrobe cartons on arrival to ensure they arrive crease free.
2. Garments in drawers should be folded and placed in the carton.
3. Hats can be left in hat boxes and placed inside a large box. Or if the hat doesn’t have a box stuff the crown with crumpled paper and wrap loosely in paper. Do not place any heavy items on top of hats within a carton.

Packing Books Which Box......

Small Box - book boxes can get heavy quickly so don’t be tempted to over-fill these boxes. Try using half the box for books and half for lighter items like DVD’s to keep the weight reasonable.

How To Pack......

1. Sort your books into hard cover and paper back and try to group by size.
2. Place the books in their groups into the box, they can either be stacked like on a bookshelf or laid flat, keep spines against the edge of the box and not the paper edges. To prevent damage don’t place books with the paper edges down and spines up, this can leave items warped or bent. You can use a mix of methods to fill the space well.
3. Expensively bound volumes or books with particular value should be individually wrapped in packing paper before loading. 4. Fill any empty space in the box with scrunched up packing paper to stop the contents moving around too much in transit.
5. Fold over the top flaps on the box and seal with tape. Remember to label the box clearly to indicate which room it is to be placed in at destination (if you know) and a description of its contents.

Moving Day Tip......

Pack overnight bags for everyone in the family for the first night in case you haven’t unpacked. Include toiletries and bedding.