How to Prevent Things From Breaking During Your Move

You’re moving abroad! Before we say “Congratulations!” (and congratulations are due since making such a big change is always bold and adventurous,) we want to say that any stress you’re feeling regarding the move is highly understandable. Especially when it comes to packing delicate objects, which may be valuable or have huge sentimental value. Perhaps you’ll be experiencing a culture shock when you arrive at your future home, but it’s wise to try and avoid other shocks, like opening the boxes only to find your mom’s favorite china set in tiny little pieces. It’s better to spend your first month learning a language abroad than to run around shopping for new glasses and plates.

The First Step to Prevent Things From Breaking Is to Stock up on Materials and Handy Packing Tools

Let’s be honest – you can’t shake off the feeling that you’ll need to learn fast how to pack fragile items before you can focus on making a list of best places to retire in Europe, and check whether it coincides with what you consider the best European countries to live in. After all, there are many things you are attached to, such as a mirror or a favorite set of dishes, and you would hate to see it smashed. Here’s what you require in order to make sure everything’s intact when you start unpacking:

• High-quality, sturdy boxes. No matter how hard you try to prevent your delicates from cracking by packing them carefully, if the box is not sturdy enough, it won’t endure the weight of the items placed inside. That could quickly turn into a nightmare scenario, with a heap of broken stuff on the ground while you’re holding a torn package in your hands. On an additional note, if you’re going to buy cardboard boxes in bundles, make sure you get different-sized ones and avoid bigger boxes.
• Packing tape. It’s not to be mistaken with plain duct tape because you’ll need a firm grip when you close the lids of the box. In addition, get some painters’ tape as well, for securing objects with glass surfaces, such as artwork, framed photographs, and mirrors.
• Packing paper. Get plenty of it since it will come in handy for both wrapping and cushioning all breakables.
• Bubble wrap. An ideal material to make sure there’s no friction between objects inside a package, and also very versatile. You can use it for most of your belongings, from wine glasses to furniture.
• Foam peanuts and other cushioning materials. They are loose-fill, which means they can fit any space in a box and thus prevent shifting inside. It can also be reused multiple times.
• Various tools, such as scissors, a tape dispenser, and a marker. These should also be on your relocating abroad checklist, as no packing can be done without them.

While you can obtain some of these for free from sites like Freecycle or Craigslist or get them at your local retail store, liquor shop, or a bookstore, you will probably have to buy most of these supplies, so you can be sure they are high-quality ones. You can see some of the materials used in the following video.

How Do You Protect Fragile Items, and What’s the Best Tip for Packing Delicates?

Any move requires us to organize down to the last detail, but relocating across the world is quite demanding to pull through, especially if we’re bringing all our stuff with us. An international moving company can make this stage of our life so much easier because they’ll handle our moving overseas effortlessly, but if we don’t secure our delicates properly, we won’t have peace of mind during the trip. That’s why choosing a good relocation company is crucial.

Can Bubble Wrap Protect Glass?

While bubble wrap’s creators’ original intention wasn’t for it to play a role of cushioning material or a stress-relief toy but of a groovy wallpaper, its modern-day incarnate is the ultimate cushioning material. It can protect anything, from electronics to glass, and even your mom’s precious china set.

Set Aside Enough Time and Start Packing

While it will take some time for you to adjust to a new country, you should also set aside enough time before to get prepared. While rushingly throwing everything into boxes is completely acceptable when you’re wondering how to pack clothes for moving (but still don’t do it that way,) it can’t and shouldn’t be applied to anything that can get damaged. Even the answer to “how to pack shoes for moving” isn’t – “just stuff them into whichever box,” as they should be filled with lots of packing paper, so they can keep their shape and don’t get crushed in transport. Properly taking care of each delicate object requires time and patience, just like breaking the language barrier.

How Do You Keep Things From Moving in a Box?

There’s an awesome trick to keep any item from shifting inside of a box and thus prevent it from getting cracks. While the Japanese art of mending broken pieces of pottery with gold called Kintsugi is beautiful and treats both the damage and repair as part of the history of an object, we would still like to see most of our everyday items arrive undamaged to the new address. The trick is to use plenty of cushioning in each box, and it’s best to use crumpled paper to fill in any gaps. It’s true that you could easily learn to get around in the friendliest countries in the world and quickly find a shop where you can buy those household items that got damaged, but there won’t be any need for it if you go plentiful with cushioning and padding.

A Few Important Tips When It Comes to Packing Breakables for Storage

Aside from proper padding of each box (and that means that you’ll have to pad the bottoms as well as tops before you close the lids,) there are certain steps to take, especially if you plan to place your belongings into storage units. No matter if you’re relocating to Spain, or your life’s path is taking you to Sweden, and whether you plan on keeping stuff in the storage for longer or just until you settle. Each item must be thoroughly washed and cleaned but also completely dry before you place it away. This is a step you must take to prevent any mold that can ruin your other belongings, too.

How to Pack Kitchen Items for Moving

Kitchens are one of the most important rooms in our home, and they are really important to pack properly, especially if you’re going away with kids and might need to cook right away. So, how to pack dishes for moving internationally? It’s similar to the answer on how to pack plates for moving. Right after you pad every box on the bottom, and be generous on that cushioning so you won’t be sorry afterward, make sure you wrap every single breakable item into bubble wrap. Don’t overload packages, and place each plate vertically with padding between them. If you’re wondering how to pack china for moving, these tips are also applicable. Each piece that has a lid should be wrapped separately, too, to avoid breaking the edges.

How Do I Protect My Package From Breaking While There Are Pots and Pans Inside?

You’re still in the kitchen, and you’ve probably been asking yourself how to pack pots and pans the best way. Should you place them into boxes besides other things? How many should you store inside a crate? To avoid your favorite pan from losing its handle or breaking its lid while also relieving yourself from any moving stress, remember that it’s best to pack them in threes. You can wrap each item with paper, place them from bigger to smaller, and turn the handles in the same direction.

What Do I Do With Glasses?

While most stuff from the kitchen has been taken care of, you’re surely sitting and wondering how to pack glasses for moving, because they are on our list of what to pack when moving abroad. While you may use either packing paper or bubble wrap to secure each glass, wine glasses are probably best to wrap in bubbles. They are a bit trickier to take care of because they have a stem and a base, which could easily break and fall off. That’s why you’ll have to make sure you cover each part and then repeat. If you’re wondering how many layers of bubble wrap should I use, don’t use it sparingly – wrap until you’re absolutely positive it’s thoroughly covered. Imagine what magic a pair of wine glasses can do if you’re relocating for love.

Silverware Isn’t Breakable but Needs Our Attention

If you plan on joining some expat communities, you’ll probably make some friends and invite them over for dinner. It’s nice to welcome guests into our home with our best dishes, silverware, and cooking presented. But, if you plan to transport it with an overseas shipping company, you should pack it properly. While you can’t break silverware, it can sustain some damage during transport or even damage other items in the boxes. So, how to pack silverware, so it doesn’t get ruined? Like with many other items we use in our kitchens, separately wrap each piece, and cushion the crate where you place it. Pack it in a smaller box so it doesn’t get too heavy.

How to Pack Electronics for Moving

We have objects throughout our house that can be damaged during transport, and electronics are among them. Several questions are in order, like how to pack a TV for moving and how to pack a computer for moving as well. The answer is similar, though. To be able to protect electronic devices in transport, the best possible solution is to place them into their original packaging. However, a computer might require a bit more work, because you have to secure the monitor separately and pack all the cables and peripherals, too. All the digital nomads will start their life in another country far easier if they have their electronics transported intact.

Take a Look at These Additional Tips

It’s a lot of hard work, but there are still some other breakables lurking around most homes. Here are some additional relocation day tips on how to take care of them:

• How to pack bathroom items for moving – we keep many things in our bathrooms, and while some hazardous and flammable materials should be disposed of, anything fragile should be wrapped and cushioned inside a box. If there are some glass bottles containing liquids, make sure you place them into ziplock bags and avoid leaking.
• How to pack makeup – while all the bottles with liquid are placed in bags (like foundation and serums,) powder and compact makeup should be taken care of, also. Place a cotton pad between the lid and the powder to make sure it won’t break. You can pack all your beauty products into specialized makeup bags.
• How to pack books for moving – while books aren’t breakable, they are heavy and could tear during the trip. This could mean a catastrophe for any book lover. The greatest hack is to pack your library into suitcases because they are sturdy and can endure heaviness, while they’ll also be easier to move around because of the wheels. If you want, you can always ask the company you’re moving with for custom crating, and have a relaxed journey, knowing that your goods are packed properly.
• How to pack lamps – these are items that should be disassembled so they can be packed. Remove the lightbulb as well as the lampshade, secure the cord, and wrap each part separately.

Besides all the documents needed to travel abroad, for most people, it’s equally important to have all their belongings packed and transported with them.

How Do You Keep a Mirror From Breaking (and Any Other Framed Object)

Believe it or not, but pool noodles and painters’ tape will come in handy if you don’t know how to pack a mirror for moving. Make an X on the glass surface to prevent breakage, and use pool noodles to cushion the corners of the frame. If you’re wondering how to pack paintings, do the same as with mirrors, but only if they have glass surfaces. If not, place some packing paper over the painting and add pool noodles to protect the frame. Place them all vertically, and don’t overload boxes.

How Do You Pack Fragile Items Without Bubble Wrap?

Wondering how to pack an apartment on a budget but still prevent your fragile belongings from damaging in transport? Cushioning materials are actually all around us, and we can pad our boxes with household softies such as old t-shirts, towels, and even socks (they are a great solution for glasses.)

Label Everything if You Want Your Belongings to Stay Intact

Most of your belongings are secured for the journey ahead, but there’s one crucial step you shouldn’t miss, that most people forget to do when relocating. Labeling boxes with your belongings is even more important when you place something fragile into them. That way, both you and your movers will know to pay special attention to such packages.

How Do You Stop Things From Breaking and Avoid Buying Everything New? The Ultimate Tip

You’ve hired a reputable company to handle your move and even invested in overseas vehicle shipping, so you can take your car with you. But we highly recommend investing in packing service, too, especially if you have breakable possessions you want to transport. Letting professionals take care of delicate objects is the best tip, as you will have more time to focus on your fresh start and living overseas while at the same time keeping in touch with friends back home. With pros, you’ll only have to worry about when and how to tip the movers.