Storage and Packing Tips

#1: Make packing easier by planning ahead. Be sure to have plenty of sturdy, corrugated cartons, packing paper, bubble wrap, tape, and furniture covers. 

#2: Tightly sealed boxes with packing tape will prevent dust from entering.

#3: Wrap furniture legs with protective bubble wrap, furniture covers, or pads to prevent scratching. Leave slipcovers on upholstered chairs and cover them with plastic chair covers. Tape or tie bed rails together. Mark the pieces for easier assembly later. Place covers or plastic bags on mattresses to keep them clean during storage.

#4: Label boxes on all sides for easy identification. Keep a list (as well as pictures and descriptions) at your home or office for reference. Clearly mark all the boxes containing fragile items. Make sure fragile boxes are placed on top of heavier, less delicate boxes. 

#5: Maximize your storage by utilizing valuable space inside dresser drawers and larger appliances, such as stoves and refrigerators, to store small items such as towels, linens, and fragile items. Secure items in a drawer by filling empty spaces with towels or packing paper.

#6: Pack as much as you can in the same size boxes. Fill boxes tightly but take care to neither over-pack nor under-pack. Bulging cartons tip when stacked, while half-full boxes tend to collapse. Use wadded-up newspapers, bubble wrap, rags, towels, or blankets to fill in empty spaces for maximum protection seal cartons with tape.

#7: Pack heavy items, such as books and tools, in small boxes. For easier handling, limit the weight of all cartons, regardless of size, to 30 pounds or less. 

#8: Clean and dry appliances before storing. Secure all movable parts with paper or wedge and wrap a paper pad around each item for protection. During transport tape, all doors shut but remember to wedge them open for storage.

#9: Pack books flat to protect their spines. Line cartons with plastic and fill empty spaces with packing paper.

#10: Use lots of paper to pack dishes and glassware. Place a layer of packing paper inside the bottom and top of the cartons. Wrap each dish and glass separately and cushion them with crumpled paper. Plates are best stacked on their edges. 

#11: Hang clothes and draperies in wardrobe boxes.

#12: Pack lamps and lampshades in individual boxes. Use plenty of clean paper or clothing for padding.

#13: Pad mirrors and paintings with paper. Place them in special mirror packs or large boxes. Remember to mark the boxes accordingly.