Packing Guide

Packing Tips:
1. Planning and Decision Making: Filter your belongings down by carefully going through them. Decide what to take with you and what to get rid of before you move. Moving is a great chance to weed your belongings down.

2. Labeling: Label each box. The clearer your labeling is, the less confusion you and your mover will have on delivery. Write where the box came from and what is mostly in it. Do not write dissertations on your boxes. Labeling them as 'kitchen/china' or 'living room/books' is more than enough. If you are using a moving company, always write your last name on each box. Label only the TOP of each box. There is no need to label its sides.

3. Packing Supplies: Do not use boxes from food stores or other such unprofessional packing supplies. Use only professional grade moving boxes.

4. Books: pack books standing on bottom edge in book boxes.

5. Clothing: Wardrobe boxes can be used to move hanging clothing. Other clothing, blankets, and linens can be folded and packed in medium size boxes. We recommend emptying all dressers and chests as the added weight can make them difficult to move and more likely to get damaged.

6. Breakables and Electronics: When packing breakables and electronics leave a 2 to 4 inch layer of crumpled paper at the bottom, sides, and top of the boxes. When packing a box, place heavier items on the bottom, less heavy and lightest on top. Use china boxes and unprinted newspaper or packing paper.

Plates and Saucers: Wrap each piece separately in unprinted newspaper or packing paper. Place them in the box standing on edge in each box.

Bowls: wrap them individually, stack 2 to 4 together, and wrap them all again, and place then standing on edge in the boxes.

Cups and Glassware: Wrap cup handles in paper, and then wrap the entire cup. Place cups in the boxes with all handles pointing in the same direction. Wrap everyday glasses individually.

Pots and Pans: Pack them in china boxes, stacking them on top of each other with a few pieces of paper between them. Fill all empty spaces with newspaper.

Lamps and Lampshades: Remove shades, harps, and bulbs. Wrap lamps in layers of paper and place in boxes standing on their bases. Wrap lampshades lightly in paper, nest them one inside the other, and pack them in separate boxes.

Paintings, Mirrors, and Glass: Use picture boxes and bubble wrap. Leave a 2 to 4 inch layer of crumpled paper at the bottom, sides and top of each box. Do not use bubble wrap for oil paintings.

Packing Calculator:
Hanging Clothes: 2 linear feet = 1 standing wardrobe.
Folded Clothes: 3 linear feet = 1 medium size box.
China, glasses, crystals, and any small breakables: 3 linear feet = 1 dish box, 3 lbs of packing paper, 20 feet of small bubble wrap.
Files: 1 draw straight = 1 file box, 1 draw lateral = 1,5 file boxes.
Lamp = 1 lamp box.
Picture = 0.5 picture box.
Books: 1.5 linear feet = 1 book box.