How To Securely Wrap And Pack Stemware And Other Fragile Items With Handles
Posted on: 8 December 2015
Packing and moving your fragile kitchenware can be one of the most stressful parts of the entire moving experience, but it doesn't have to be if you know how to prepare them properly. Both stemware and items with handles, such as fine china teapots, require you to use good packing techniques to protect them. Below is a list of packing materials as well as the procedures for packing some of the more delicate and difficult items in your kitchen:
Packing materials needed
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Corrugated cardboard boxes
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Packing paper or newspaper sheets
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Strapping tape
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Masking tape
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Scissors
1. Locate and ready your packing area - It is worthwhile to take a few moments during the hustle and bustle of moving to prepare a suitable work space. Find a large flat surface, such as a dining room or kitchen table, and be sure you have plenty of ambient lighting to see what you are doing. Next, stack about an inch or so of packing paper or unfolded newspaper sheets on the table; if you decide to use newspaper, just keep in mind the non-toxic ink from the paper will transfer to your items.
2. Prepare the box for loading - In order to bear the weight of your kitchenware, you will need to reinforce the bottom of your packing box with strapping tape. Strapping tape contains filaments that add more strength and will help prevent the bottom flaps from suddenly bursting open. Run a strip of strapping tape across the entire bottom of the box along its center-line, then run two additional strips across the bottom in an "X" pattern to provide extra strength.
Following that, turn the box over and tape the flaps down with short pieces of masking tape, so they don't impede your progress during loading. Finally, take a couple of sheets of packing paper or newspaper at a time and roll them into several loosely-rolled tubes; tape the tubes with masking tape to prevent unraveling. Line the bottom with these paper tubes to form a "springy" mat that will cushion your items.
3. Wrap your fragile and difficult items - Position the box close by your side to make loading convenient. Once your box is ready and in position, you can concentrate on wrapping the stemware and handled items.
For stemware, begin by rolling a paper tube out of a single sheet of paper; make this tube a little tighter than the ones you rolled in step 2, but don't make it so tight that it can't be easily bent. Hold the paper tube with one hand so it won't unravel, and grasp the stemware piece with the other hand around the stem. Position one end of the paper tube at your fingertips holding the stem, then wrap the tube around the stem. Apply a short strip of masking tape to hold the tube in place.
Next, place the stemware piece on its side in one corner of a sheet of packing paper, then roll the stemware up in a single sheet of paper. While rolling, tuck the end at the top of the piece into the inside of the stemware to provide extra internal support. Use another small strip of masking tape to hold the bundle together.
When packing fragile items with handles, you will need to add extra reinforcement to the handle area to protect it. As with stemware, begin by rolling a tube out of paper. Insert the end of the tube into the handle a few inches, then wrap the tube around the outside of the handle. Tape the paper down so it doesn't slip out of the handle.
Next, remove the lid and place the piece with its bottom flat on the paper. Pull up the edges of a couple of sheets of paper all around the outside of the piece and fold them into the top of the open container. Turn the lid upside down and lay it on top of the piece. Finish by rolling the entire piece and its lid in a sheet of paper, then tape the paper to hold it all together.
4. Pack and seal your items in the box - The last step is to pack the stemware and items with handles in your box. Place both types of kitchenware standing up inside the box on top of the cushioned layer of paper tubes. For all items with handles, position the pieces so their handles face inward; never pack the items with their handles near the sidewalls of the carton, to prevent breakage. Finish by filling in gaps inside the box with loosely crumpled sheets of paper, and tape the top of the box closed with a couple of strips of strapping tape.
If you hire a moving service, it's important to pack your belongings correctly and safely so nothing gets damaged. These tips can be a big help.
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