If you are moving, you always want to make sure everything is safe but this is especially true of valuables such as antiques. Antiques are breakable and more importantly irreplaceable so ensuring that they are safe during the moving process will prevent you the heartbreak of having to dispose of a broken piece that could hold significant sentimental value or be a family heirloom. There are certain packaging supplies that can assist you in keeping your antique collection safe and secure when you are moving to a new home.
1. Sturdy boxes
When packing antiques you want to put them in a box where it will be safe from the elements and other belongings that could cause harm or break them if they came in contact. Make sure you use a good sturdy packing box for your antiques. Confirm that the bottom of the box will not collapse under the pressure of the antique once inside and to be sure you can reinforce the bottom with a few strips of packing tape.
Once your antique is safely inside, tape the top shut and do not stack anything heavy on top of this box. You would hate for your antique to break under heavy, excessive weight.
2. Bubble wrap
Bubble wrap will keep your antique safe by cushioning it from other items. The air-filled bubbles in the wrap prevents any type of pressure from penetrating the item that it is covering Wrap your antique in bubble wrap and do not be afraid to be too generous with it; the more you use the more cushioning will be provided. Tape the bubble wrap in place once applied to prevent it from slipping off your item in transit.
Bubble wrap is effective and inexpensive, allowing you to save on overall moving costs that can add up during the process. It is an item that can be left on your antique for extended periods to ensure safe-keeping and will not soak through due to dampness or moisture like newspaper tends to.
3. Newspaper
In addition to bubble wrap, newspaper is a necessary material to keep your antiques safe. Newspaper can fill in extra space in a packing box, adding extra protection while it travels to its destination. Crumple up some old newspaper and stuff it in to all extra space in your box. When finished, close the box and shake it slightly, obviously being sensitive to the nature of its contents.
If it shifts even a little bit, add more newspaper. Shifting, even the littlest bit, could result in your item breaking during transit. Similar to bubble wrap, newspaper is effective and it is an item that you probably already have around the house, leading to no added cost. Newspaper will also take up less space in your boxes as well, allowing you to pack some of your antiques together if it is safe to do so.
4. FRAGILE label
Whether the people assisting you with your move are from a moving company or are family and friends, they will have to know that there are antiques in certain boxes and they need to be handled with care. You can choose to use labels that say FRAGILE, but confirm that they are sticky and of good quality or these may peel off. You can also write labels on your boxes with a permanent marker guaranteeing that it will not wash or wear off.
Make sure you write big so your movers can read it and also consider writing which room you want the box placed in. This will remove the need for unnecessary moving of delicate items later on and prevent other items from being stacked on top of it and potentially breaking the contents.
